OK Guys! I need your valued opinions!

For the last 6 weeks or so I've been planning a trip to Rockport to do some wade fishing....Port A. surf fishing....etc...etc.
You know, there is little in the world that I enjoy more than being down there this time of year shuffling around the flats.

I've got my reservations made for me and my sweetheart at the luxurious Balboa Courts, A destination of mine for over 40 years now. Plan on arriving there early Wed. afternoon (after the 8 hour drive), and leaving Sunday morning. Sounds Great Right?....................

But then there is the cold front moving in Thursday....
Winds shifting to N-NW - 17-20 mph/ low of 53degrees - Fri. - winds NNW -20mph. Temps high of 73 dropping to low 50's again. Saturday - winds NNE 11 MPH - temps 73 dropping to 59. Now I know this isn't a big deal freeze out event, But what I do see is several days of chilly north wind blowing the bay into a choppy mess with High pressure setting in....and 2 or 3 days of lockjaw with the trouts and reds. At least that has been my experience over the years, especially a little later in the fall, say starting last of November when it can get quite a bit colder with these passing fronts.

My question to the coastal experts and locals......
Do I go? Yay...or Nay?

Be brutally honest with me...even if it hurts me. I've already scheduled to be off those days and can't change that. So if I don't go I'll have to find some kind of runner-up fishing excursion locally to take the place of the trip I planned. A pitiful....lame....replacement at best....but better than nothing I'd guess.

Yay...or Nay?

I would say NAY.

I'm not sure about the middle Texas coast area, but in the Galveston/Freeport areas, a strong north wind moves the water out.

Maybe you can shoot for the week after.

Thanks for the reply Red. I know you're right. Would probably be more like 2 or 3 weeks before I could get down there due to work requirements and all.

Come-on guys....anybody else? I need yall to really convince me one way or the other. How about a few Rockport regulars or locals? Yall would know for sure.

But dangit...I sure hate where this is probably headed.

I'd say yah...

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USTX1158

I say "Lifes short Fish hard" if ya can handle a little chill in the air the fish should be on the move as the front comes in.

The day we got hit with our last cold (last Tuesday) front we were having 40mph winds out of the north and a 10 degree drop in temperature. Because I was stir crazy and bored around the house I decided to go fishing anyways. I got to my favorite flat and started looking for fish, wouldn't you know it there were hundreds of big black drum all over the flat. Some were tailing some were cruising. I ended up picking up a few fish but had I not been using a fly rod casting straight into the wind I am sure I could of picked up a limit.

Of course I don't know what the next cold front will to the fish, this is going to be a bigger drop in temperature.

I'm going! Of course I don't have an 8 hr. drive. Hope to fish right up till it blows in. Play it by ear after that. Shoot me a PM if you make it down there, might meet for coffee at Vallarta's. Misery loves company!

Hee-Hee! That it does!

It's like a 4 hour drive from the Austin area. I've been told that I drive like Grandma however.

Yeah Dave, Back when I lived in Cedar Park and later Fredericksburg I hit the bays at least 3 or 4 days every month or more. But it's a mighty long ways from Wylie.

But hey! I can drive 1-1/2 hours north to Texoma and catch these!

I'd say go anyway. The fish may move off of the flats into guts, drains, and the edges of the intercoastal... but they will still be there.

With a north wind, the Port A north jetty is still very fishable. The ferry takes you there for $12 I think. Fish should still be biting there in amoving tide.

GO - the north blow won't affect Rockport that much - if your favorite wade hole is drained fish the channels -- weather affects the fishermen much more than the fish.

i was going to go down on Thrusday night and fish friday-sunday but this front is making me think i should just work on the house...

http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/rockport

heck, i ain't scared! i may get down there and give it hell...

a friend is down there right now with glass water and perfect temps and leaves wednesday before the front

We fished out of Bay Flats Lodge a couple of years ago the day after a big cold front passed through. The air temps stayed cold but we killed the fish. Take some warm clothes.

