Planning a trip at the end of January and will be staying close by copano. Ive never fished the coast in the winter and was wondering what types of bait / lures are good (live shrimp on popping cork, jigs with gulp shrimp or minnows, texas trout killers on jigs, etc.)?

I am going to make a trip there myself in a few weeks. The last 3 times I have went, the bridge has sucked in the summer months. Hope it is better in the winter.

Will you have access to a boat?

Yep, i just got it up here in FW and taking it down there for the forst time. I am familiar with the south side of the bay but was wondering where and what i should try. Plan on trolling the shorelines and fishing the airport flats as well as redfish point.

There is a place at the back of Copano Bay, called Turtle Bay that is very good. There are some old duck blinds on the West side of the bay where you can pick up some nice reds.

Im a little concerned about the reefs?

Turtle Pen and Port Bay are where I typically fish during the winter time on Copano.

Turtle Pen is pretty easy to get to from Public ramp at the pier, just aim for Newcomb Point and you'll be alright from there.

Port Bay is a little trickier because you have to hit a deep channel off of Rattlesnake Point. If you over shoot it it goes from 12 ft to 6 inches instantly.

The only reefs you really need to be concerned with are Lap, Copano, and Shellbank reefs are the shallowest ones in the bay that you'll have to navigate around.

looks like we may rent a house right by salt lake on the bay side.

Where is port bay?

Port Bay is on the south side of the bay and is near Salt Lake. Salt Lake is a nice area to stay, but the actual lake is very shallow.

This map is fun thing to look at. It overlays the NOAA nautical charts on a Google Aerial Map.

http://marine.geogarage.com/routes

Very cool - how / where do you fish port bay? I was there a few years ago and did not have any luck...

I fished Port Bay from the end of port bay rd. and follow the old bridge pilings to the channel. Did well on flounder and trouts there with reds around the duck blinds.

flydoc - you using cut bait or shrimp on popping corks or plastics on jigs?

I'm sure bait will work especially reds, but I use flys only with the 8wt rod. The trouts and flounder are quite aggresive and readily chew the fly. Clousers and a trailer white fly--Jimmy-- got it done. I would go to the channel and drift the edges and anchcor-up when I get bit. The trout were in concentrated schools and often would hook-up on both flys.
Tightlines

Keep a close check on the Red Tide in the area that will totally spoil a fishin' trip.

Red tide this time of year. Seriously

I was just in Aransas Pass this past Thursday and Friday. Red tide was just working its way out. No live bait to be found.

Yes, Red Tide has been bothering fishermen and killing fish all along the coast of Texas for months due to the lack of fresh water!! Rockport and Copano Bay have been hit hard lately.

live bait hard to find right now. gulps, doa shrimp under a popping cork and small topwaters should work for u. look for mud, grass and shell and you should find some reds and trout maybe a few flounder. Turtle Pen and the shoreline north of mission bay r sometimes good.

That Bay is my baby call me and i'll losd ya up. Know every inch of that pupy. What to use and where and for what, 817-368-1142

Thanks Txcowboy - I will reach out on my next trip.....

I'm going to revive this thread now since i'm planning a trip to Copano Bay with the family next week (despite poor wx forecasts). We are staying right on the bay, close to salt lake. I will have waders, fly rod, and spinning gear and a lighted pier in front of our rental house. I'm from KS, but had a few trips to the gulf for reds/specs. I know the basics, but am really looking for good advice on how/where to fish the bay in early-mid march. I do not have a boat, but i'm considering renting one. Thoughts? Advice? Thanks in advance.

If you are going to rent a boat you may as well rent a guide. You can get yourself into a bit of trouble down there if you don't know the area your navigating with your boat. If you go with a guide and ask lots of questions you will learn more in one day than most people learn in years of doing it the hard way.

Aransas river has upper slot reds this time of year..lots of eating size drum too.

nitro - thanks for the tip....you are probably right. Since this is a family trip I'm not sure i can justify the time/money for a guide (or for that matter renting a boat). I'd love to find some areas I can wade fish this time of year. Any tips?