Texas Fishing Reports

Water temps touching 81°F at NOAA buoy 42035 signal prime late-May conditions along the Texas Gulf Coast. The Galveston Daily News Reel Report puts it in concrete terms: Duain Cagle and his son Chris loaded up on quality black drum and speckled trout in upper Galveston Bay this Memorial Day weekend, working live shrimp under popping corks. Further south, Capt. Reanna Yaklin has been keeping a full schedule on Baffin Bay, per the same outlet. Lone Star Outdoor News is calling whiting a standout species right now, dubbing it an ideal time for a beach fish fry, and also confirms the federal red snapper season opened May 22 for anglers ready to run offshore. Texas Fish & Game Magazine highlights productive marsh edge action for redfish, flounder, and specks for those willing to work the spartina shorelines at first light. The waxing gibbous moon and warming coastal waters stack multiple strong inshore bites heading into the week.

3d ago

The Lake Fork Trophy Bass guide service reported clients catching "a lot of big bass" through April as the spawn reached full swing, with fish running about 3 feet below pool on a reservoir the guide described as "in great shape." By late May, Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn are in the post-spawn transition: largemouth bass have cleared the beds and are recovering, a phase that per Wired 2 Fish splits the fish between aggressive shad chasers and finesse-oriented shallow loners. LakeForkGuy (YT) is calling this "the most aggressive crappie bite of the year" using post-spawn tactics, a promising signal for the timber-rich structure on these East Texas reservoirs. The Neches River, which feeds Sam Rayburn's watershed, is running at 2,060 cfs (USGS gauge 08030500), a moderate and stable flow that keeps water clarity in check. No gauge temperature is available, but late-May surface temps on East Texas lakes typically settle in the mid-to-upper 70s. A waxing gibbous moon sharpens feeding windows at dawn and dusk.

4d ago

Over Memorial Day weekend, Duain Cagle and his son Chris landed solid black drum and speckled trout fishing live shrimp under popping corks in upper Galveston Bay, per the Galveston Daily News Reel Report. It is a strong sign the inshore bite is humming as late May shifts toward summer. Baffin Bay is drawing attention as well, with Capt. Reanna Yaklin reportedly spending considerable time on the water there, according to the same source. Along marsh edges, Texas Fish & Game Magazine describes anglers working spartina-grass shorelines at first light for redfish, flounder, and specks: a classic late-May pattern on the upper Texas coast. Offshore, the federal red snapper season opened May 22, per Lone Star Outdoor News, giving Gulf-capable boats a fresh target. Current readings from buoy 42035 show calm conditions: 1.6-foot swells and light winds, a favorable window before summer afternoon weather builds.

4d ago

With East Texas bass completing their spawn cycle in late May, the Sabine River gauge (USGS 08030500) reads a moderate 1,860 cfs, signaling stable inflow into Toledo Bend as water levels settle. Lake Fork Trophy Bass reported a full spawn push underway in April, with multiple 10-plus-pound fish landed in March and April across East Texas impoundments. By now, bass are transitioning to post-spawn recovery mode. Per Wired 2 Fish's post-spawn analysis, expect a mixed picture: shallow fry-guarding males and deeper females actively gorging on baitfish before summer heat compresses the bite window. LakeForkGuy called this stretch 'the most aggressive crappie bite of the year' for post-spawn anglers, with brush piles and standing timber the go-to targets. No water temperature reading was available from the local gauges; typical late-May surface temps on East Texas reservoirs run in the upper 70s to low 80s°F, which keeps bass and crappie active before the real summer slowdown sets in.

5d ago

My Canyon Lake Fishing reports that Canyon Lake, situated in the broader central Texas hill country corridor, is sitting 58.6% full, eight feet higher than this time last year, with boat ramps open and conditions described as ideal for fishing and recreation. The Colorado River feeding Lake Travis logged 372 cfs at USGS gauge 08158000 early Monday, a steady moderate flow for late May. Direct on-water intel for Lakes Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan is limited in the available feeds this week, with no current state-agency reports on hand. That noted, late May is a well-established transition point on these reservoirs. Wired 2 Fish covers the post-spawn bass dynamic: some fish are now aggressively feeding on shad and bream beds while others remain shallow and spooky after leaving the nest. Dawn and dusk low-light windows are when the biters commit to surface presentations; midday fish call for a finesse approach.

5d ago

North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth is fishing at its best heading into Memorial Day weekend. With the lake nearly full and significant fresh water inflows pushing active fish into feeding mode, guide trips are producing limits of blue catfish — the guide notes multiple 30-pound-plus fish have been boated in recent weeks and expects conditions to improve further into June. Away from North Texas, Wired 2 Fish describes Texas bass mid-transition through the post-spawn: some fish are aggressively chasing shad and working bream beds, while others are shallow and spooky, favoring finesse presentations. LakeForkGuy signals this is shaping up as "the most aggressive crappie bite of the year" as post-spawn fish spread off structure. USGS gauge 08211200 reads 35.7 cfs, indicating low summer-lean flow on the monitored Texas drainage — typical of river systems entering the summer season.

