SABINE – The flounder are continuing to move through the pass and fishermen armed with live shrimp are taking plenty of flatfish home for the table. Limits of trout and redfish are also falling to the whiskered bait. Work the reefs with a popping cork and live shrimp for trout and redfish. If you want to enjoy the fight of really big reds, use live piggy perch or small croakers rigged on a slip weight. 
GALVESTON – Galveston Bay could be seeing one of the best years ever for anglers hunting big speckled trout. Waders should look to the south shoreline of East Bay, early and late in the day, and throw topwater and slow sinking plugs such as the Producer Ghost and B&L’s Corky. For those just looking for limits, drifting the reefs is a sure bet this time of year for schooling sized specks and scattered redfish or flounder. The prediction for this years trout fishing is good news for fishermen counting on a big speck to win one of the many prizes offered by this years S.T.A.R. tournament. MATAGORDA – Near limits of speckled trout are coming out of West Matagorda Bay. Fishermen working the shallows with swimmin shad are landing trout to 5 and 6 pounds. One local fisherman says, “We are having the best year I’ve ever seen and as summer approaches, both East and West bays should produce some very nice stringers.” Waderfishermen are having a good time in East bay during this early spring season. Mixed stringers of speckled trout, redfish, and flounder are becoming more common. And big sow trout should be moving into the shallows very soon. ROCKPORT – Capt. Bill Schneider says he is extremely excited about the prospects for the rockport area this year. “The redfish are going crazy all over the place. They’re hitting everything from dead shrimp to topwater plugs to weedless spoons.” “And as the weather continues to warm, the fishing is only going to get better. This is probably going to be the best year we’ve ever had.” Schneider also has good things to say about the trout fishing in the Rockport area. “We’ve already seen some 28 and 29 inch fish brought to the boat and the big sow trout haven’t moved into the area yet.” MANSFIELD – Terry Neil says that fishing has never been better in the Port Mansfield area. “We’re getting good numbers of specks south of Mansfield and the redfish are unbelievable.” Terry also reports, “The Saucer is giving up occasional limits of trout and redfish on live shrimp and soft plastics. We’re also seeing good trout action around from the Oak Motts area north.” CORPUS CHRISTI – Another good example of knowing where to fish during windy conditions comes from lower coast guide David Green. “We’re still suffering slightly from the brown tide in the Baffin Bay area, says Green, but the fish are there. All you have to do is use a good popping cork with live shrimp and you’ll bring home some nice trout.” As for the brown tide Green says, “The only thing that’s going to cure the problem is a major influx of clean water from the gulf. This would result in a major flushing of the bay and would hopefully remove the brown algea.” As for fishermen who are purists about their artificial bait fishing, David has this to say, “If a guy wants to throw lures exclusively, we can handle that too. The Laguna Madre and Land Cut are prime areas for trophy speckled trout during this time of year. And we could see some very big trout coming out of these areas as we move further into summer.” OFFSHORE – Fishermen working the offshore rigs and wrecks for red snapper are also finding plenty of early season amberjack and warsaw grouper. And reports of kingfish catches began coming in last month which says a lot for this years offshore fishing. And the red snapper, which have been great all winter, should continue although they will be moving a little further out.
– Texas Saltwater Fishing Guide
