Mid-Coast Bays: August 2026
A discussion of August’s fishing prospects would not be complete without mentioning the amount of rainfall we have received recently in the Port O’Connor-Seadrift region. This rain was a godsend to all the major bay systems along the coast, but especially to the San Antonio Bay system. While local rainfall usually has only minimal effect on salinity patterns, heavy rains further up the Guadalupe River basin can create almost total freshwater inundation, depending how long the river remains at or above flood stage. Don’t misunderstand, freshwater inflow is good. In fact, it’s the major source of nutrients for the ecosystem. Growing up here in Seadrift and a fishing guide for 40 years, I have noticed many changes in our ecosystem. Perhaps the most noticeable is a continuously diminishing Guadalupe River inflow to San Antonio Bay. This is no doubt a product of the rapidly growing human population further up the basin, increased agricultural needs, and industries taking water from the river. This is why I say the recent rains were truly a godsend for our local bays.
July’s calmer weather patterns were another blessing to fisherman. When the wind calms to a more tolerable 10 – 15 mph from the southeast it opens a whole lot of territory we haven’t been able to fish for quite a while. The north shorelines of Espiritu Santo and San Antonio bays in particular, and also mid-bay reefs that provide excellent habitat for trout and redfish, were almost unfishable through most of spring and early summer.
Normally, when I pull in to wade these shorelines, I ask my anglers who wants to fish for reds and who might prefer trout? While some dream of sight-casting tailing reds, others prefer chasing trout. Once we have sorted which species they wish to target, I check their gear and make suggestions regarding lures. The redfish guys will head toward the shoreline shallows where they will often be happy to remain for hours, stalking their quarry. The trout guys are a little higher-strung and change lures more often when not getting strikes. They often need to be told to slow down. Almost like they’re in a competition. Racing forward; who will catch the first and most.
As far as the lure selections go, most of those targeting reds will favor a small paddletail such as the Saltwater Assassin 4” Sea Shad and will often rig them in weedless fashion. And then there’s the diehards that almost never deviate from the 1/4-ounce Johnson Weedless Gold Spoon, sometimes with a plastic curly-tail on the hook.
The trout guys are actually a little more chaotic in their lure choices. Like I said earlier, “They like to change lures.” They are also fond of smearing scented jelly on their soft plastics. Last but certainly not least are the topwater devotees (bless his heart) whose mantra is, “If I can’t catch them on topwater I don’t want to catch them.” Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard…but to each their own.
I also have to throw one more angler into this mix. This guy or gal is what I peg as the complete angler. They have fished enough to know what the fish's habits are and continuously scan the water for baitfish, and how the water is flowing around the various types of structure, even before they begin casting. They will methodically probe the water column until they identify the depth at which the fish are staged. Rarely do they change lure colors as they’re already throwing a confidence color for the water conditions we are fishing.
This is not to say they will not switch from a paddletail to a rattail, or maybe even a Texas Customs Double D. When I see this, I know my trip for that day is already made because this angler knows his or her stuff. And just a little FYI - that Double D in the Crown Royal color was a total game changer for me on knee- to waist-deep sandbars, along edges of grass beds, and sand pockets amid grassy flats.
There’s no wrong way to work the Double D, but I prefer a jerky retrieve followed by a pause as the lure flutters upward toward the surface. This is when most strikes occur; which are quite often vicious, and a good reason to set the drag a bit looser than normal. If you haven’t tried the Double D, I highly recommend that you do...Soon!
August is going to be hot. Get an early start and stay hydrated.
Fish hard, fish smart!
