Looking for a little help from the fishing community! We stay in Rockport each year, rental house on Copano Bay typically in October, but most recently last weekend. We have two boys, oldest 10 who is a fishing fanatic. Last weekend we fished St. Charles Bay and Ingleside Cove in our small boat. We saw more mullet and small bait fish than I have ever seen before. We tried everything, top waters, DSL, Mirrolures, fresh shrimp, and cut mullet and could not even get bites, no action or keepers. We started in shallows and went to deeper water as it heated up, fishing dawn till noon for three mornings and fished one evening. Not one time did my 10 year old complain, which is great. My youngest only went on one evening trip. It was windy, but we fished the protected shorelines. In previous years, we have picked off a few reds and specs, but never limiting out. Looking for advice on where to fish with small boat or what approach to take, so my oldest doesn't lose his enthusiasm. We prefer not to go with a guide, since our last experience was horrible. Thanks in advance for any help!

If the house you stay in has a pier, fish it at night with croaker and you will ketch plenty of trout... welcome to the form.

Even better if it is a pier with lights.

Thanks. We did have a pier with lights, in the past we caught plenty of trout. Last weekend, nothing but mullet all around, same as we found in the boat. Thanks for the tips.

Texas Fishing Tips has a lot of good information...I have been known to call fishersman's Wharf and catch the boat over to the north side of the Jetty. Caught my biggest red over there. I would call first and get times it runs, or if it still does... The hurricane may have gotten it... Under the bridges on 361 with shrimp is a good place to look too.

Sometimes when there is a ton of mullet everywhere, the reds and trout just won’t take anything else, and they are probably full!

At least that’s my theory.

Head to the intracoastal channel. Fish the edge, shelf, and drop-off with shrimp, squid, and mullet. If nothing else you should get ladyfish and gafftopsail catfish at this time of the year. If you don’t catch anything in 30 minutes then change locations. The best fishing is usually at first light.

Fish at NIGHT now...