Hi All. I will be making my first trip to the Texas coast for some inshore fishing in a few weeks. I am originally from NC and have fished for flounder, reds, and trout all my life. After doing my research it seems the type of fishing here is a little different. I will be staying off shark lane in surfside. I will have my yak and am looking for someone to point me in the right direction as to what to do to catch some flatfish. It looks like root beer colored baits are good in the area. Do you all catch mullet and use them on Carolina rigs? Or Menhaden? Also it looks like the area is pretty shallow. Should I be targeting docks or what? Any help would be appreciated. I'm. It a novice at all but I do know that different areas of the country fish totally different even if it is the same species.

I catch most of my flounder in small cuts and drains coming out of the marsh or back lakes. And the vast majority in less than knee deep water. Pumpkin sand eel is a good producer just make sure you have a high quality hook in your jig head.

When the tides moving they will pile up in a very small area.

Thanks. Is there much current? Where I'm from we catch them that shallow at times. I'm used to finding a eddy or a drop near a sandbar. We also would do well by docks. Not sure how the bait situation is there either.

Probably a lot less current than what you're used to, it doesn't take much.

I don't know about bait, don't use it.

Thanks again. I like the artificials but there is just something about that thump when you fish a Carolina rig and know that it's a flounder that gets my blood going. I usually use like a 1/2oz jig head and throw a lot of gulp shrimp and swimming mullet. Buck Tails tipped with gulp are a big producer where I'm from as well. I like electric chicken and new penny. With the looks of the water here darker is better. I just want to get on some fish. Flounder would be great but I like catching others as well. I'm a teacher so a guide isn't something I can really afford haha.

LOL since I don't fish down there anymore I can give some 30 years of fishing knowledge from around Surfside & SLP. A good place to dump a Yak and or wade is at 29� 0'44.99"N, 95�13'5.13"W. If you have Google earth look it up and you'll be able to see that there are some deeper channels easily reached by boat or wading. I used to follow the shore around to the NE till it ends in a shell reef. The water in the cut there gets to about 10' deep at high tide and usually holds trout and reds. Further to the ENE where the shoreline takes an abrupt right turn there are several oyster reefs and is where I caught several 16 - 18" flatties. No guarantees but a jumping off point if you like. Didn't used to be crowded most days but it's been at least 8 years since I was there. Best of luck to you!

you'll find that in comparison to NC flounder around here is small and heavily depleted... :-\

I really just want to get on fish wether it's flounder,reds, or trout. I'm just not sure of colors, lures, and locations like I am in NC and I'm only there for a couple days. Here are a couple I caught in NC last month.