O.K. gang! I've gotta head South, somewhere between Galveston and Matagorda, and try and catch some redfish, trout and flounder and maybe throw in some blueclaws.

I plan to spend about a week down that way and I'm dragging my Tracker V17 along so I can load it with tackle and such.

What I need are some recommendations as to the best month to go, what area to go to, where to stay, etc.

I'll need a room or rental for 5 days or so, preferably on the water (inshore) with a ramp close by and a marina for fuel, bait etc., in other words, all the ideal conditions.

Thanks, in advance, for all your suggestions and assistance.

Do you want to catch numbers or size? Do you like to throw live bait or artificial? Do you wade, boat, yak, or only bankfish? These are all questions that could help me narrow things down for you. Also, for trout, and redfish I wouldnt stay any more north than Matagorda. Prefebly, you should go down to at least Rockport or even further south to somewhere around port aransas or baffin bay area. This is were the serious trout and red fishin is. However, if you like flounder, those areas like Galveston seem to be the ticket. Winter and early spring fishing is best for big trout. Large hardbait lures seem to work best. Concentrate on fishing deeper water with mud bottoms. Summertimes tend to have more trout numbers and live bait works great though lures are still effective. (topwater, smaller baits, plastics) Also, shallow water sight fishing can be a blast during the warmer months. Late summer, the redfish start to school and will hit a wide variety of baits/lures. Both are in the surf during the warm months as well.

house to rent from 2coolfishing
This house has a ramp and a dock with lights. You can't beat the rental price.

White Sands Resort and Marina in South Padre Island is hard to beat. On The water. $50 bucks a night.

T-k,
I'll have my boat with me so that's what I'll be getting around in. I have some coastal maps of the Galveston and Rockport areas that I will bring along.
As for fishing preferences, I will be doing some of all kinds. I have lots of artificials and will try some flyfishing, spinning and throwing live shrimp for trout and pinfish for reds also. In other words, a little bit of everything!
Thanks for your tips. I'm sure they will come in handy.

Thanks, all, for the info. Can't say enough good things about this site!

BBrown, your first name isnt Bill is it? because I my name is Bill Brown and i am going down to Laguna Madre and spending the weekend before THanksgiving down there...that is to weird huh...

Grizz,

Nope.....mine is Bert. Good to hear from you tho.


You are going down to LM Thanksgiving? That should be a good time for trout and reds. Wish I were going but I will be having a house full here. In-laws coming in from Pensacola and with them added we should have around 18 here for dinner. Do you go down there often?

I'll get down there sooner or later, I hope. Let me know how you do. Good luck.

I try to get down there 2-3 times a year. I have a good friend who has a house in Aroyyo City so its perfect for fishing the LLM. sounds like you are going to have a housefull for turkey day...sounds like fun. I will let you know how I do when i get back...look for a report from me sometime next week.

I'll look forward to hearing from you. That's really interesting as many years ago my Sister and her husband lived down that way. They also had a friend with one of those fishing cabins on pilings along the Intercoastal. I got to fish it one time before a hurricane blew it all away. And the fishing and shrimping at night of that thing was great!

Have a safe trip down and back and fill a couple of coolers with fillets.

Well just got back from fishing Lower Laguna Madre and was able to limit out each day... they were hanging on the edges of a secondary channel...caught them all on a gold spoon...I think I wore out the drag on one of my reels

Thanks, Grizz, for the report. Sounds like you had a great trip! When does the fishfry start?

actually i just finished a dinner of Blackend Redfish, my world famous mashed potatoes and garlic bread with a fine bottle of chilled coors light...