Reports & Forecasts: December 2025

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag
Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242
James says his records show a clear change in patterns across our coastal bays over the years. “Our water and air temperatures are warmer on average than they were 20 years ago. This makes December now more like November used to be, which is a good thing for most people because catching fish in slightly warmer water is generally easier. “This time of year, the fishing is usually best on low tides out in the middle. If the water really dumps out after a front, bait will move out of the marshes and through the bays, and the wading on mid-bay reefs will be outstanding. If the weather’s warmer and the tides higher, wading in the coves and back lakes will be better, as will the wading on sandy spots near the south shoreline of West Bay and the east side of Trinity Bay. “Right now, the water’s really salty and the fish are somewhat scattered. Some have likely headed well up into the bayous and rivers flowing into our bays. If we don’t get heavy rains between now and the end of the year, fishing in those places will be productive.”

Jimmy West | Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054
As fall winds down and cooler weather settles in, Jim enjoys splitting time between hunting and fishing. “I’ve been doing both for many years—it’s just what I always wanted to do. With duck season shutting down for a couple of weeks in early December, I have more time to fish if the weather allows, which it usually does. “By this time of year, plenty of fish are in the shallows as long as it isn’t really cold. I like to wade and throw large topwaters to target trout. In most scenarios when we catch them in shallow water, they’ll be tight to the bank, especially the big ones. “Fishing around drains connecting the marshes and back lakes with the main bays is also good in December, particularly when tides are flowing out of the shallows into the basins. If it’s colder this month, the fishing starts to resemble mid-winter patterns, with more fish concentrated in the bayous and in the middle portions of both Trinity and East Bay.”

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays
Randall Groves | Groves Guide Service
979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323
After Thanksgiving, Randall says productive patterns in the San Luis Pass area become fewer but more predictable. “We might still have some birds working and good wadefishing in shallow areas if the weather’s warm, but typically we rely on two main patterns that produce best in December. “Trout fishing is generally best in the deeper basins of the three main bays close to the pass. We prefer drifting four- to six-foot depths, sometimes a bit deeper, staying in areas with giant rafts of mullet. Birds like cormorants, terns, gulls, and pelicans help us locate that activity. If water temperatures stay in the 50s, this pattern works great, and we throw Sand Eels and other soft plastics with red and gold hues. “When the weather warms after a strong front, wading in muddy areas close to reefs can be the better option. Then, we switch to slow-sinking twitchbaits and occasionally topwaters to target big trout, often finding more reds than trout.”

Matagorda Bays | Capt. Glenn Ging - Glenn’s Guide Service
979.479.1460 - www.glennsguideservice.com
“December is one of my favorite months for fishing around Matagorda,” Glenn says. “In early December I’m usually still targeting both trout and redfish under working birds in East Matagorda Bay. I suggest throwing soft plastics rigged on quarter-ounce jigheads—MirrOlure Lil Johns, Hogie’s Major Minnows, and Bass Assassin Sea Shads are favorites. “Gulp! Shrimp or Vudu Shrimp under Coastal Corks also work great, especially for beginners. As December rolls on, the fish transition to feeding mostly on mullet and concentrate more around shell in deeper water. When bird action fades, I key on mullet over shell bottoms in four to six feet of water and throw topwaters and soft-plastic jerkbaits such as Bass Assassins and Coastal Brew Darts. “Provided we don’t have too much runoff, the Colorado River can also be productive. I like to drift the banks and throw paddletails on 3/8-ounce jigheads, looking for stretches with the most shad or mullet.”

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam
www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204
Warm weather has kept fishing in fall mode, and the catching has been fantastic. Trout have been biting steadily over shell in three- to five-foot depths. She Dogs in green/chrome and Down South Lures in Magic Grass have worked well. There are still a few trout at the deeper rigs and shell pads in West Matagorda Bay, where live shrimp about four feet under popping corks have been effective. The redfish bite remains on fire—trolling shorelines with three-inch Gulp! lures rigged about 18 inches under popping corks has been the ticket. Flounder fishing has been better than in recent years, with natural-colored Vudu Shrimp producing around ditches and drains off main bayous and creeks. Pier fishing is solid at sunrise and sunset, especially with DOA Shrimp in glow and pink. Deep structures and the harbor in Palacios should also fish well this month.

Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith
Back Bay Guide Service - 361.935.6833
Lynn expects familiar late-fall patterns to start paying off. “We’ll target trout and reds in places with scattered shell over soft, muddy bottoms—typically near deep guts and drains that funnel water from the shallows. “The bite often occurs on outgoing tides, frequently in the afternoon. We throw topwaters and slow-sinking twitchbaits through December, as trout feed mostly on mullet once shrimp and small baitfish leave after strong fronts. Soft plastics work great too, especially when the bite is tougher. “When tide cycles bring water in during the afternoon, coves and lakes can light up. If a strong incoming tide occurs near dusk, the action can be epic. We like to leave the dock late and fish until dark this time of year.”

