Mid-Coast Bays: August 2024

I have always thought that fishing in August is very much a carbon copy of July, not many changes as far as fish patterns or where we typically target reds and trout. Perhaps the greatest common denominator is to fish areas that have good current flow, whether from wind or tide, the water needs to be moving. I say this because if the water is moving there can be a cooling effect as water from a deeper area is delivered to shallower areas.

Areas I typically look for during the hotter months are shallow ambush points with deep water nearby. Areas such as the spoils off the Ship Channel in West Matagorda, or the many newly-formed sand bars near Pass Cavallo. This also includes the mid-bay reefs in San Antonio Bay. Last but not least is my favorite, the surf along Matagorda Island. These all have great potential during the hotter months.

Granted, the weather will play a role in when and where you can fish some of these areas as most are in open water, meaning there is not much wind protection. Luckily in August there generally isn’t a lot of strong wind; it’s normally calm through the night and builds to a nice breeze in the afternoon. The only thing that brings substantial wind this time of year is tropical storms.

Besides wind there are other things you need to watch for in each area. Along the Ship Channel you must be constantly aware of ship traffic. I mention this because the ships may not appear to be creating a wake but they are displacing a lot of water. It’s more of the tsunami affect, as the wake reaches the shallower spoil areas it will bulge up. I have seen guys that were wading get washed off the spoils, and have also witnessed boats nearly being capsized. It sounds like a dangerous way to fish but it’s really not if you keep a lookout for ships passing through, and there is typically not so much traffic that you cannot enjoy a day on the spoils.

The sand bars around Pass Cavallo are another area where you must exercise caution when wading. There are many bars that have abrupt drop-offs on one side, usually nearer the pass itself. You will want to stay plenty far away from these as the sand is continually shifting under your feet. Recently I have seen more and more anglers fishing close to these edges and that to me is a big no-no. Another thing to pay attention to is the tide when fishing near the pass. If you feel the tide trying to push you around then by all means leave. You can be swept into deep water in a matter of seconds. I recommend wearing an inflatable PFD when fishing near the pass.

The surf has its own set of dangers. Anchoring in the surf can be a challenge, unless it’s one of those rare glassy-calm days we dream about. I normally try to set my anchor in the second gut and then let out enough line so that I’m stepping out onto the second bar. If the gulf is calm enough and the first gut is wide enough, I will anchor in the first gut. When fishing the surf from the boat I usually anchor in the second gut and cast back toward the first gut.

Another concern in the surf is sharks. I’ve had more shark encounters in the surf already this year than all my previous years combined. Use a 25’ stringer and make sure it is not wrapped around you while wading. The sharks do not stop and make sure your leg isn’t in the way of their next meal.

Now let’s head out to the mid-bay reefs in San Antonio Bay. Probably the greatest hazard out there right now are the jellyfish. I tell all my groups to wear long wading pants and 99.9% of them listen. The other 0.1% end up in the boat watching us fish. I’m not sure if we have more of what I call “hot jelly” or what has happened in our bays, but I can remember when I only waded in shorts. Sadly, those days are long gone. There are some reefs with steep drop-offs so, if you’re unfamiliar, wear an inflatable PFD.

I know that I could have covered a great many other topics and tactics, but my purpose here was to introduce inexperienced or anglers new to the area to some of the many August options available here in the POC-Seadrift region.

Fish hard, fish smart!