Slip into Hot Water Patterns PORT ARANSAS

Reported by CAPT. RICHARD THOMPSON

SUMMER IS IN FULL SWING, temperatures and the heat index are brutal but that’s no surprise, it’s South Texas.

ese early summer sunrises are so magical as we prepare ourselves to slip o the boat into the calm water for that rst wade of the morning as we highly anticipate the rst massive top water blow up.

As the water temperature climbs up to that 90’s mark, trout and red sh pa erns are typically predictable. Our routine doesn’t change much during this time of year. We start our mornings focused on using topwater lures if the oating grass allows us to.

If not, we would use 1/16 lead head with our go-to Down South Lures, Supermodel with a multitude of di erent colors depending mainly on water clarity and or sunny/ overcast skies.

As the temperature and sun rises throughout the day our method changes as we switch to a heavier lead head, 1/8 or 1/4 ounce to be able to get down to the trout that have dropped o to the cooler deeper water. is strategy is very similar to shing any mid-bay reefs and or spoils along the Intracoastal waterway. For example, Nueces Bay, the trout will hold closer to the reefs and drop o into the cooler waters as the day progresses. We have found that the best bite for trout will happen extremely early and for a short window. If we have missed this window, we will likely struggle and it will make for a long grind to put sh into the boat. We personally feel more con dent when we know of numerous areas with high possibilities in order to be comfortable with the day’s outcome.

We highly encourage you to have a backup game plan in place if you missed that window. Speaking of another game plan this time of year a er your early morning trout bite, is going a er red sh as they are not so temperamental to the water temperature rising.

We nd that red sh typically stay on the ats throughout the day or right on the drop o s. is time of the day when we are targeting red sh with arti cial lures, our go to is something with either a lot of tail vibration, Down South Lures, and one of Krystal’s favorites is the Lil John Dart as it has erratic action which drives the red sh nuts.

If you can get the a ention of the red sh, it will draw in their curiosity and will create a reaction strike even when they are not eating. O en, this tactic will out sh live or cut bait believe it or not.

Action is consistently good these months, and routinely we are catching limits of redsh and trout in a variety of ways. We are very passionate and take advantage of this time of year to have teachable moments on the boat with our clients to share with them why we are hard core arti cial shermen and the advantages of throwing arti cial vs. live bait so that we can cover vast amounts of water drift fishing or wade fishing. Being able to fan your cast increases probability of a strike vs. continually rebating your line eliminating the unwanted hardhead.

Numerous times we have been able to prove our theories to non-believers and convert them to lifetime artificial lovers.

We would like to remind you that this time of year our coastal waters are heavily populated with recreational boats, kite surfers, kayakers, and jet skiers and it is up to everyone to think about being safe in the water and practice being respectable and responsible towards each other.

CONTACT CAPT. THOMPSON:

Email: RandKCoastalOutfitters@gmail.com

Online: RandKCoastalOutfitters.com

Middle Coast Hotspots

LOCATION: Aransas Bay

HOTSPOT: North Mud Island

GPS: N 27 56.78, W 97 1.54

(27.9463, -97.0257)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder

BEST BAITS: Live Croaker

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: Look for shell piles and work the edges from a boat. Trout, redfish, and an occasional flounder can be caught. The trout are the easiest to catch using a croaker freelined.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Shrimp Tails

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: Use soft plastics on the deep side of the islands, 4 to 8 feet deep. Topwaters will work in the early morning.

LOCATION: Ayers Bay

HOTSPOT: Ayers Reef

GPS: N 28 10.434, W 96 50.3659 (28.1739-96.8394)

LOCATION: Carlos Bay

HOTSPOT: Cedar Reef

GPS: N 28 8.251, W 96 53.049 (28.1375-96.8842)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder

BEST BAITS: Paul Brown Devil Eyes and Chickenon-a-Chain soft plastics

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: Fish the Devil Eye in a chrome with a chartreuse tail and a 1/4-ounce jig head.

Middle Coast

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay

HOTSPOT: Shamrock Cove

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

SPECIES: Redfish

BEST BAITS: Crab

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: Redfish are going to be thick around Shamrock Island especially with all the rain we have had this spring. They will be looking for new crabs, new areas to feed in the shallows.

LOCATION: Mesquite Bay

HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou

GPS: N 28 4.3309, W 96 50.832 (28.0722-96.8472) up, and let it drop down. Let the tail do all he action. You will get most of your bites as the lure drops.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay

HOTSPOT: Chicken Foot Reef

GPS: N 28 15.832, W 96 46.8889 (28.2639, -96.7815)

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay

HOTSPOT: Shell Reef

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

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder

BEST BAITS: Live Croaker

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: Close to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, use live croaker over shell and mud where the edges drop off.

LOCATION: Redfish Bay

HOTSPOT: Bird Island

GPS: N 27 56.035, W 97 5.119 (27.9339-97.0853)

SPECIES: Speckled trout

BEST BAITS: Live croaker

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: Croaker rigging … Keep the bait looking as natural as possible using a 5/0 hook, moving to a 6/0 hook later as the month progresses.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay

HOTSPOT: Panther Point

GPS: N 28 14.95, W 96 42.5819 (28.2492, -96.7097)

SPECIES: Speckled trout

BEST BAITS: Live croaker or live piggy perch

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: As August progresses, switch to live piggy perch.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre

HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline

GPS: N 27 29.134, W 97 21.1079 (27.4856, -97.3518)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Flappin Shad soft plastic by Gambler

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: Nice and easy, slow, and easy, pump straight

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder

BEST BAITS: Live Croaker

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: Let the croaker sink to the bottom. Give it a few seconds, crank the reel a few turns, and move it around. Pop it a few more times. Once you feel the bump, let him run for second, then set the hook.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: Topwaters produce early in the morning. Silver, chartreuse, pink work under clear skies; Natural colors, a black or mullet color work better on cloudy days.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre

HOTSPOT: Pita Island

GPS: N 27 36.169, W 97 17.1989 (27.6028-97.2867)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp

SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas

Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear

TIPS: The month of July is a great time to fish around the island using live croaker.