The different types of fish to be caught on the Texas Gulf Coast written by: judekim
Fishing in the Texas Gulf Coast is ideal since the area is in excellent shape. It provides anglers with many opportunities to have a good time, from wade-fishing in the back bays, to trolling across the beautiful blue waters of the distant Gulf.
Texas’ Big 5 Saltwater Game Fish
The following are the different types of fish to be caught on the Texas Gulf Coast:
Speckled Trout
Anglers tend to catch speckled trout throughout the year at a more consistent rate when compared to other kind of game fish. During the summer months, you can look to oyster reefs and the central area of the bay systems if you want to catch some sprout.
Some of the best areas to get this type of fish include;
• Hannah’s Reef in Galveston Bay
• Aransas National Wildlife Refuge shoreline
• Matagorda Bay
• Sabine Lake’s big reef near Mesquite Point
Redfish
Redfish tend to exhibit the same pattern behavior as speckled sprout during the late spring period. Passes and shorelines close to the Gulf of Mexico hold some of the largest concentration of fish. If you are interested in catching redfish, some of the top spots you should be on the lookout for include:
• South Bay near Port Isabel
• East Galveston Bay
• Rockport
• Port O’Connor
In most cases, redfish will start their bite patterns in the summer, and reach their climax in the fall. They also tend to school in the open waters of bay systems in the middle of the day. The most effective way of determining the location of these brutes is to walk around the open bay looking for signs of bronze in the water and massive schooling.
Flounder
Flounder fishing is one of the proud traditions practiced along the Texas Coast, especially during the fall. Spots such as Rollover Pass, Surfside Jetties, and South Jetties close to Aransas pass have become highways for flounders leaving the bay to begin spawning in the deep waters of the Gulf. One of the simplest tools you can use to catch these migrating fish is a finger mullet, or live mud minnows rigged onto a fish finder. The rig is made up of an egg white fitted above a swivel and attached to ladder that is also adjoined to a hook. The best way to use the rig is to drag it across the bottom slowly so that any slow-paced flounder can grab it.
King mackerel
This sort of Texas salt water fishing is great from summer up to early fall. Anglers wishing to catch these big fishes can expect to reel them in using several ways since they will grab anything from live shrimp to top-water plugs.
Black drum
Despite their unappealing look, black drum are a great catch for anyone. The best thing about them is that are usually easy to find and tend to run in the same patterns along the Texas coastal waters.
Finally
The Texas coastal fisheries are in ideal shape because of the wise behavior of the locals. Anglers are interested in conserving the natural resources of the area. In fact, figures show that the number of speckled trout has doubled over the past 20 years, despite increased levels of fishing.