The Fishing Connection

The jungle drums were beating this
past week and the message I was hearing
was the question about where are the
Reds? I spoke with several guides here
locally and the same story I kept hearing
was the Reds are moving around the bay
and not staying in one place very long.
South Bay anglers there were finding
some nice keeper Trout and catching
them on shrimp, but not very many
Reds. Mesquite Flats anglers said they
were catching some nice keeper Trout
and an occasional Black Drum, but very
few Reds. Under the Causeway anglers
were dragging in nice keeper Trout, but
no Reds.
Alongside the Island some anglers
said they hooked up with some Reds,
but small ones. Franke’s channels are
giving up some monster Trout but very
few Reds. Gaswell Flats, noted for the
schools of Reds that feed there, have
some fish but small ones.
The shallows up around the Drum
Boat are holding some nice sized Reds,
but you need to look for them. Green Island
has been holding lots of big Reds
for months and there is still some feeding
in the shallows. But with the shallow
tides you may get stranded looking for
them there.
The mouth of the Arroyo has Trout
and some big Reds feeding around some
of the spoil islands. Three Islands has
Reds feeding there. Just look for the
wakes moving along the top of the water
and hang on!
At Primera Island, fishing the potholes
you will find big Trout and some
big Reds feeding in the potholes. Use
dark colored lures and shrimp. North of
Cullen’s house it is almost barren. No
fish to be found. South of Cullen’s house
on the flats you will find some big Reds,
but it’s hard to get them to take the
hook. Natural baits are working best
now.
Along the Spoil Islands you can find
some keeper Reds and Trout on both
sides of the islands. On the Flattop it is
so shallow even the Reds are taking
water with them so they can get out of
there it’s so shallow.
Along the Refuge you will see Reds
run from the boat, but the waters are so
shallow you might not be able to stop
and fish and get out. Airport Cove has
lots of boats fishing the waist deep waters
there taken some real nice Trout.
Holly Beach has many Kayakers fishing
the shallows there because of the easy access
and the areas ability to hold some
real monster Trout.
The only place I was told about finding
some big keeper Trout was the shelf
along Highway 100 between Laguna
Vista and Laguna Heights. If you have a
boat to get to them the shelf is holding
some real monsters in the 28 to 30 inch
range. Use a popping cork and shrimp,
then hang on.
All reports said it is kind of slow
now, but the tide change is coming and
the fishing will change with it. Be patient
and do your maintenance on your
boats and equipment now and start getting
ready, for when the bite turns on,
all hell will break loose on the bay!
Be safe, be courteous and have fun
on the water!