Cold-Weather Texas Saltwater Hotspots
Top wintertime holes from some of Texas’ top saltwater fishing guides:
The trick to locating quality fishing locales, at any time of year, is to eliminate nonproductive areas and focus on those which tend to hold fish on a consistent seasonal basis. That’s a tough enough task in the warm-weather months. But come wintertime, when the whims of the weather can wreak havoc on tried-and-true places and patterns, it becomes an outright challenge.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t get to spend enough time on the water to keep track of where the fish are going on a round-the-clock basis. Which is I have conducted a cross-coastal survey of some of the state’s top saltwater guides with the specific intent of narrowing down the options and sending you in the right direction with the right baits. Read on, and this year’s cold-weather coastal angling might not be nearly so frustrating as it has been in years past.
We begin the journey at the Texas/Louisiana border.
Power plant discharges make for powerful winter fishing. On Sabine Lake, says Capt. Jerry Norris, the place to be is the Gulf States Utilities outfall canal. “The colder the weather, the hotter the fishing at the outfall,” Norris comments. “The outfall is located west of Bridge City and east of Port Arthur off the Neches River, almost at the mouth. There’s 40 to 50 feet of water in the ship channel, but in the outfall canal it averages from six to 10 feet. There, in the warm water that draws the bait, is where you’ll find the fish.”
Most of the action will be for redfish, Norris notes. “If you can get them, live mud minnows are great baits,” he says. “Fresh dead shrimp or cut shad will also work real well. Fish them on the bottom with a Kahle-style wide-gap single hook.”
The deep reefs situated on the south end of the lake where it dumps into the ship channel below Port Arthur are also solid hotspots. “I’ve been fishing the area south of Pleasure Island for years,” Norris says, “and it’s an easy spot to fish.
It’s right off of Hwy. 82 (near the Causeway Bait & Tackle location, sadly, before Hurricane Rita savaged the Sabine Lake area in September of ‘05). But,” he cautions, “action there has a lot to do with the weather. The fish are real finicky from one day to the next. You just have to go and give it a try, and do a lot of drifting over the oyster reefs. When you find fish, mark the exact spot and drift over it repeatedly.”
Soft plastics, including conventional bass worms, are Sabine-area favorites. Rigged on jigheads (some anglers prefer 1/8-ounce when the water gets cold) the red shad Culprit, Fin-S-Fish, Slug-Go, Reaction, Saltwater Assassin and Berkley Power Worm, Power Shad and Power Shiner will all work well. The hot bait as of late has been Berkley’s Gulp series shrimp (an actual imitation of a shrimp body). The current, and to some degree, water temperature, determines the weight of the head. Work the bait just off the bottom and over the shell.”
TRINITY BAY
“The depth of Trinity Bay is a real asset in wintertime,” says Capt. Rick Kersey. “Trinity has an extreme depth of about 14 to 15 feet. That depth of water will hold a thermocline, and in the center of the bay where you find that thermocline is where you’ll also find cold-weather speckled trout.”
According to Kersey, when January winds are sufficiently light it’s not unusual to find working flocks of birds in the midst of the bay among the gas wells. “That,” he notes, “is dependent on whether or not we get a great deal of freshwater inflow. If we do, and the fish get pushed out, then our ace in the hole is the Houston Lighting & Power Company hot-water discharge, located on the bay’s upper northwestern bank.”
The deep-water channel at the gate of the discharge is a proven producer, Kersey adds. “It gets down to around 15 to 18 feet,” he says. “An extra degree or two of water temperature can make a tremendous difference. A lot of the time, that’s all you need to attract and hold the fish in one area. Because,” he elaborates, “that’s where the bait will be holding.”
As for lures, Kersey is partial to 52 Series MirrOlures. “The fish seem to prefer a dead-slow retrieve,” he says. “You need to work the lure just fast enough to keep it about a foot to two feet off the bottom.” Top color patterns are chartreuse and white, followed closely by various shades of red.
A special note to anglers who would like to make a nice “overnighter” while exploring Trinity Bay: Check out Oak Island Lodge. It’s an awesome facility with surprisingly reasonable prices, and even if you don’t own a boat or book a guide (Capt. James “Frenchie” France spearheads the lodge’s fishing operation), the lodge boasts a private lighted fishing pier that can be fantastic when winds are light … especially from fall through spring.
I caught a 26-1/2-inch redfish on a chartreuse Clouser Minnow thrown from an 8-weight Temple Fork Outfitters fly rod from the pier one night last fall, while fishing with my close friend Mark Mantell (a nationally-renowned sporting and contemporary artist whose work can be viewed at www.markmantell.com). The fish nailed the fly only perhaps halfway out on the pier, and when it pounced on that Clouser it sounded like someone had thrown a cinder block into the water.
Lodge owner Artie Presley has done an extremely impressive job of creating a first-class venue for Trinity Bay fishermen. For more information, call the lodge at 409-252-4122, or check the Web at www.oakislandlodge.net.
