Big reds and Trout!

Good morning everyone! I am looking forward to my 1st Texas saltwater experience soon and looking for some guidance. I moved to Texas from central Florida in 2013 and have yet to get down to the coast. I did a lot of chasin tail in Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River Lagoon on the east coast of Florida, catching reds and trout.

I read a post on here not too long ago about heading down to Galveston or Port Aransas from Dallas with some places to try for reds, but I cant find that post. If someone could direct me to it that would be great! I live south of Dallas in Waxahachie and trying to decide between a 4 hr or 5 hr drive.

Just looking for a little guidance, not anyone's honey hole or secret spot. Thanks for reading and I hope y'all can help me in my endeavor!

From Waxahachie it will be 5 to 6 hour drive depending on traffic and how you drive, go 35 to 77 in Waco through Victoria it is faster than the interstate overall to get to the Port Aransas area. Check the Texas Kayak Fisherman website it has more information on the salt conditions and fishing than you see here.

I would recommend top-water and swim baits this time of year, meet up with someone that goes more often than me if you want good areas. If your camping I would recommend Goose Island or Mustang Island state parks.

I kayak, boat and wade fish the surf, marshes, watercourses and bays around Freeport. Right now, the issue is unreal amounts of recent rain and elevated tides along the coast that has lead to unbearable and about unprecedented numbers of mosquitoes. Bring the high percentage DEET repellent if you come.

ACK Austin Canoe and kayak has a list of launch points up and down the coast. TKF has tons of good information. Google Earth, especially if you can get to the historical imagery, will show a lot of the shallow water structures like oyster reefs, guts and grassy areas to look at. Christmas Bay and I’ve heard parts of West Galveston bay have submerged sea grass meadows. There’s more submerged grass areas going more south into coastal Texas.

There’s good fishing and good fish around Freeport. Texas Parks and Wildlife has done gill net surveys for decades and the long term trends on trout and especially redfish are up pretty much all along the coast. If I were you, I’d pick an area or two to focus on and learn about. There’s good fish, based on the TP&W data, in every system, although I really haven’t been below The POC jetties or above San Luis Pass in many years.

Some areas are just easier to access with kayaks. Christmas bay is super easy to explore. I’ve heard powderhorn lake off West Matagorda bay is easy. You won’t find a spot without Fish, but some areas get more boat traffic and some require marathon paddles to get to. I like avoiding as much boat traffic when in the kayak as possible. Shallow, marshy areas with lots of oyster bars help keep out a good chunk of the boaters.

I have fished paddle and rat tails, suspending type plugs, walk the dog tops, spoons, flies. It all works. Juvenile (slot) redfish will be schooling up after shrimp in the fall in marsh lakes and shallow secondary and tertiary shallow bays.

I went down last week to Christmas bay to fish for a week. Got there Monday eve. Went to scout, as karstopo said the mosquitoes were UNREAL!

Tried to go out tuesday morning covered in deet and lost a pint of blood. Loaded up and drove the 5 hours back home. I will go back for sure but i will wait for a nice long dry spell. I would rather catch no fish and just have fun fishing than inhale 3 oz of mosquitoes. Had to breathe through clenched teeth or they would be all in my mouth.

Anyway here is my post of the devils.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/12896872/MOSQUITOES!#Post12896872

The county is flying the airplane that sprays to kill the mosquitoes. That usually thins them out some.

We have two basic types of mosquitoes around here, the ones that come with lots of rain and the ones that happen after elevated tides. We always get big tides in September and October and that always breeds the saltwater types. I guess everything was just right to get them all going recently. They don’t ever go completely away in the marsh, but some lower water after some big cold fronts later in the fall will help thin them out a lot.

Check out Sargent which is between Freeport and Matagorda. East of there fish Cedar Lake area and west of there fish The East end of East Matagorda Bay. Lots of protected water and lots of fish.PM for additional info.
Tight lines!

I am aching to do some inshore fishing. Might have to wait until spring for me. Bad timing on our trip this time.

Thanks for all the replies! I hope to get down there when the water is somewhat back to normal and the mosquitoes aren’t as bad. Thanks for all the tips and locations! I got a ton of responses on Texas Kayak Fishing Facebook page as well!

Tight lines to you!

Have you gone yet? How was the fishing? I'm going Oct 27th weekend to hetty park area. Just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

ODB, I have not made it down there yet. November or December will be my time to go. This month is too busy and I didn't go last month due to water conditions. I have been following Texas Kayak Fisherman on Facebook and they seem to be slaying the reds down there right now.

Good Luck!