Mid-Coast Bays: December 2025
If asked to critique the recent fall fishing season, I’d have to say it was a little sub-par compared to previous years. I’d like to think this was mostly due to this guide’s hard-headedness and the late arrival of cooling trends, rather than any decline in the fishery. I say that because other anglers were having great outings on days when we struggled. I’m not saying we didn’t have some outstanding days along the way, but there were certainly a few I wish I could redo.
I ran quite a few “stay-in-the-boat” trips with anglers who had issues with the growing shark population—and others simply concerned with the other things that dwell in the sea. Nonetheless, boat-fishing success was actually slightly better, numbers-wise, than wade-fishing. Granted, the species we targeted were a bit different for these groups. If the wind was blowing hard, we stayed in the backwaters and targeted redfish and black drum using natural bait. If the weather was mild and we could fish the San Antonio Bay reefs, we targeted trout and redfish—again, mostly with natural bait. There were also days when my lure aficionados did very well drifting those same reefs with soft plastics and topwaters.
Back to my earlier shark comments—I believe this is a problem that will need to be addressed very soon by TPWD. The shark population seems to have grown rapidly over the past several years and is now reaching the level of a dangerous nuisance, not only along main-bay shorelines but also in backwater areas that we wade almost daily. I’ve personally been knocked down by sharks trying to get to fish on my stringer, and my clients have had several near-misses while landing or handling their catches. Other guides in the area are reporting similar stories, so it’s not just me. Granted, shark encounters will be fewer during the cooler months ahead, but you can bet they’ll be back by springtime when the water warms.
December’s cooler nights and more frequent cold fronts will continue to drive water temperatures downward. Our lure selection should take advantage of that by focusing on slow-sinking twitchbaits such as the Texas Custom Lures Double D and Double D XL. Their Custom Corky Soft-Dine XL is another solid option. My all-time favorite for extremely cold-water conditions is the Custom Fat Boy series. All their custom colors will catch big trout, but a few of my favorites are Bay Mistress, Crown Royal, Pistachio, and Plum Nasty. These lures are part of the Jay Watkins Series, designed by the man himself, and they’ve proven themselves on trophy trout for years.
Something else that helps improve success in cold water is the type of line you use. Remember that feel is everything when trying to detect the subtle tick of a cold-water trout. For this, I rely on 30-pound FINS WindTamer Pitch Black Braid, and the only leader material I trust is 20-pound Osprey Ultra-Premium Monofilament. Why monofilament instead of fluorocarbon? The main reason I switched is its supple texture—fluorocarbon is inherently stiffer and becomes even more rigid in cold water.
Another product line that’s been a game-changer for Shellie and me while wade-fishing is Southerly Fishing Gear. Based out of Port O’Connor, owners Lance and Christy Abel are avid fishermen and tournament promoters who have designed saltwater gear for every season. I’ve had the pleasure of field-testing their waders, wade boots, and other attire for the past couple of years, and I can honestly say they’ve taken the lead when it comes to functionality and comfort. Hands down, they’ve raised the bar in wading attire.
No discussion of wintertime trout fishing would be complete without mentioning Waterloo Rod Company. I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again—in my experience, nothing transmits the subtle take of a cold-water speckled trout quite like my 6’7” Waterloo HP Lite rods. This is a lightweight stick that still has all the backbone needed to handle the violent headshakes of trophy trout. If you haven’t already, you need to get one in your hands.
The products I mentioned above are all available at your better Middle Coast tackle stores—Jeco’s Marine in Port O’Connor, Waterloo Pro Shop in Victoria, Tackle Town in Rockport, and Roy’s Bait and Tackle in Corpus Christi.
Merry Christmas! Fish hard, fish smart!
