I was scheduled to go to Rockport next week for a fishing trip. With all the rain we are getting right now, and all the fresh water that is going to be dumping into the bays, do y'all think that is going to hurt the fishing next week? This may be my only trip of the year the way it looks right now, sure would hate to waste it.

I cannot say it will kill the fishing totally, but it does affect it. I always take a sip of the water to check salinity. I have been fishing before when there has been to much freshwater in the bay system and that drives fish out to the gulf or closer to it anyway. Also depends on how srtong the tides are. You got strong tides it might not be that bad. But do keep it in mind. I still would go fishing!
-DELRUS-

Actually guys, we have not had much rain down here. The most that we have had in the past couple of days is about 1/2". That is not nearly enough to mess up the fishing. The lakes have not gotten much rain either so there should not be much freshwater coming in.

mbsodek, You haven't gotten much but the San Antonio area has and the Guadalupe and Medina rivers are flowing at high rates. So there may not be as much freshwater as earlier this year but it will be a factor. Rockport guy I would still go fishing but you may want to try to stay south of Rockport in the Laguna Madre or along the jetties or Lydia ann channel. Just stay close to the access points to the gulf where the salinity will be up. The freshwater may even help in that if you do find the fish they will be concentrated in a smaller area. I will be down there this weekend and will post a report Sunday night or Monday morning.

Reload,

You are right, I would not go north from Rockport because of the freshwater but, the Nueces will not be flooding. So Nueces and CC bay should be fine and south of there in the Laguna will be good also. Rockportguy, I would still go but you may have to fish in different areas. Ask around some of the locals and they should put you on fish.

Rockportguy, also try asking the shrimpers. gamefish follow food so If there are shrimp in certain areas then there will be fish.

I fished Galveston during Labor Day Weekend last year. I'm not sure if you recall, but Friday and Saturday, Galveston was pounded by a tropical depression/storm that developed in the gulf on Friday.

I was able to fish on that Monday following the 8"+ of rain that was dumped. The big bull reds were running in the bay in 4' of water. I caught/released 7 of them in 1.5 hours. I also was able to catch flounder that day as well.

I'd agree with everyone else to go fishing.

That is why I recomended the passes throught to the gulf along the jetties or the Lydia Anne channel.

RPG, both sides are correct. I wouldn't fish north of RP for a while. I would look at the San Jose shoreline for fishy water, espcially south of Longs reef area. However expect a crowd. Everyone from the RP area will be along that shore for a while.
Now south of A.P. it looks like the bays got a break. From personal experience in '02, 2 days after the 500 year flood I fished the Upper L.M. between Pita and Bird Island, water was fine and salty and the fishing hot. Everyone knew it. We got to the King ranch shoreline before almost everyone and staked out a good spot. We had guides within 50' of us. It was the hot spot then and it is the hot spot right now.
If you stay south of RP down to the Laguna, you should be fine. If there's not much release from Lake C.C. the whole Nueces/CC bay into Redfsih bay should be fine. Aransas Bay around Traylor, Mud Island, Quarentine shoreline, etc will be fine.
Hey, go fishing just be mobile.

Was there a post deleted while I was typing? Of course I looked at this post at 5 pm. Posted right now. Super-someone posted good information about staying away from the S.A. Bay system. Wish he had kept that post up, folks can use that good information.

Thanks for all the great information everybody!

I personally would still go...After a heavy in-flux of freshwater, fish the channels that have tidal movement. The freshwater will float. So, fish deeper cuts and channels. Fall 2003, I went to Aransas Pass and fished after a major flood. Caught a record number of trout and reds in the intercoastal canal, near Conn Harbor. Fished in the deeper cuts and points with plastics. I believe that Fall, the area received 10 to 12 inches of rain, plus all the run-off from the Colorado and local rivers!

Here are a couple of my past fishing reports. All in the fall-time.
http://www.texasfishingforum.com/cgibin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000057
and
http://www.texasfishingforum.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000153#000000

I was there Memorial Day, the spray didn't even sting my eyes, water was so sweet. There are always fish there. Went over by Dagger Island and caught a few. Go fishing anyway, it's good for you.

I would go. I always go out unless its lightning. A day on the water is better than almost any other as far as Im concerned. Bring some cold beer with you, if nothing else you can catch a buzz.