EAST GALVESTON BAY
One of East Galveston Bay’s best known angling haunts is also one of its best for wintertime fishing … Hanna’s Reef. “On a low incoming tide with a light wind,” says Capt. James Plaag, “the area off Hanna’s near Bull Hill and Lady’s Pass can be very productive. The best period is generally from an hour prior to sunset to around a half-hour after it gets dark.”
Lady’s Pass, located between Bull Shoals and the far east end of Hanna’s Reef, is a major gut that cuts through the bay at a depth of six to seven feet. “There’s around a two-foot-deep ledge on the east side of it that you can wade fish while casting into the gut,” Plaag explains. “Ditto for both ends of Bull Hill and Bull Shoals on the southwest end and northeast corner of the reef, a stretch that actually protrudes out of the water. There will be more redfish than trout in there,” he says, “but the trout that you find tend to be good quality fish.”
For both species, MirrOlures, Skitterwalks and Super Spooks will do the job on a regular basis. Natural bait enthusiasts can also score big with live finger mullet and Black Salty baitfish. “We throw either 51 or 52 series MirrOlures,” Plaag says. “Wade fishermen tend to go with the shallower running 51s and work them over the shell. Fishing out of a boat, say if you’re anchored up at Lady’s Pass, the 52s tend to be more effective … particularly if the current is moving in with any degree of momentum. The tide has everything to do with fishing in East Bay.”
The top color pattern, he adds, is a white plug with gold sides. “Throw it upcurrent, let it sink and come down the gut and then repeat the process,” Plaag instructs.
Fishermen who can handle the rigors of wade fishing a soft, muddy bottom can score big when rising tides inundate the protected shoreline of the Anahuac Wildlife Refuge. The number-one area for winter wading extends from Marsh Point to Robinson Bayou. “There are a lot of oyster beds on the north side from Frozen Point back to Oyster Bayou and then on the south side from the Intracoastal back toward the Tide Gauge,” Plaag notes.
WEST GALVESTON BAY
Today, Pat Murray serves as Executive Director of the Houston-based Coastal Conservation Association(CCA). Prior to that, however, Murray was one of the most successful fishing guides on the Galveston Bay System, and he still has forgotten more about the region … particularly West Bay … than 98 percent of the anglers I know.
“One reason West Galveston Bay is so fun to fish during wintertime,” Murray says, “is because the water gets extremely clear. It’s a great time of year to catch both reds and trout on artificials.”
Murray advises anglers to drift fish the reefs located between Greens and North Deer Islands (the latter, incidentally, is a top-notch spot for birding and shorebird photography). “That area is around 4 to 6 feet deep,” he says, “and it’s covered with live oyster shell. There’s usually a lot of bait out there. If you see a big pod of mullet, always stop and make a drift. Also,” he explains, “look for color changes. Any time the water goes from clear to murky with a distinct color streak it’s a prime opportunity.” Murray recommends throwing slug-style soft plastics rigged with 1/4- or 1/8-ounce jig heads.
Offatt’s Bayou is a renowned cold-water spot among Galveston-area fishermen. “Work the shell around Long Reef,” Murray advises. “It runs almost the entire length of the bayou. The trick is to fish the dropoff. You’ll be casting into only 2 to 3 feet of shell, but if you’re positioned right you’ll be anchored up in 10 feet of water. When the weather warms up after a front, the fish move up onto the shallow shell in big numbers.”
PORT O’CONNOR/MATAGORDA
Here’s a general consensus of information gleaned on numerous fall trips to the POC/Matagorda area with Capt. Billy Pustejovsky, Capt. Melvin Talasek, Capt. Charlie Paradoski and other area pros:
The Army Hole in Espiritu Santo Bay is not quite the hotspot it used to be, but during seriously cold weather still has the propensity to boot out quality trout. To reach the site from Port O’Connor, run immediately down the Intracoastal Canal. Take a left at the Army Cut and follow the markers down the channel; for details, check a TopSpot map.
Despite siltation, the depth of the Army Hole still ranges from 13 feet up to six feet. But again, it takes a near-freeze to stack the fish … particularly redfish, into the area in numbers. Fresh dead shrimp are often all it takes to catch significant numbers of reds. Live bait enthusiasts are advised to go with either live finger mullet or Black Salty baitfish.
Mild winters like the ones we have had in recent years more often place the focus on the reefs of San Antonio Bay. The Seadrift end of the bay can be outstanding, just off the Turn Stake on the Intracoastal Canal. Little Bird and Big Bird are two of the predominant reefs in the area. The water in the vicinity of these shell structures goes from six feet to the surface, and can be very good for wade fishing. Many anglers prefer to drift fish from their flats boat, and a growing number are now using those boats to transport kayaks into the area.
The reef from Panther Point to the Shrimp Boat Wreck on to Mosquito Point is always worth a shot. Said reef runs all the way across the bay, but those are arguably the three best spots on it.
Finally, the Colorado River near Selkirk Island above Matagorda is a time-tested winner. But be forewarned: weekend crowds here are usually outrageous when the weather is cold and the fishing is hot. If you can’t fish on a weekday, stick with the bay reefs.
