South Padre: October 2022

The closer we draw to the winter months, the more excited I get about the prospects of tremendous winter fishing opportunity. October is not quite as cool as I prefer but it's a step in the right direction. The days will be growing shorter and our bay waters will cool into the mid-70° range. The fish we seek will begin to feed more aggressively and for longer periods; almost as though they know Old Man Winter is on his way.  

October is an excellent month to take advantage of less-pressured waters and hungry fish. As the bay waters cool, the increased aggression in their feeding activity leads them to be more willing to chase a lure, quite different than summer when you almost have to bump them on the nose to get them to eat.

Redfish will be on the prowl, and their numbers should increase on the shallow grass flats. The tides in October will continue to be higher, compared to the summer months, and the floating grass should begin to dissipate this month.

For years I have observed that as fall approaches we find greater numbers of redfish congregating in the middle portion of the Lower Laguna Madre. I have always believed this was due to the greater abundance of mullet near the mouth of the Arroyo Colorado, which is why I focus much of my fall redfish efforts on the flats in that area. We typically find solid numbers of slot-sized reds and the tugs on the line are always welcome. Lately I have also been noticing many undersized redfish. Please handle these little fellows with the same respect and care you would give any larger ones you might be releasing as they are truly the future of the fishery.  

Our trout fishery continues to show good progress in recovery since the freeze last February. Good evidence of this are reports of schools under the lights of the cabins along the ICW and Arroyo Colorado that include a mix of mostly undersize fish, but also with fair numbers of slot-sized keepers. For several months after the freeze not a single trout could be seen under any of the lights.

Results are similar on my charters, plenty of little ones, but almost every trip we catch a few trout in the mid to upper  twenty-inch class. So, our trout fishery looks promising for the future, and hopefully, the upcoming winter trout season will be a good one.

Plastic baits are tricking most of our trout, and the slower you work them near bottom the more bites you will receive. Trout are stationed on sandy bottoms and will continue to be there in good numbers. The sand-to-grass transition line on the east side will soon turn on as the water temperatures drop and tides rise during October. Slicks continue to point the way to feeding activity and I expect this too will continue throughout the month.

Flounder landings have remained impressive, better perhaps than any year I can recall. Not so many big ones, but the sheer number of keeper-size fish has anglers excited about the future. Targeting them requires patience as well as presenting your lure slowly along the bottom. Productive locations have been along old oilfield cuts, edges of channels, and drains. If bagging a flounder or two for dinner is your goal I strongly recommend carrying a landing net. Even then, landing one is no guarantee. Flounder are notorious for only mouthing the bait and then releasing it when reeled to the surface.

Snook fishing has been steady with at least one angler, and sometimes all in the group, managing to land a linesider when we are targeting them. Most of these have been averaging three- to six-pounds and only very occasionally larger. Plastic baits have produced the higher percentage of landings when compared to topwaters. October is typically the last month this hard-fighting species will be consistently found on the flats. As soon as the water temps cool below 70° they begin heading to deeper and warmer water. Snook cannot thrive in water temperatures below 60° for long periods.

October gives us fabulous weather on the Lower Laguna with some of the prettiest evening skies along with comfortable air and water temperatures. After a long and hot summer the fishing improves dramatically. Add the fact than many anglers will be heading afield as deer, waterfowl, and other hunting activities take precedence over fishing. Diehard anglers wait all year for this!