Time for Everything to Cool Off

Reported by CAPT. RICHARD THOMPSON

THE SUMMER CROWDS AND holidays that bring more than usual shing pressure are gone as the dog days of summer are over. As we take a huge sigh of relief from the harsh summer heat, before the snow birds arrive, and the kiddos have gone back to school we greatly anticipate the rst cool front of the year to blow through. We

SPECIES: Speckled trout and redfish

BEST BAITS: Soft plastics

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

FishGame.com/FishGameGear know this is the catalyst for the fall shing pa erns to begin.

TIPS: October on Sabine Lake is a premier month for fishing under the birds. The Jetties will only have a few trout; redfish are always there.

As the rst cold front of the year blows through, it provides instant relief as we start seeing changes in the environment, the sh do too. e temperatures begin to drop, this triggers new feeding pa erns. Typically, during the summer months, your upper slot Reds will be on the ats foraging in pairs or in smaller schools of sh. As the water temperature cools, they congregate in more con ned areas as do the bait sh which is always the name of the game.

Our strategy during this time of year is to accommodate the pa erns and movements of the Red sh. One of our most common practices is wading the shallow ats as we patiently wait for signs of schooling Red sh and or tailing Red sh. Another one of our go to methods is driing the ats, as we are looking for signs of wakes and nervous water and sometimes you can see them if the water clarity is good and you can sight cast right in front of them. It’s one of the most adrenaline, heart pumping moments, as it’s all about seeing the sh devour your lure that you cast perfectly in its sight. Our go to set up for this type of shing is a Laguna Custom Rod paired with a Down South Lure “Bone Diamond” combo. Our friend Mike Bosse, with Down South Lures, produces some of the best swim baits in the market for this type of shing.

Many of these areas along Mustang Island provide these types of ats and the opportunities to target Red sh with these pa erns.

We are going to pump the breaks for a moment and talk about the elephant in the room. Did you know that Texas has its own running of the Bulls? is time of year is the beginning of the fall migration of Bull Reds headed to the Gulf for their annual spawning routines. Wow, so how does one have an opportunity to partake in all this jam-packed fun adventure? As they are moving through the passes of Packery Channel and Port Aransas je ies, you can have your opportunity to catch these bruisers and get in on all the fun as they are cruising through the passes following the migrating bait along the beaches as they are running up and down the surf. One must be prepared when landing one of these awesome mature Reds. Typically, this is a catch and release event. Best practices, as these guys are the main patriarchs and producers of their species and ensure that they reach their nal destination to the spawning grounds.

As usual, we want to again give you a friendly reminder from one shermen to another, always check your tide tables, follow your major and minor feed times, as we believe it will increase your chances of catching sh and landing that personal best. We would love to have you come join us this fall as the shing is going to be incredible. We will hook YOU up!

CONTACT CAPT. THOMPSON:

Email: RandKCoastalOutfitters@gmail.com

Online: RandKCoastalOutfitters.com

Middle Coast Hotspots

LOCATION: Aransas Bay

HOTSPOT: Halfmoon Reef

GPS: N 28 4.5259, W 96 59.062 (28.0754 -96.9844)

Hotspotlight

Port Bay

PORT BAY IS AN EXTENTION OF COPANO BAY, ON COPANO’S SOUTHERN SHOREline. Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map.

1 78/16 oz jig head and Specantor cork; morn-dusk

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Soft plastics

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: Trout should be in 4-6 feet of water. You may find some shallower, but they won’t stay there long.

LOCATION: Aransas Bay

HOTSPOT: Mud Island

GPS: N 27 56.635, W 97 1.266 (27.9439 -97.0211) fish falling tide, drift/anchor, hit sandpockets; dawn thru dusk before sun up, live deeper later in the day; before sun up, live bait deep later in the day; fish falling tide, drift/anchor, hit sandpockets; dawn thru dusk

Subtly cast into shallows, bump jig off bottom; Aug-Oct, midday thru aftn in clusters, cast 10 times, no action, move; morning, aftn

Great gigging at night under lights, freeline live bait; Spring, Fall, avoid midday shrimp, finger mullet on C-rig, fish with tides; Spring, reds, flnder, sheeph, Black D; live bait; free float or freeline; Mar-Nov; dawn-morn, dusk reds, flnder, sheeph, Black D; live bait; free float or freeline;

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Soft plastics

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: In the fall, strawberry is a productive color. A gold spoon also works good.

LOCATION: Copano Bay

HOTSPOT: Copano Reef GPS: N 28 7.5019, W 97 4.737 (28.1250 -97.0790)

Middle Coast

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: Start early along the shore, and then work out toward the open bay as the temperature heats up.

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay

HOTSPOT: Shamrock Cove

GPS: N 27 45.369, W 97 9.733 (27.7562 -97.1622)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Soft plastics or live finger mullet

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: The flats should be good for redfish and the deeper water over reefs should yield trout.

LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay

HOTSPOT: Saluria Bayou

GPS: N 28 23.9839, W 96 25.1479 (28.3997 -96.4191)

SPECIES: Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork, cut bait, or soft plastics.

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: Rigging the popping cork: The Mid Coast cork us a good choice… it has a weight underneath and swivel. Tie the leader, usually about two feet, and then a number four croaker hook.

LOCATION: Port Aransas

HOTSPOT: Estes Flats

GPS: N 27 57.058, W 97 5.331 (27.9510 -97.0889)

SPECIES: Redfish

BEST BAITS: Cut Bait or Live Mullet

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: Redfish fishing should be on fire using cut bait and live mullet.

LOCATION: Port Aransas

HOTSPOT: Traylor Islands

GPS: N 27 56.6849, W 97 4.4609 (27.9448 -97.0744)

SPECIES: Flounder

BEST BAITS: Gigging

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: Anglers will have their chance for flounder in October as the season is closed in November. You can still fish with rod & reel for flounder, but no gigging.

LOCATION: Port O’Connor

HOTSPOT: Jetties

GPS: N 28 25.212, W 96 19.5439 (28.4202, -96.3257)

SPECIES: Speckled trout

BEST BAITS: Super Spook Junior or soft plastics

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: Throw a colored bait that resembles needle fish or glass minnows (light green or almost crystal clear).

LOCATION: Redfish Bay

HOTSPOT: Dagger Island

GPS: N 27 50.1019, W 97 10.2659 (27.8350, -97.1711)

SPECIES: Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live finger mullet

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: Free-line live finger mullet, rigged Carolina style so it can’t swim off… generally best all-around bait for redfish.

Middle Coast

 CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay

HOTSPOT: Shell Reef

GPS: N 28 12.9319, W 96 47.155 (28.2155, -96.7859)

SPECIES: Speckled trout

BEST BAITS: Super Spook Junior or soft plastics

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

FishGame.com/FishGameGear

TIPS: Wade fishing is your best bet because once you find a school of fish, you can be quieter, stay with the fish, and then walk away and leave the fish biting.