Mansfield Report: September 2026

Greetings from Port Mansfield! At the time of this writing we are still dealing with extreme heat and windy conditions, along with unusually low water levels. I know this sounds like last month’s theme, but it is what it is. On the bright side, there does seem to be a hint of relief, maybe just a hint. With this at hand, most anglers have been playing the deep-water game and, since the water is so low, quite a few have been chest-deep working deep-water ledges, spoil banks, and points that fall off into deeper water. A lot of smaller trout are being caught, along with a fair number of keepers, while employing these tactics.

I, however, have been playing the shallow game early and have specifically been targeting potholes and sandy areas that have bait showing. There have been small schools of mullet in the shallows, and there have been good trout and reds under them. Running a topwater along the outer edges of the mullet schools, we have landed some good trout up to seven pounds. Keep in mind there are not a ton of big trout showing lately, but enough to keep me and my guys on this pattern until about 11:00 am, or so. Redfish have also kept us busy in the same zones, but truth be told they are all between 18-22 inches. I have not caught an upper-slot redfish in quite a while.

I anticipate fishing will bust wide open soon, once these winds back down. This year they have been on the high side for way longer than normal. With a reduction in the winds anticipated and a decrease in temperature, fishing will undoubtedly improve twofold. It is not just us down here feeling the lull in good fishing, but it is the same up and down the coast. I have seen this pattern before and know it is just a matter of time before topwaters will become the lure of choice. You see, once a hint of cooler weather arrives, like a light switch, redfish and trout will filter up from the deeper water in good numbers and eagerly respond by crushing tops and thumping soft plastics.

September is also popular for dove hunting, providing the cast-and-blast option for many outdoorsmen. Expect heavy boat traffic early in the morning, but by about 11:00 a.m. it should thin out, giving those still fishing more flexibility. Redfish will begin schooling in knee- to thigh-deep water. Big trout over twenty-five inches often mix along the outer edges of those redfish schools, so always work the school from the outside in as I noted earlier. One of my clients lost a trout well over thirty inches using this tactic a few years ago.

Mansfield Knockers will be tied on for sure and since the water will be air clear on the flats, I will be using a clear or semi-clear plug such as Glass Minnow or something similar. On the contrast, redfish will still crush bright colors such as Cinderella Story. Here’s a tip on bright topwaters versus clear; in my opinion, a big trout in a finicky mood will take a clear or translucent topwater over a bright one. Sure, they will also hit a bright-colored one as well, but the difference is how finicky they might be.

That said, why not play the cards to your advantage and work that clear water stuff with a clear topwater? Additionally, suspending baits such as the Darter in both junior and full-size models will be great baits for that thigh deep stuff on the east side sand. My go-to soft plastic will be a Wig-A-Lo rigged on a 1/8-ounce jighead, probably Lagunaflauge or Bone Diamond.

Snook are showing themselves here and there, and we have landed several and tagged a few for our friends over at Harte Research Institute. One true giant has come to hand (more on that later) and what a story that will be.

Flounder are also scattered along sandy ledges and bottoms, and a few are even still in drains in back bays, but with the water being so low those areas are not targeted as often as when tides are more generous.

In closing, it has been a tougher than normal summer for most of the Lower Texas Coast and with that usually comes a most welcome uptick in fishing when fall arrives. It is always good to exercise good releasing techniques and only keep what you need.

Until next time, remember fresh is better than frozen.