South Padre: July 2025

Are you tired of the wind yet? Don’t be too quick with your answer as we are about to enter what I call the July Doldrums. Yes, I too was weary of the spring winds, but isn’t it funny how in just a few short weeks we’ll be begging for even a slight breeze? July is usually our hottest month and for that reason fishing can be tough; that’s why I like to hit it at first light and again toward evening when the water temperature will be a bit cooler.

Regarding the catching, I wish it was as hot as the weather. But honestly, it can get tough when the water temperature reaches into the high-90s. In mid-summer, by 11:00 a.m. or so, fish head to deeper water and often become reluctant to chase down a lure or feed very aggressively.

This is when fishing along the ICW becomes popular. Ditto old oilfield cuts or deeper guts with good tidal flow; these can also hold good numbers of fish in the hotter months. Four- to five-feet and deeper is what to look for, and using a heavier jighead is a must to get your lure down lower in the water column.

There is an upside to July’s near-windless conditions, though. Calm surface conditions make it super easy to spot wakes and boils as fish cruise the flats and explode on bait. However, fish in shallow water are always wary, which makes getting into casting range more difficult than days when a breeze ripples the surface. Here again, low-light conditions at dawn and dusk can be the most productive times of the day.

I like to plan my fishing in July this way: I fish shallow in the early morning or late evening. And, any time in between, I fish deeper water with a heavier jighead and I slow down my retrieve.

I liken fishing the hottest months to the coldest months. Think deep, as the fish find protection from both winter’s cold and summer’s heat in similar environments.

For two months redfish under flocks of screeching gulls have been easy targets, especially when the wind has really been howling. However, that will change this month as the wind diminishes and boat traffic reaches seasonal highs. My suggestion is to focus on ICW spoil islands, eastside sand flats, and back-bays where traffic will be lighter. One thing to remember is that redfish numbers in back-bays is highly dependent on tide levels. Fish move with the tide and primary travel lanes such as sloughs, cuts, and other narrow passes will become great places to target.

Activity level of bait and game fish are highest during morning hours this time of year. Mullet will be seen jumping and swirling at the surface. I suggest targeting redfish up shallow early in the morning when everything is active. And then moving to deeper water as the sun gets higher in the sky and the water warms up.

In July, redfish will school up in deeper troughs. I have found them using sandy bottoms around midday when most of the boat traffic has dispersed. Keep in mind that redfish are more tolerant of heat than trout but will still seek shelter in deeper water as temperatures rise.

Trout at this time of year are very susceptible to the effects of elevated water temperature. If you do not intend to retain it you should release it as soon as possible to increase the chance of survival. So, given this fact, where should you go to find trout in July? Well, the easiest way is to fish the edges of the ICW. Trout will stack up along the drop-off but are also often staged right in the middle.

In the middle of the day I may find myself chest-deep throwing heavier jigheads – quarter ounce or even three-eights – with ZMan plastics like Big Ballerz or 5-inch Paddlerz.

Trout slicks will be seen throughout summer, but more prominently in morning and evening. Trout become significantly less active during the hottest part of the day.

Snook fishing is off to a good start and should only get better during July. The new and full moon periods of July are prime spawning times. Three days before and three days following these moon phases are the best days to target the linesiders.

So, for best success in July follow the ELD method: Fish Early, Fish Late, Fish Deep. Welcome to the doldrums of summer!