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The Buzz: June 2015
Brandon Gralheer shows off a deep water toad from East Bay.
If I could describe the current status of fishing in the Galveston Bay complex in one word it would be, crammed, for sure. The sad part is there are tons of fish in all the bays but not much area to fish for them. This time of year is one of the best on the Galveston bays and even though we are only able to take a small taste of it right now we just have to be patient. Soon the water temps will stabilize in the 70s and begin to push toward the 80s on warmer days. Trout will begin to school out in deeper water and as their metabolism increases and they feed for longer periods they will be throwing off slicks more regularly. The fishing is great right now, at least in the places we can fish, but until the water clears up it seems we are all fishing the same places.
Sure, you can catch fish in muddy water, but who really wants to look at that all day? Due to the rippin' spring wind and almost everyday rainfall (seems like anyway), the water is staying generally dirty in many areas. But just as the push and pull of the tide will always do its thing, it'll clean it up and we'll be looking at emerald green water before too long (hope).
West Galveston Bay has decent water conditions right now, on average, and has been very consistent for reds although trout action has been generally spotty. Most of the trout in West have been caught wading over sand and shell mixed bottoms, throwing topwaters early and then switching to soft plastics such as the MirrOlure Provoker in plum and chartreuse or Geaux Gleaux. Redfish have been great over grass and sand pockets as well as the back lakes on Bagley spoons and Berkley GULP. Speaking of Bagley spoons, I have just recently been introduced to them and I must say they are changing my shallow water redfish game. I recommend you try the Bagley Brite 1/4 ounce size with the hammered finish. These spoons are especially aerodynamic, a dream to cast, and they shine like diamonds even in murky water.
Still talking West Bay, we should see improving trout action down toward San Luis Pass and over deeper hard bottom (oyster pads) during June and continuing through summer. Slicks will become more prevalent and are always a great way to locate feeding fish in expanses of open water. Once you find a school, mark your GPS for return trips. There is most likely a bottom feature that is holding them.
Trinity Bay is still out cold from the fresh water punch. If you motor around Smith Point you better trim up and watch carefully for logs and other debris. I'd love to say that it won't be long but Lake Livingston is still pumping a brutal 25,100 cubic feet per second, straight down the Trinity River. It'll be a running battle between incoming tides and river inflow. I'd expect it might take until late-June... if the rain will ever stop up north in the Trinity Basin.
East Galveston Bay has been providing very steady trout action and is also very populated with fishermen; I think I mentioned crammed earlier. We're seeing good numbers of trout coming on the shorelines, a strong early-morning topwater bite for waders. Normal in wet years, the glass minnows and shad are thick there. Given the abundance of this type of forage we've been doing very well with the MirrOdines. I like the MirrOdine XL 27MR whenever it's windy or the water is a bit dirtier. If the conditions are relatively calm and the water is clear you can't go wrong with the finesse action of the smaller MirrOdine 17MR.
The trout are beginning to move onto East Bay's deeper reefs and we are also beginning to find scattered groups of redfish. As June rolls along the fishing on these reefs will only get better and better. Tidal Surge's Split Tail Mullets and MirrOlure's Lil John are excellent reef-trout producers on 1/8 ounce BAAD Marine "Knotty Hooker" jigheads. Try the bright colors like limetreuse when the water is cleaner and morning glory or pumpkinseed with chartreuse tail whenever it has more color to it.
What a relief it will be when we can all spread out a little. In the meantime, remember to be courteous to your fellow anglers. We are all in this "crammed up" situation together.
Stay tight! Capt. Caleb
Sure, you can catch fish in muddy water, but who really wants to look at that all day? Due to the rippin' spring wind and almost everyday rainfall (seems like anyway), the water is staying generally dirty in many areas. But just as the push and pull of the tide will always do its thing, it'll clean it up and we'll be looking at emerald green water before too long (hope).
West Galveston Bay has decent water conditions right now, on average, and has been very consistent for reds although trout action has been generally spotty. Most of the trout in West have been caught wading over sand and shell mixed bottoms, throwing topwaters early and then switching to soft plastics such as the MirrOlure Provoker in plum and chartreuse or Geaux Gleaux. Redfish have been great over grass and sand pockets as well as the back lakes on Bagley spoons and Berkley GULP. Speaking of Bagley spoons, I have just recently been introduced to them and I must say they are changing my shallow water redfish game. I recommend you try the Bagley Brite 1/4 ounce size with the hammered finish. These spoons are especially aerodynamic, a dream to cast, and they shine like diamonds even in murky water.
Still talking West Bay, we should see improving trout action down toward San Luis Pass and over deeper hard bottom (oyster pads) during June and continuing through summer. Slicks will become more prevalent and are always a great way to locate feeding fish in expanses of open water. Once you find a school, mark your GPS for return trips. There is most likely a bottom feature that is holding them.
Trinity Bay is still out cold from the fresh water punch. If you motor around Smith Point you better trim up and watch carefully for logs and other debris. I'd love to say that it won't be long but Lake Livingston is still pumping a brutal 25,100 cubic feet per second, straight down the Trinity River. It'll be a running battle between incoming tides and river inflow. I'd expect it might take until late-June... if the rain will ever stop up north in the Trinity Basin.
East Galveston Bay has been providing very steady trout action and is also very populated with fishermen; I think I mentioned crammed earlier. We're seeing good numbers of trout coming on the shorelines, a strong early-morning topwater bite for waders. Normal in wet years, the glass minnows and shad are thick there. Given the abundance of this type of forage we've been doing very well with the MirrOdines. I like the MirrOdine XL 27MR whenever it's windy or the water is a bit dirtier. If the conditions are relatively calm and the water is clear you can't go wrong with the finesse action of the smaller MirrOdine 17MR.
The trout are beginning to move onto East Bay's deeper reefs and we are also beginning to find scattered groups of redfish. As June rolls along the fishing on these reefs will only get better and better. Tidal Surge's Split Tail Mullets and MirrOlure's Lil John are excellent reef-trout producers on 1/8 ounce BAAD Marine "Knotty Hooker" jigheads. Try the bright colors like limetreuse when the water is cleaner and morning glory or pumpkinseed with chartreuse tail whenever it has more color to it.
What a relief it will be when we can all spread out a little. In the meantime, remember to be courteous to your fellow anglers. We are all in this "crammed up" situation together.
Stay tight! Capt. Caleb