I'm freshwater mostly but I got myself a super nice 24.5ft bay boat a couple years ago so I could get salty on occasion. I've had it in South Galveston bay a couple times but want to change it up this next time.

I am planning a trip south to fish March 31- April 4. I'd go anywhere from Corpus to Sabine Pass. What am I fishing for... FISH! What's hottest and where in late March?

Thanks in advance!

Steve

Most consistent will be big in black drum in passes soaking cracked crab during that time.

I would head out to Port Aransas. There are lots of places to fish and the town also has some great places to eat and stay.

I'm leaning towards Port Aransas. What's happening with game fish and bait in late March? I can tell you what's happening with shad, large mouth, crappie, catfish but I have not a clue for redfish, flounder, trout, etc. I'll probably get a guide for day one.

pack a lunch and refreshments and just explore. if you see bait or anything else that looks promising, give it a shot. you can get on the island and launch at Bird Island and head south towards Baffin or hang out around Pt A and work back towards Rockport.

Sounds like you don't have a shallow running boat, so you're kinda stuck to deeper water. Anchor up at jetties, passes into the intercoastal, any sort of drain that has tide moving.

2nd on Port A.

Pat, I have a 246 Robalo with a jack plate that specs a 12" draft. Its not shallow like some of the boats I've seen but I'm also not a deep V. Knowing the running lanes is the tricky part I've already learned without making any damage... thankfully. Is everything going to be different phases of spawning like freshwater cycles in spring time?

You ought to go see if you can find some tripletail either in sabine or upper matagorda.

Wind, tides, weather, water conditions....
You can certainly enjoy the Jetties wherever you put in.
I would not suggest any bays but Matagorda or Galveston, get south of Port O' Connor and it's not if but how many reefs and bars you'll find.
Tides and wind direction dictate fish activity, so plan accordingly.

My son lives in Alvin, TX. He has a small business making soft plastic baits. He also has a website that can take the guesswork out of fishing the Texas Gulf. He and a group of guys that fish ALL the time have compiled all their information on one website.
https://www.bfavipclub.com/

Check it out and tell him his Pops sent you!

JR

Redfish bay close to Rockport has been producing reds and trout. But water level is low so need shallow draft boat, We usually catch between 10 to 20 reds and a bunch of trout. Not all are keepers but the action keeps you busy.

Thanks everyone for the tips! I've been doing lots of research and your advice is right on track . I'm booked to camp bay front at Goose Island for a few nights. I'll fish around there and Aransas Pass through Friday. I procured a guide for Galveston area on that weekend to take me outside of the bay... first time in my own boat! Hopefully mother nature will be nice.

VHF radio, EPIRB, and visual distress device... do I need anything else I don't already need for freshwater to enter the gulf?

+1
Another plus is they're one of the best fish you can put on a plate.

March is the beginning of the sheepshead spawn so they will be moving out of the bays into the nearshore rigs and rocks. If it is nice I always recommend checking some of those out with some live shrimp and squid. They fight hard and eat well. Might even luck your way into some snapper which is more than a bonus