The View: February 2026
As I write this in late January, I am wearing short sleeves and shorts. If this continues, Punxsutawney Phil is likely to say winter is almost over. That’s fine by me—no more winter, no more chance of a freeze.
Nevertheless, don’t despair when a cool wave of air rolls through the region. There will still be a cold front or two in March, so revert back to winter patterns when the north wind drops water temperatures and blows out the tides. Move to the mouths of the lakes. The water and bait will be pouring out of the back lakes, and the fish will ride with the tide and bait. Camp out and wait for the redfish to come through.
Redfish are usually everywhere. Spots like Lake Austin, Oyster Lake, Crab Lake, and Boggy are great March hideouts. Make long drifts with live shrimp under a popping cork, or anchor on reefs. The cool thing is we can still catch fish when the wind blows hard.
Redfish are not the only drum in abundance in March. Juvenile black drum—the eating kind—frequent reefs in West Matagorda Bay. Twin Islands, Shell Island, and Oyster Lake are all proven drum haunts in March. Live shrimp under a popping cork is the best bet. Oversized black drum, those over 30 inches, are the spawners and are catch-and-release only by law, but that doesn’t mean they are any less fun to catch. Big black bruisers frequent the channels, rivers, and jetties leading to the Gulf, and a cracked blue crab is the most popular offering.
Regardless of the weather, we will still be chasing speckled trout and redfish along the deep shell and mud of East Bay. December and the first several weeks of January and February were stellar for drifting with Down South Lures, Bass Assassins, Gamblers, and Hogies. Some days the fish want the swimming paddletail of the Sea Shad, while other days they prefer the 5-inch traditional Bass Assassin straight-tailed jerkbait.
Make no mistake, we expect to catch some heavy trout in March while wading and drifting. You would be surprised how many big trout we release in East Matagorda Bay while jigging soft plastics out of the boat.
We never discount West Matagorda Bay this time of year. Trout hang on the edges of the guts and sloughs, and we gingerly wade these areas with plastics and Corkys. West Bay’s grassy shorelines hold fishable water when spring blusters blow; and depending on how mild March becomes, the first signs of glass minnows could show as early as Spring Break.
The quality of trout being caught in our bays is improving daily. It has now been five years since the great freeze, and better days are ahead. Reduced bag limits and improved conservation attitudes among anglers have contributed.
Spring Break in Matagorda comes alive with families spending time together on the water and on the beach. We will run both morning and afternoon trips and are kid- and family-friendly.
We will be at the Houston Fishing Show February 18–22 at the GRB. Come by and see all the Sunrise Lodge gang and say hello.
