New to SA Texas and would ask for guidence on fishing the Nueces Bay in the winter. A couple of specific questions. Do Red Fish / Trout move into the River during this time of year? It looks like there is a CP&L plant that might discharge hot water into this system? Is this a viable pattern? Any suggestions or advise would be most appreciated.

I grew up fishing that bay. I lived about a mile from it and fished it for 30 years. I never went as far back as the river; I never found it necessary to do that to catch fish. First, the bay has A LOT of reefs. All of them are shell and will wreck your prop or bottom in a hurry. Secondly, when you leave the ramp at the causeway and head to the back, be aware that there are 3 sunken barges just under the surface next to the Rincon channel. They are a navigation hazard at low tide. Be looking carefully because if you�re observant, you can see some of the debris sticking up at low tide. Next, the CPL spill way does discharge warm water. You have the option to wade or drift that area, your choice. My choice of bait there is a chartreuse/gold catch 2000, TT19 Mirror Lure, or MR89 CHG/G mirror lure. There is good deep water and drift fishing between the high lines. One you pass the second set of high lines, there is good fishing around �center reef�, commonly called �mid reef.� You should see it at low tide, but you will hit it at high tide if you�re not careful. The north shoreline if full of reefs and you will find some decent fishing over there at this time of year. Be careful back there, Nueces is a pretty unforgiving bay as it is protected from oyster boats so the reefs are very solid and some are very shallow. Here are the coordinates for mid reef and the barge wrecks. Put them in your GPS and be careful when in these areas and you will be fine.

Mid Bay: 27 51 06.04 N
97 26 21.87 W

Wrecks: 27 50 36.60 N
97 23 09.73 W

If you launch at the bridge, you can come out of the ramp and run between the wrecks and the bulkhead. Once you clear the head, you can make your slight turn to the left and run about 200 yards from the bank. You can then run towards that first set of high lines and then follow them right in to the hot water discharge area. Good luck��James

TxJimmy

Thanks for the information and the safty tips! My State Farm agent also thanks you...

It's hard for State farm to help you in 50 degree water.