ROCKPORT/ARANSAS PASS
“When the tide falls out with the north winds, the deeper channels along the edge of Morris Cummins Cut can be super for reds and trout,” says Rockport pro Capt. Lowell Odom. “The same goes for South Bay Gut, Hog Island Hole and the California Hole. You need to drift fish,” Odom notes, “and you’ll do best if you throw small shrimptails or swimming grubs rigged on 3/8-ounce heads and worked very slowly.”
Preferred colors, Odom adds, are avocado and plum. “If the water turns off-color, go with avocado or plum with a chartreuse tail,” he tips. “I also do real well on the Saltwater Bass Assassin; the smaller sizes are perfect for cold-weather fishing.”
Also tops on Odom’s wintertime list are the flats on the edge of the Intracoastal Canal immediately south of Rockport. “Estes Flat is always a good choice for winter fishing,” he says. “It drops right off into the Intracoastal, and you can either fish in the canal on the dropoff or up on top of the spoils. On days when you have good sunshine and the water warms up, you can drift the flats with topwater MirrOlures or other surface plugs. Aside from Estes Flats, you can also do real well on Conn Brown Flats, Brown and Root Flats and Dagger and Ransom Islands. Just make sure you target the potholes,” he advises. “The sandy areas are a bit warmer and tend to magnetize the fish.
“Up north,” Odom continues, “I like to fish the deeper shell on the second chain of islands, wading the ‘fingers’ … little pieces of shell that come out into San Antonio Bay.”
Personally, I can’t stand going to Rockport (not, at least, when winds are light) without at least once heading up the ICW from Aransas Bay to Mesquite Bay and heading right (northeast) to the large shallow cove inside of Cedar Bayou. Unfortunately, an unpredictable carpet of red tide moved into the vicinity of Cedar Bayou in mid-October (’06), and at this point conditions might be dicey all the way down to at least Aransas Pass until the mysterious algae bloom clears up (for sources of current information, go to www.rockport-fulton.org, and consult the list of area fishing guides).
BAFFIN BAY
“The edge of the Rivera Channel is tough to beat for wintertime fishing on Baffin Bay,” says Capt. Ron Behnke. “Concentrate on the seven- to eight-foot water depths along the drops coming off of the deeper flats into the 13-foot channel. The action will be right on that break.” Almost exclusively, Behnke relies on shrimptails for post New-Year’s fishing. “Chartreuse is a steady producer,” he says. “Or, try Glo with a chartreuse tail.”
Tide conditions don’t play a large role in the Rivera Channel strategy, Behnke contends. “Mostly,” he says, “you’re likely to find your fish by spotting working flocks of birds. You’ll also find a lot of mullet along that dropoff, and you can’t go wrong fishing the areas that are heavy with bait. The trout action in there can be excellent, and it’s a good time of year to catch a big one. The closer you go to East Kleburg Point, in the area down around Marker 16, the more likely you are to get into bigger trout in the 28- to 30-inch range.”
The Cathead area, north of East Kleburg Point at the north end of the Tide Gauge Bar, is also a choice spot for winter fishing. “There’s a reef there,” notes Behnke. “You can wade the area with topwaters right on the break where the flats fall off into the deeper water. The water drops from around two feet to six feet deep. That’s a real hotspot for big trout in January.”
PORT MANSFIELD
“Our most consistent winter fishing generally takes place up at the Land Cut, behind the spoil islands in the deeper pockets,” says longtime Port Mansfield pro Terry Neal. “The water up there is a good six feet deep in a lot of areas, which is comfortable water for big trout at this time of year.”
Redfish will hang out in the same area, preying upon baitfish that descend into the holes and pockets in synch with dropping water temperatures. “There’s a channel on one side of the spoil islands that’s 18 to 20 feet deep,” Neal explains. “Behind it, where the food supply holds in the grass, is a stretch of water that ranges from four to, in some areas, eight feet or so. The fish have nearby access to the flats, and move onto them when the sun comes out and the weather warms up.”
Another choice winter hotspot, Neal adds, is the half-mile-wide stretch of water in front of Green Island and north of the “Y” at the Arroyo Colorado. “There’s a good hole between the spoil island which parallels the Intracoastal Canal and Green Island,” he says. “It drops to as much as six feet deep in some areas, and is a real good option for both trout and reds. Plus,” he adds, ”the fish have access to a nearby deep channel in case it gets real cold.”
Anglers who have reservations about injuring fish by fishing live bait should know that Neal, like a growing number of Texas coastal anglers, is an avid fan of thin wire circle hooks (My personal favorite is the Daiichi 5/0 Circle Chunk Light, although there are a number of quality brands on the market. Call it a “confidence factor,” but the red-plated “Bleeding” hooks have proven themselves to be remarkably consistent.) “Circle hooks are one of the best things that’s happened to fishing in years,” Neal comments. “You don’t hurt the fish; it’s not like a treble hook that they swallow.
Neal uses Number 4 Mustads for reds and trout alike, and reminds anglers to let the fish take the bobber down before lifting the rod. “You don’t set the hook like you normally would,” he remarks. “If you do, you’ll pull the hook out of the fish’s mouth.”
– Updated and Reprinted from the original coastalanglers.com
Howdy. I am 
