Mid-Coast Bays: August 2023

During normal years, my approach to fishing in July and August are basically the same. Sure, the lure styles and colors may change, but as far as the areas I target during these warmer months, they do not really change very much. On average, I will continue fishing shallow nighttime feeding areas adjacent to deeper water.

Now that the summer pattern is in full swing I look for things to be on the up and up, especially if we can get some much-needed rain. San Antonio Bay, West Matagorda Bay, and the surf will be the areas I frequent most often. Anytime the wind allows it is really hard to beat the surf, whether you choose to stay in the boat or wade. For whatever reason the fish we catch surfside are so much more aggressive than the fish in the bays. The variety of species we catch there is also pretty cool. It is not uncommon to encounter Spanish mackerel, pompano, tarpon and an occasional tripletail.

In West Matagorda, places like Ranch House Shoreline and the spoil banks along the ship channel are two areas that shouldn’t be overlooked during summer. These areas were mostly off limits when the wind was at its worst the past couple of weeks, but now that our summer pattern is in full swing the wind won’t be an issue most days. When fishing the Ranch House Shoreline it is imperative to wade deep in order to find a good trout bite. That is not to say you won’t catch any up shallow, but the numbers will be out in the waist- to chest-deep. If redfish are more to your liking, hang tight to the shoreline to better your odds of hooking up a coppery brute. The lure I have been putting more and more faith in lately is Texas Custom Lures Double D. This lure can be worked over grassbeds with ease. I prefer them in the Crown Royal and Pistachio colors.

Birds working out in the open bays will be more common now that the shrimp are on the move. I have customers that get really excited when they notice a flock of birds working over an area of water. I wish I could share their excitement, but I know what lurks under our birds is almost always dink trout, skipjack, and many gafftop. I know they have great success working the birds over in in East Matagorda Bay but it just isn’t the case in our area.

With that being said, there is one exception to this scenario. If you ever notice birds working close to the crown of a reef then you could be in luck. The trout that are under the birds close to a reef are usually better quality with fewer of less desirable species in the mix, for whatever reason. You may still catch some small trout but solid keepers will be more abundant.

Now that we are in the middle of summer I can’t stress enough how important it is to get an early start. I am not saying that you’re not going to catch ANY fish in the mid-afternoon hours but I can tell you I have more confidence and success when fishing the early morning hours than I do later in the hottest part of the day.

The Plashlights LED bar light on my X3 comes in handy when leaving out before sunrise. It helps me avoid channel markers, crab traps and other obstructions. But please, try not to blind oncoming traffic. Headlamps that fit on your hat also come in handy for tying knots, etc. when you’re away from the boat.

Please try to remember, and I mentioned this in my June article, it is never okay to pull in close to anglers when you see they are working on a steady bite. Bent rods do not qualify as structure. When you try to crowd your way into the action, you will likely not only fail to get in on the bite, you could end up shutting it down for the people that found it in the beginning.

August can be a scorcher. The first remedy for dealing with this is getting on the water early. Quite often I will have my crew wading and catching fish an hour before sunrise. Next is staying hydrated. Cold water and sports drinks…beer doesn’t qualify. What you wear is also important. Wide-brimmed hats and long sleeve shirts are worth their weight in gold. Dipping down in the water to soak your clothing can also be helpful.