The View: September 2024

Trout, teal, dove, redfish – what to do in September?

The first north breezes of September could slice overnight mercury readings by 5-10 degrees. Those cooler nighttime temps do wonders for coastal fishing, knocking water temperatures down at least a couple of degrees. It may not seem significant, but there is a big difference in 78° and 80° when it comes to coastal fishing. A couple of degrees of difference puts life in a stagnant fishery. But, then again, it could be just as hot or hotter than an August summer pattern. It is a wait and see game.

September’s higher tides encourage waders in East Bay to return to the shorelines for larger trout. Muddy bottoms on Brown Cedar Flats and Catch-All Basin are prime locales to toss a topwater for gator trout. These are also solid spots for reds as well.

With high tides expect redfish to fill the back lakes and grassy shorelines and readily eating small topwaters and weedless soft plastics. We often find large schools of redfish on the north shoreline.

Live shrimp, mullet and topwaters work well. Back bay areas like Oyster Lake, Crab Lake and Lake Austin hold healthy populations. Don't be surprised to see birds working in the back lakes on calm days as shrimp begin to leave the marsh.

Wading the mid-bay reefs in East Bay produces throughout the year. With higher tides, the muddy bottoms around Brown Cedar Flats hold both trout and redfish for waders and drifters. The far east end of the bay gets really good this time of year.

Grass beds on the south shoreline of West Bay will continue to hold trout and redfish for anglers tossing topwaters and soft plastics. Since tides most often are higher than normal, expect those fish to be tight to the shorelines.

Reefs along the north shoreline of West Bay hold trout, redfish and black drum on live shrimp. Shell Island, Twin Island and all the points along the north shoreline are littered with shell. Redfish have been known to school in large numbers in late September in these locales.

Teal season runs Sept. 14-29 and we will be ready to hunt every morning and fish the afternoons. Most of our mornings are done with plenty of time to get a bite to eat before hitting the bay before noon. If you are not a hunter, we will have boats available for a morning session.

A wetter than normal summer has our coastal marshes in great shape. To date, we have had close to 40 inches of rain in 2024. That helps balance the brine in our marshes and encourages growth of profuse amounts of aquatics that sustain our duck populations through the winter.

It also does wonders for the fall white shrimp crop that is growing and maturing in our marshes now. These shrimp will begin their exodus in Oct-Nov from the marsh to our bays and eventually to the Gulf. Wet years like 2024 normally produce excellent fall bird action compared to the past two falls when we were experiencing drought-like conditions and bird action was fair at best.

Freshwater brings life to all things. The last quarter of 2024 should be the best of times for hunters and fishers in Texas. Please continue to practice sound conservation and release more than you take. Catch and release is cool.

Call or text Sunrise Lodge and Properties for hunting, fishing, lodging, vacations rentals or coastal and farm and ranch real estate opportunities.