Well, i'd say go.. but don't plan on the fishing biting every day. .which might give you some time to spend with the chica and will pay big dividends down the road.

the day before the front could be of the hook awesome.. fishing will be good as the front blows through.. and for the first 12 hours after the frontal passage.. as long as the presure is changing your ok. The second day of the front with the low tides and high pressure is the worst.. fish will be on bottom of guts and cuts as pike said and you'll have to poke at them with a worm.. which could lead to a lot of flounder bites and some nice flatties in your freezer. same for third say.. Those days I would spend a little extra time with the lady.

From noaa http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/crpWeek.php?page=3&element=WindSpd looks like the Front will hit Corpus sometime Thursday 5pm... so even all day thursday will be great.. friday day will be the first tough day. The wind is predicted to be out of the NE.. so you won't see much of a dump of bay water that happens with more of a N or NW as far as the Port A flats go. Friday and Saturday will be slow.. Sunday will be fine and a nice chilly wade could produce some redfish.. but you'll have to leave mid day right..

so that's the skinny.. If you can pick another weekend.. I would say go some other time.. but if this is your once a year trip I say go and make the most of it,

Thanks for the replies guys. As much as it hurts me....we canceled the trip. Granted, I'm sure it will be awesome before the front rolls in, but my experience tells me that the funs over as soon as the wind shifts and the high pressure kicks in. It's just too far to drive and too much moola to spend for a day or so of wade fishing. The good news is that I work 12 hour shifts, and only have to work 3 days a week, so I'm gonna try and time a trip in the next few weeks that starts on that calm sunny day AFTER the front blows in. Yall let me know what I miss.

I'm facing the same dilemna. Should I stay or should I go? I'm going because as much as the North wind sucks, fishing is fishing; even if we don't catch much. My experience has been, it takes works, but once you find them, they're bunched up...

the key is: "once you find them".

Dave, you missed out on the opportunity to say "the fishing's supposed to be great today, but I'd prefer to go shopping around Rockport with you :)"

Tim

Time it to start 3 days before the next front rolls in ... and preferably not with a low pressure system riding up from mexico.. those are breezy... have fun.

LOL....She'd see right thru that ruse!

To be honest..some of the best days I've had wade fishing were also the nastiest. Driving drizzle, 40 degree temps. Did not get any trout but we caught and released so many slot reds that we left them biting cos we were worn out. This was in Port O'Connor. In Galveston, we wade fish for flounder in nasty weather all the time and have always done pretty well. As far as surf fishing goes, bull reds are running now at Port A. They love this nasty windy sandy surf conditions. I say go when you can when there are less people out because of the weather. Of course you have to determine if you are physically capable of having this kind of fun!

Well Cuda..... I think I'm physically quite capable....
I've fished many times when you had to knock the ice off of your rod eyes to cast. But MENTALLY..... Not so sure anymore. I know I can catch fish when the weather is decent. Can't always say that when it sucks. But I sure enjoy a nice day on the coast more than many things in this life of mine. More than most in fact.

Let me know how yall did this week anyways. Make me hurt!

I hear you. I don't do that anymore. Getting to old to handle that much fun too. I don't mind catching less fish these days. Just prefer to catch the easy ones!

Well, it was good that you didn't come. Yesterday was a bust. Nothing was hitting for me. I tried topwaters, and plastics and only had one bite over 2 hours. Today was ok. Had 5 Reds, but none were of size. The fishing has been slow for sure, hopefully it will change soon.

Thanks for the report trahansax. ( what in the world does your user name mean? ...just curious?)

I think I made the right decision. Went to the lake today and caught a few nice fish, and the weather was nice. Still...not at all like wading the flats. I'm shooting for around Thanksgiving now.......weather providing of course.

Shoulda went Dave .
I fished Wensday,Saturday & Sunday with limit's of Red's every trip.
All three day's were absolutely beautiful . Friday was the only day that might have been tough .

Fishing was fair, once you found them. Lot's of catching, some keeping. Once the weather warmed, reds could be found on shell bottom next to deeper water.

If you are able to, pick the days that have 4 tides. Interestingly enough that usually coincides with the prime times. Does not mean 100% success but it does increase the odds. 4 tides=more tidal movement and the fish are much more active.

Friday was tough. So tough the guys were saying, " WHIIIIIIIIISKEY." That's the, "I've had enough" call, let's go in. <G> Buncha wusses but we were cold and it was rough.