Mid-Coast Bays: October 2026
Haizley Brenner with a nice redfish.
Thus far, September has not disappointed – fishing-wise, anyway. The weather has cooperated and we were able to fish in many areas that had been written off because of wind or the dreaded low tides that plagued our efforts during much of late summer. We were able to get into the surf for a few days during early September, and it was both exciting and productive for the anglers that attempted it. The rising tides of late have opened more opportunities in our back waters on Matagorda Island, and also in the Lagoon and Shoalwater Bay. With that said, October will be the real turning point for our bay systems as the daily winds will be getting lighter and we should get some of our region’s first real cooling fronts from the north.
I have been noticing subtle hints of seasons changing during the past few weeks. There are more birds working over shrimp in Espiritu Santo, San Antonio, Mission, Hynes and Guadalupe Bays; meaning that the fall shrimp migration is finally starting to happen. The migration will take off in earnest when we start getting some stronger cold fronts. With every frontal passage you will notice the size of trout and reds under the birds steadily increasing. This natural movement of shrimp from the estuaries to the gulf will normally last into the month of December.
When fishing the birds you should concentrate your efforts in the northern portions of San Antonio Bay – Hynes Bay to be more exact. Be very careful navigating, though; lots of submerged debris up there, sunken barges, etc. You also need to beware of the submerged sandstone in locations where islands have eroded and no longer present along the north side of the Victoria Barge Canal – near where the canal meets the Seadrift bayfront area.
Hynes, Guadalupe, and Mission Bays are part of the Guadalupe Estuary and some of the major contributors of freshwater to the San Antonio Bay System. Hynes Bay in particular is generally quite shallow, averaging 3- to 4-foot depths with clamshell reefs in some areas. Mission and Guadalupe Bays are even shallower and ever-changing, with more debris that have traveled down the Guadalupe River. Extreme caution is advised when navigating these waters.
Once the shrimp begin to migrate out into the open bay, birds can be found hovering above schools of trout and/or reds feeding on them greedily, hoping to get their share of munchies. Birds only sitting on the water are good indicators that feeding fish might still be present, perhaps not as concentrated or frenzied as other areas. The feeding frenzies we like to see are more common in morning hours, often subsiding by midday. I should also mention that a north wind is always better than a south wind for fishing the birds. Calm southerly breezes won’t hinder you too much but if it’s blowing too hard the water in Hynes Bay will get muddied and less productive very quickly.
When you locate feeding birds, always approach slowly and switch your outboard motor off. You will do far better drifting into the action or riding the troll motor. Wading is not a good option due to the soft bottoms in these bays, not to mention this is more of a run and gun style of fishing. And yes, you can expect some company. Word travels fast and many anglers enjoy fishing the birds.
Another great way to spend fall mornings is fishing SAB’s many reefs located on the north side of the ICW. There are many reefs here, and we call it reef hopping until we find one holding quality trout. Whether wading or drifting, my go-to baits are Saltwater Assassin’s 4-inch Sea Shads in Purple Chicken or Magic Grass. I will let the fish dictate the color for the day. I will rig these baits on Bass Assassin 1/16-ounce jigheads.
If chasing the birds or wading the shell reefs isn’t your cup of tea, you may want to try wading the south shorelines of either San Antonio or Espiritu Santo bays. There are many drains and points that will hold fish, and this may be your better option if the winds get up and muddy the open bays waters. In addition to my Sea Shads, I will not hesitate to throw a MirrOlure She Dog if the conditions call for it.
No matter where or how you decide to fish in October, one thing is for certain. The weather should be enjoyable. Get out there and get after it.
Fish hard, fish smart!
