Know Your Weather!
It’s sometimes hard to decide whether December is a blessing or a curse here on the Texas Middle Coast. It all depends on the weather pattern. We can experience stretches of mild days with great fishing action—or periods of bitter cold followed by huge drops in tide due to strong north winds. Fish that were once patterned and producing steady action can suddenly come to a screeching halt, leaving anglers scratching their heads and forced to completely revamp their plan of attack.
While many outdoorsmen have shifted their focus to deer or waterfowl hunting, our boat ramps and waterways grow much quieter this time of year. I like to play the weather day by day for fishing. Although not all days are sunny and warm, December can offer many great days on the water. That’s one of the reasons I love fishing this special month. Having entire areas to yourself is a treat, and because of that, fish aren’t pressured constantly and can return to their normal feeding and travel patterns. For those who prefer a screaming drag over a shotgun or rifle, this is prime time to pattern and stay on a successful bite.
I’ll admit—I enjoy watching a buck chase a doe, and the thrill of stalking a trophy deer. On days when I’m not on the water, you’ll often find me on our family ranch outside Seguin, Texas, guiding hunts and soaking in the abundant wildlife. I always discuss weather patterns with my clients and emphasize how important it is to know your weather each time you leave the dock—especially as winter sets in. I’ve seen the bays turn dangerous in a matter of minutes with the approach of a strong cold front. We always try to time these fronts, knowing the fishing can get very good right before one arrives.
Everyone has their preferred weather apps and routines, but I thought I’d share my top three for winter fishing—apps I use daily to form my on-the-water strategy. Before diving into these, it’s important to understand the layout of the bay complex you’re fishing. These apps all rely on map-based data, so learning how to read your bay’s shape and structure helps you make sense of what you’re seeing.
Earlier, I mentioned that I love winter for the reduced boat traffic. However, that same solitude can be a safety concern. During summer, help is often just a shout or a quick phone call away. In winter, with fewer boats on the water—and rougher weather—it might take longer for assistance to arrive. That’s why staying aware of changing weather conditions is crucial.
In the accompanying photos, you’ll see my “Weather” folder. Inside it are three apps: SailFlow, Windy, and MyRadar.
Let’s start with SailFlow. I use the free version and find it more than sufficient. When you open the app, you’ll see a map of the San Antonio and Matagorda Bay area showing your current location. My favorite feature is the abundance of weather stations in specific areas. This allows me to track approaching patterns before they hit, giving me time to seek shelter or get off the water. It also helps determine whether certain parts of the bay are worth the run—or if the water might be too rough or dirty. Click on any white weather station icon, and you’ll get a 7-day, hour-by-hour forecast showing sustained winds on top, gusts below, and directional arrows for wind movement. This view makes it easy to see approaching weather and overnight conditions.
Next up is the Windy app. For this one, I pay for the premium package to access the extended 14-day forecast. While it doesn’t show your current location, I like the visual layout—wind arrows and color-coded wind speeds make it easy to interpret. You can zoom in and drop crosshairs on a specific shoreline or back-lake pond to get a detailed wind readout for that exact spot. Tracking approaching fronts this time of year is super easy using Windy’s animations and updates.
Last but not least, for tracking rain I use MyRadar. This app does show your location and provides a 45-minute radar loop showing precipitation intensity—from light mist in blue to heavy downpours in red and purple. By adjusting the settings, you can overlay frontal boundaries or even projected paths of tropical systems, complete with timelines.
I’ve used these three apps daily for many years and have found them to be the most accurate and reliable for my needs. I hope this helps others who are learning the ropes of winter fishing. I can’t stress enough the importance of knowing your weather—especially this time of year. Conditions on the water can change quickly if you’re not prepared.
Stay safe out there, and enjoy your time on the water.
