Frigid Fishing Adventures
Each winter, coastal anglers across Texas brace for the uncertainty our coldest season brings. While we usually see our first true cold fronts in December, the most severe weather typically arrives from early January through February. Predicting whether a Texas winter will trend warmer or colder is a gamble at best, and even the experts miss by a mile some years.
Modern weather models can offer a broad outlook on whether arctic air might push south in the coming weeks, but accurately forecasting the strength and timing of those fronts this far from the polar regions is nearly impossible long-term. Lately, there’s been talk about unusually cold systems barreling into Texas this winter. But the real question is: Will this winter grind shut down our coastal fishing scene, or will we find pockets of wintertime opportunity where fish feed aggressively despite the chill?
After a strong front passes, surf fishing usually hits its prime two to three days later—once winds settle, waves fall, and the water clears. It’s not a perfect rule, but it holds true more often than not. In those brief windows of calm, clear water, one of the surf’s tastiest targets becomes especially accessible: the Florida pompano.
Pompano aren’t giants—topping out around six pounds—but what they lack in size they make up for in pure table quality. These winter visitors thrive in cool, clean surf, feeding on ghost shrimp and coquina clams. Light tackle and simple baits like Fish-bites, Fish-gum, or peeled shrimp can quickly fill a cooler on the right day.
I love catching and eating pompano, but most of my winter surf time is spent pursuing the ocean’s toothier apex predators. Traditionally, serious sharking happens from March through early December in Texas. But during winter’s bluebird days—clear skies, light winds, cold water—I run baits for sandbar sharks, a species that truly seems to enjoy chilly surf. Mature sandbars spend the winter along the South Texas coast, where they breed, feed, and often birth their pups. Targeting them on the calmer winter days provides excitement without the intensity of our big-shark summer season.
When water temperatures sink below the mid-60s, most inshore species move out of the surf and seek deeper refuge. But two exceptions thrive in these conditions: red drum and black drum. Both species tolerate cold water extremely well, and during moderate winter fronts they’ll stack thick in the surf. Slot reds and bull reds eat almost anything fresh—shrimp, mullet, crab—while black drum favor shrimp for smaller fish and crabs for the big bulls. In South Texas, the largest surf reds are often caught from December through March, and the biggest black drum from January through March. But once water temps dip below 60°, the bite slows dramatically; below 50°, most fish vacate the surf entirely.
When the surf turns lifeless and icy, I turn to one of my favorite guilty pleasures: kayaking and wading the backside of Padre Island. With air temps in the 30s and wind chills in the 20s, my focus shifts to the Intracoastal Waterway, where dropoffs and channels trap warmer water. Predictably, redfish, trout, black drum—even late-season flounder—abandon shallow flats and stack deep, feeding aggressively. Over the past two decades, some of my best trout have come from these brutally cold stretches.
Anyone winter fishing should stay aware of TPWD’s temporary closures, designed to protect fish that pile into deep holes during freezes. These closures are essential and should always be respected.
Winter’s unpredictability doesn’t end with the fish. After a week of cold, a sudden warm-up into the 80s can spawn thick fog. Dense fog on the beachfront is dangerous—especially at night. Anyone camping or fishing the beach should set up high near the dunes, well away from the normal driving lane.
For me, the coldest season is also a rare break from the nonstop shark charter grind. It’s a time to fish for myself again—whether that means running offshore in frigid weather chasing makos or slipping back into the shallows to hunt trophy trout. I’ve always been an adventurer at heart, and winter offers a chance to cleanse the soul, restore the spirit, and put a few fresh fillets in the freezer.
It may be cold, unpredictable, and sometimes downright brutal—but winter fishing in Texas is anything but boring.
