Mid-Coast Bays: October 2023

I have been spending a lot of time recently wading reefs in San Antonio Bay. Even though some of my all-time favorite fishing grounds, I had largely neglected them during the summer months because the gulf surf along Matagorda Island was so productive.

I will not go into detail about which reefs you should be fishing; if you find decent water clarity and bait in the area you should be able to find some of our speckled friends. My approach to reef wading includes motoring just close enough to observe bait activity, if any is present, usually mullet rippling the surface. It can also include birds resting on the reef itself or hovering nearby. These are all positive indications of trout presence and should point you toward a good place to begin your wade. Likewise if you are planning to stay in the boat and fish by drifting the area.

Okay, so we have established that bait is present. Now it’s time to deploy my trusty Minn Kota trolling motor to reach whichever portion of the reef where I will begin my wade. By this time my anxious customers are likely already casting while I troll up to the reef. If they’re hooking up, I will look like a genius. If not, they’re at least warmed up.

We will be wading along the reef toward known points and ledges that jut out on both sides, and especially any points where the shell ends abruptly. We will move ever so slowly until we get that first telltale thump, at which time I will tell everyone to stop and fish for a few minutes. The most common mistake I see anglers make is continuing to walk forward into the bite. I know right now you are thinking that I am wearing that statement out; but trust me, I see it almost every day. Someone hooks a fish and they automatically walk toward it while reeling it in. I sometimes have to use the so-called “different voice” to make everyone in the group stop in their tracks.

Okay, so we have located fish and it’s time to select the best lures to continue our reef assault. I have personally always used Bass Assassin lures, perhaps for the exact reason a lot of you have stayed away from them. Bass Assassin lures have always been made softer than most any other brand and the purpose is to enable them to appear more lifelike in the water. To me, it seems undeniably true that a softer lure will have more natural action with every little rod tip movement than stiffer plastic baits. Yes, you will go through more lures on any given day but, if they catch more fish, doesn’t it make that much more sense to use them? Just stating the facts the way I see them.

I have been using three basic types of Assassin baits over the last couple of months. When I leave the boat to begin a wade you will notice my shirt pockets bulging with packages of Bass Assassins. First will be the 5” Saltwater Shad (the good old rattail), next comes the 4” Sea Shad (paddletail), both in Purple Chicken and Magic Grass colors. Just lately, you will also see my pockets stuffed with the new 3.5” Lit’l P&V from Assassin, in the Magic Goby and Green Glass Minnow colors. If you are reading carefully you have probably noticed that I am purposely carrying lures in both lighter and darker colors to match the water conditions. I rig all three of these lure types in either weedless fashion or on 1/16-ounce Bass Assassin jigheads, part number-JA 05001.

The main change we will be witnessing during the month of October is cold fronts becoming stronger and more frequent, actually dropping the humidity level for longer periods. During the fall season you should always be on the lookout for birds working in San Antonio Bay as the shrimp migration continues. When working the birds I always make a point to use up all my old plastics that may have faded or bled into each other as the fish under the birds are in a feeding frenzy and it really doesn’t matter what you put on the jighead.

With the passing cold fronts we will be seeing the annual migration of waterfowl starting to take place and hopefully we will get some much needed rain all across Texas, which in turn should bring more water traveling down the rivers to a bay system near you.