Rockport | Blake Muirhead
Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894
Blake takes a short break from hunting ducks during the mid-December split, and the fishing keeps him busy. “The first half of December is great for targeting trout on soft plastics early in the mornings, when water is coolest, and on topwaters later in the day as it warms. I like a Baby Skitter Walk in black and silver this time of year. “The key to topwater success is seeing bait at the surface—if mullet are jumping, trout will blow up. During the second half of the month, we hunt in the mornings and fish afterward, targeting reds in the marshes if we see them along the way. Otherwise, we work main-bay shorelines in thigh- to waist-deep water with dark Norton Sand Eels or Gulp! lures in pearl and chartreuse.”

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay
Captain James Sanchez Guide Service - 210.260.7454
Cold fronts have lowered both air and water temperatures, and tides have dropped—opening up new wade-fishing areas holding good numbers of quality fish. “The patterns we’ll see in December depend on the frequency and strength of cold fronts,” James says. “If cold weather persists, fish will stage in deeper water for longer periods. I recommend wading waist-deep seagrass flats with potholes, along spoil islands, and near drop-offs on main-bay shorelines. “Soft plastics are my first choice—KWigglers Ball-Tail Shads in Bone Diamond, Naked Margarita, or Plum Perfect on eighth-ounce jigheads. I also like Paul Brown Fat Boys or MirrOlure Soft-Dine XLs. “Once conditions stabilize and warm after a front, I focus on the same areas but shallower zones with active mullet. Redfish mix with trout and provide good action during slower bites. Topwaters can be effective if it’s warm enough, but Wig-A-Los, Willow-Tail Shads, and Texas Custom Lures Double Ds often produce when fish are less aggressive.”

Corpus Christi & Baffin Bay | Capt. Chris Elliott’s Guide Service
[email protected] - 361.834.7262
The beginning of winter brings excellent fishing for anglers who like artificial lures. “We’ve been having fun chasing redfish on the flats as the water cools,” Chris says. “Small topwaters like Super Spook Juniors and Baby Skitter Walks are my absolute favorites—redfish stay aggressive toward them as temperatures trend downward. “Trout action has been great and should only improve as winter sets in. We’ve been using soft plastics and slow-sinking lures such as Paul Brown Originals and Mansfield Knockers Darters. Watch water temperatures closely; as they drop, look for slightly warmer areas—often pockets protected from strong north and northwest winds, near main bay shorelines. Windward areas with rolling waves usually hold colder water after a front.”

P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins
361.877.3583 - Oceanepics.com
“If we have a warm December, we’ll have stellar fishing through year’s end,” Eric says. “Regardless, red and black drum will be plentiful in the surf. Oversized reds will continue roaming, feeding on mullet, whiting, and crab, while black drum feed mostly on crustaceans. “On calm, clear days, pompano action should be fast—shrimp or Fish-Bites are best for targeting this delicious species. Trout in the surf are hit-or-miss, but with this year’s odd weather, surprises are possible. Slow-sinking lures can tempt quality trout when the water’s clear. “Most shark species will move offshore this month, leaving sandbar sharks as the main players—often pushing 200 pounds. We’ll still see blacktips, bonnetheads, and Atlantic sharpnose. Mature sandbars enter our waters to breed during winter. Baits like whiting, sheepshead, and small rays are optimal for targeting them. Sandbars are federally protected and must be released; for harvest, the Atlantic sharpnose makes good table fare.”

Port Mansfield, Texas | Ruben Garza
Snookdudecharters.com - 832.385.1431
GetAway Lodge - 956.944.4000
“December should be a great month for fishing between fronts in the Port Mansfield area,” Ruben says. “Always check weather reports before heading out. The topwater bite we’ve been enjoying will slow down, so switch to Texas Custom Lures Floating Corkys—they attract fish to the surface when louder topwaters won’t. Colors like Gringo, Plum Nasty, and Double Bubble all work well. “Soft plastics such as KWiggler Ball-Tails or Wig-A-Lo Shads on eighth-ounce heads in Bone Diamond, Flomingo, Mansfield Margarita, and Plum/Chartreuse excel when the bite’s tougher. “The best areas to target are West Bay, the Saucer, the Pipeline, and just east of the Weather Station. Up north, Gladys Hole and the shoreline south of it are consistent producers, as are the spoil humps along the ICW near the old game-warden shack. Deep potholes from Butcher’s Island to Jones Cut can also produce excellent fish for anglers keying on active mullet.”

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel
Aaron Cisneros | tightlinescharters.com - 956.639.1941
Fishing in the Lower Laguna Madre has been excellent through fall and continues to improve with each cool front. “Finding trout means working flats covered by two to four feet of water with sandy patches breaking up the grass,” Aaron says. “Soft plastics have been best—Z-Man Big BallerZ in Redbone on eighth- or sixteenth-ounce jigheads. “Reds have been holding slightly shallower than trout, favoring sandy areas. Early mornings, focus on seams where sand meets grass; reds attack small topwaters like bone Spook Juniors aggressively. Later in the day, as the wind picks up, darker soft plastics on light jigheads keep the bites coming. “As tides and temperatures continue to fall, expect fish to transition to areas with muddier bottoms.”