Focus Areas & Tips for Fall Fishing

As big as the Galveston Bay Complex is it tends to fish somewhat small at times. All summer I seem to find success in the same two or three areas within each major bay of the complex as the somewhat stationary trout schools basically reside over the same structure during that period, usually May through August. I typically just rotate my crops so as to not wear out one area. Therefore, barring any excessive freshwater events, our summertime trout are very predictable. They may not be on every street corner but they are at least pretty easy to find and catch.

Then there’s September, when trout are in flux as they travel from their warm weather haunts to their fall locales. A similar migration pattern can even hold true for early October. Some fish can still be caught in their summertime spots while others are filtering into fall areas, but most seem to be hung up somewhere in between. There’s more school bus fishing during this time, meaning that we typically have to run more routes while picking up one trout here and two trout there, compared to just anchoring on the corner of an oyster reef and catching dozens. We’re usually pleased with the results at the end of the trip but I sometimes have to burn twice as much gas in comparison to the period of time prior to the transitional months of September and October.

All of this being said there’s great news on the horizon! Not only are we more than ready for cooler weather but getting back to that more consistent and reliable trout pattern that comes with each and every cold front will be quite refreshing as well. November kicks off a special time of year. Whether we’re hunting ducks, sitting in a deer blind, or wade fishing a flat on a cool crisp morning, the seasonal change revives our souls and presents us with new patterns and opportunities especially when it comes to targeting trout.

Knowing where to look is the first and most important step because one thing is certain, if they’re not there then we can’t catch them. There are several high percentage areas that immediately come to mind. Let’s discuss a few of them along with some possible scenarios we may be presented with when fishing those areas.  

Generally speaking, trout are structure and habitat-oriented fish but that alone doesn’t necessarily mean that trout will always be found there. It really helps if food in the form of active baitfish, shrimp and tiny crabs is present. I fish a lot of the oyster reefs in Galveston and East Matagorda Bays, but in most cases if I don’t see bait I keep on trucking.

I’ve currently been having very good success wading a reef that’s positioned not too far off a cordgrass-lined stretch of shoreline. This particular reef runs perpendicular to the shoreline so tidal currents flowing east and west create eddies on both ends, as well as ambush points along its deeper edge. The past couple of trips there were textbook – find the bait and find the fish – scenarios. There were lots of nervous mullet and shad along with telltale hard-edged trout slicks on which to focus. We would simply jump out of the boat and go to town catching trout after trout.

But what if the signs aren’t there? Notice that I said, in most cases. Now fast forward to this morning’s trip which was the exception to the – find the bait and find the fish – rule. We had one inch of tide movement; no wind and we were one day on the back side of a very bright full moon. There was nothing to see but lifeless water. However, I already knew the fish were there so we waded the area anyway. We dug our heels in and managed to grind out thirty-seven solid trout during the moonset minor.

I would’ve never stopped had I not known those fish were living there. By the way, we noticed plenty of mullet and shad making swirls as we waded along the crest of this particularly narrow reef. Their lack of visibility on the surface certainly wouldn’t have warranted a stop from most boats who chose to peruse this particular stretch of shoreline that morning. I’ll add one more thing; when the bait is down and somewhat docile the trout typically are too.

We had to slowly drag and lightly twitch our Laguna Shrimp Bass Assassins along the bottom while oftentimes dead-sticking them to induce subtle bites. I try to focus on points, small structure and eccentric drop-offs during weak tide periods and this particular reef possesses a very steep drop-off along one edge. Near the bottom of the ledge where the shell transitioned to mud is where we caught the majority of our fish.

As water temperatures continue to decline, forage species will tend to concentrate near marsh drains along shorelines. I’ve found that the best time to fish these areas are on a high tide that’s getting ready to fall. The water flowing out of the bayou or back lake into the bay brings with it a full-course buffet for opportunistic trout, reds and flounder. In addition, as the velocity of the flow increases a well-defined color change (mud streak) along the confluence of clearer bay water will form creating an excellent ambush point.

Small topwaters such as MirrOlure Top Dog Jr’s. and She Pups can draw some violent blow-ups and can even trigger a full-blown feeding frenzy. Of course, soft plastics such as Bass Assassins, MirrOlure Lil Johns and Provokers are always go-to baits for catching sheer numbers of fish. However, I’ve found that some of my larger fish have come on topwaters. Targeting drains (especially when wading) can present us with some of the best catching opportunities of the entire year!

As much as I love to focus on small shoreline reefs and bayou drains this time of year, there are times when wading the flats can be just as productive. Furthermore, many times I will have groups of 3 or 4 fishermen, so wading a small area wouldn’t provide everyone with the same opportunity to catch fish. Nothing is worse than having two clients catch fish while the other two become spectators because they can’t cast into a tight area.

There are certain characteristics I prefer when fishing flats. Stretches of broken shoreline with points and undulations are usually more productive than flats with no depth changes, or ones that are bordered by straight-line banks that are void of some form of habitat. We don’t have many here in Galveston or East Matagorda these days but flats with seagrass beds and potholes offer plenty of target areas. Obviously, stretches of shoreline possessing live oyster reefs are prime wading areas and with reefs we get the benefit of ledges and drop-offs as a bonus.

Regardless of the bottom habitat, I prefer a parallel or quartering wind of 10 – 15 mph to create turbid streaks and help stir up baitfish. This makes it much easier to trick trout than fishing in calm, clear water. I like to start out throwing a topwater as a locater bait, given the fact that we’re covering a vast area and then figure out what the fish will fully commit to once located. Remember to fan your casts in every direction to cover more water.

Unfortunately, there are times when we are forced to fish in those so-called postcard conditions. We all know the conditions I’m referring to; dead calm, bluebird sky, and gin clear water. The first thing I like to do is get a very early start because we give ourselves a much better chance at tricking our target species in the low light conditions. I usually start out chunking a small profile topwater with a soft and subtle pitched rattle, like a Top Dog Jr. or Super Spook Jr. I’ve found that dark colors like solid black work the best. These topwaters are less intimidating than their larger-sized, higher-pitched cousins. Those come into play on the choppier days.

As the sun peeks over the horizon and darkness fades, I’ll generally switch to a small, clear-colored or light-colored soft plastic. The Saltwater Assassin Opening Night Glow w/chartreuse tail, Lit’l P&V, or MirrOlure Lil John in Blue Moon w/ limetreuse tail both fit the bill beautifully when it comes to color and profile. Not only that, but both are scent-infused and will cast a country mile. Making long casts and trying our best to keep the sun in our face will greatly increase our chances for success. If you want to see how fish react to shadows, just pay attention to the reaction of rafting mullet when a pelican flies between them and the sun. They scatter just like a trout or redfish will do when we cast a shadow.   

As easy as fall fishing can be we must always keep in mind that there will be some days when the conditions present us with unforeseen changes that aren’t quite textbook. When this occurs we need to understand how the fish react and then respond accordingly. Honing in on the right spot is one thing, but knowing what to do if the tide’s not moving and the mullet aren’t jumping is just as important.

By understanding the fall staging areas of the fish we choose to target and how the changes affect their feeding habits, we can sometimes turn what would otherwise be a tough day into a very rewarding outing. Please remember to let ‘em go if you don’t need them. Good luck!