From the Laguna Madre’s glassy shallows to Matagorda’s rolling surf, the Texas coast offers some of the most diverse and rewarding fishing in the country. But timing, location, and local expertise matter. Tides shift, bait moves, and anglers follow – each season offering a new way to read the water and connect with the wild.

Each cast on the coast – whether for speckled trout or bull redfish – traces back to the health of rivers upstream. Here’s how to plan your next coastal adventure and help keep those waters alive.

Spring: Warming Waters, Hungry Fish

Targets: Speckled Trout, Redfish, Black Drum
Best Spots: Baffin Bay, Rockport/Aransas Bay, Port Aransas

As winter yields to spring and water temperatures climb into the 70’s, baitfish return to shallow flats – and the predators follow. This is when sight-casting over grassbeds for speckled trout and reds becomes memorable. Baffin Bay, in particular, is noted for trophy speckled trout.

Outfitters & Lodging to Consider:

• Fly Fish Rockport — seasoned guides who live for the flats that specialize in fly fishing and light tackle in Matagorda/Rockport region.
• Swan Point Landing Fly Shop — fly shop & guide base for these waters.

Pro Tip: Focus on warmer afternoons after a chilly morning — fish move shallow as the sun strengthens. Use soft plastics or fly patterns to cover clear flats.

Summer: Salt, Surf & Early Mornings

Targets: Redfish, Jack Crevalle, King Mackerel
Best Spots: Port O’Connor, Matagorda Bay, Seadrift

High sun, strong tides, and warm waters mean early mornings and more effort. Inshore marshes flood and give Reds tailing opportunities; surf and nearshore rigs hold bigger game like Jack Crevalle and King Mackerel. Consistent reports out of Matagorda show steady trout and redfish action in deep flats and shell-covered bottoms even in August.

Outfitters & Lodging:

• Bay Flats Lodge – waterfront lodging plus guided fishing located in Seadrift
• Goose Island Flats – run by friend of CRLT, Tim Milligan, this Rockport retreat is tailor-made for anglers. Situated near Aransas Bay, it’s perfect for wade fishing, launching a kayak, or relaxing after a day on the water. Think salt air, sunrise views, and that classic coastal Texas feel.

Pro Tip: Beat the heat with a dawn launch; look for slicks or breaking bait where reds stack up. Use shrimp or bright tails on soft plastics.

Matagorda Bay: Where Two Worlds Meet

The Matagorda Bay system – divided into East and West Matagorda Bays – might just be the heart of Texas coastal fishing. Each side offers its own challenge, its own kind of beauty.

East Matagorda Bay is pure speckled trout country. Vast shell reefs, clean green water, and endless bait make it a top choice during early spring and winter for anglers chasing gator-class trout. Every cast feels like a coin toss between anticipation and adrenaline.

West Matagorda Bay, by contrast, is built for sight-casting. Its shallow grass flats, soft sand potholes, and winding cuts are ideal for redfish and black drum. Fly anglers love this side for its clean water and wide visibility – a perfect backdrop for stalking tailing reds from a poling skiff, kayak, or SUP.

Matagorda’s mix of habitats means opportunity year-round. In addition to redfish, trout, and drum, anglers can find sheepshead and flounder in the back bays, or, when the temperature rises, chase kingfish, cobia, jacks, or even tarpon just off the beachfront.

Whether you’re casting from the surf, drifting a grass flat, or quietly watching a redfish tail cut through the sunlight, Matagorda reminds us that wild Texas still thrives where river meets sea, and that protecting the Colorado River keeps the bays alive.

Fall: The Redfish Run & Transition Season

Targets: Bull Reds, Flounder, Late-Season Speckled Trout
Best Spots: Surfside, Corpus Christi Bay, passes & jetties (Cedar Bayou, San Luis, Port Aransas)

When the first cool fronts whisper down the coast and shrimp begin their own migrations, the “redfish run” fires up with October typically being the best times to catch a bull redfish in the shallows. Anglers concentrate on passes and beach runs where reds and flounder travel. Fall is also still solid for speckled trout on flats.

Outfitters & Lodging:

• Shore based charters out of Galveston and Corpus provide jetty and pass expertise.
• Consider staying near beach-towns for access to surf/migration runs.

Pro Tip: Fish moving tides around passes are prime. Use fresh mullet or crab, heavy tackle, and be ready for hard hits.

Winter: Quiet Water, Big Rewards

Targets: Trophy Speckled Trout, Black Drum, Sheepshead
Best Spots: Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, Aransas Pass

Winter’s stillness means big fish. In Baffin Bay particularly, the trophy speckled trout bite intensifies. One guide notes: “Winter months… when the water temperatures drop… time to target just one fish and one fish only – a trophy speckled trout.” Guides well versed in this region emphasize flat wading and hitting deep holes plus slow presentation are the keys for this time of year.  

Outfitters & Lodging

• Same Baffin Bay charters but winter-specific trips for trophy trout.
• Consider lesser-known lodges for quieter stays and deeper connections with the land.

Pro Tip: Slow down your presentation, target deeper edges and structure, use larger soft plastics or live bait. Wind and cold fronts matter – fish hard before or after a front passes.

Fly Fishing & Flats Focus

Fly anglers take note: The Texas coast offers flats and shallow water sight fishing for redfish and specks. Guides like those at Fly Fish Rockport specialize in stalking reds in clear flats from SUPs or kayaks. A well-tied fly, stealthy presentation, and a seasoned guide can change everything.

Conservation Matters

From flounder in the pass to trout on the grassbeds, the health of every catch depends on the land and water upstream. The same freshwater flows, vegetation, and clean rivers that sustain inland ecosystems also feed the coast. At Colorado River Land Trust, we protect those connections – so your next cast can still spark that moment of pure Texas outdoors.