5d ago

The Colorado River is running at 1,010 cfs per USGS gauge 08158000 as of Sunday evening, reflecting healthy late-spring flows in the Hill Country watershed heading into Memorial Day weekend. For broader regional context, My Canyon Lake Fishing reports that Canyon Lake sits at 886.46 feet (58.6% full), eight feet higher than this time last year, with boat ramps fully operational and conditions described as ideal for boating and fishing. Direct angler reports for Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan are sparse this cycle, but late May marks the classic post-spawn transition for largemouth and Guadalupe bass across the Hill Country chain. Striped bass remain a year-round draw on Lake Travis. Warming late-spring water should push catfish into predictable feeding patterns near creek channels. With the first-quarter moon overhead and Memorial Day boat traffic incoming, early-morning and evening windows will be the priority for anglers looking to avoid mid-lake congestion. Water temperatures were unavailable from gauges this cycle.

5d ago

NOAA buoy 42035 logged Gulf water at 79°F on May 25, and the warmth is translating to solid action across the Coastal Bend. Texas Fish & Game Magazine describes redfish pushing wakes through flooded marsh in pre-dawn light, with speckled trout and flounder stacking on the same spartina grass edges where shrimp are snapping along the shoreline. In the backbays, Capt. Reanna Yaklin has been logging consistent time on Baffin Bay per the Galveston Daily News, signaling the premier wading flat is fishing well. Offshore, the federal red snapper season opened May 22 per Lone Star Outdoor News, giving crews willing to make the run a fresh target heading into the holiday weekend. Recent TexasFishingTips reports cover Port Aransas, Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, and Rockport-Copano, confirming broad charter activity across the region. The Galveston Daily News notes Memorial Day weekend carries a 50/50 weather outlook, so monitor the marine forecast closely.

5d ago

Colorado River flow at the Austin gauge (USGS 08158000) checked in at 249 cfs this morning, signaling stable conditions on the Highland Lakes chain. Direct bite reports for Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan are thin this cycle — TPWD paused its weekly fishing report format earlier this year per My Canyon Lake Fishing, leaving some intel gaps for the region. Nearby Hill Country lake levels are running well above year-ago marks: Canyon Lake currently sits 8 feet higher than the same date in 2025 and remains ideal for all water recreation, according to My Canyon Lake Fishing. With a first-quarter moon and late-May timing, largemouth bass are in post-spawn recovery mode across the shallows. Wired 2 Fish highlights that early-morning topwater presentations near grass, reeds, and docks produce strong reaction strikes as post-spawn fish linger near shallow cover. LakeForkGuy (YT) calls this window the most aggressive crappie bite of the year, with post-spawn fish stacking on brush and creek-channel transitions.

5d ago

The New Buccaneer returned to Galveston docks with an excellent offshore catch this past weekend, per Galveston Daily News — Reel Report, with federal red snapper season freshly opened as of May 22. Crews had to work around drifting seaweed and vessel traffic near the deep rigs, but fish were cooperative. NOAA buoy 42035 logged 79°F water and 3-foot seas on Sunday, comfortable conditions for both offshore runs and inshore bay work. Throughout the week of May 19 to 22, TexasFishingTips (YT) featured active captain reports from Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, and the Rockport-Copano-Mesquite Bay corridor. Inshore, Texas Fish & Game Magazine describes light southeast breezes pushing shrimp along marsh grass edges, triggering redfish, speckled trout, and flounder on the flats. The 37th annual CCA STAR Tournament is now underway per Lone Star Outdoor News — Fishing, adding competitive pressure to an already busy holiday stretch, and Lone Star Outdoor News also notes this is shaping up as a record year for Texas anglers statewide.

5d ago

North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake is nearly full, with fresh water pushing into the system and triggering what the guide calls "active, feeding fish." The late-May window is prime: blue catfish are moving and biting fast when found. The guide documented consistent limits through spring, with multiple 30-pound-plus blue cats per trip at the April peak. Channel catfish were also "biting like crazy" as the lake warmed toward summer, and white bass are spreading through the main lake basin per the same source. USGS gauge 08211200 logged 89.3 cfs on May 24, reflecting stable, moderate flow on a Texas freshwater system. Lone Star Outdoor News noted 2026 is shaping up as a record year for Texas anglers statewide. With Memorial Day weekend here and lake levels high, conditions are favorable for a strong late-May run on DFW-area lakes.

6d ago

Water temps measured at 80°F by NOAA buoy 42043 are holding inshore species in predictable feeding patterns along Lower Laguna Madre's marsh edges and shallow structure. Texas Fish & Game Magazine recently described the pre-dawn inshore scene: a light southeast breeze crossing spartina grass, shrimp snapping along the shoreline, and redfish pushing wakes through flooded marsh shallows. That is the exact window inshore anglers here plan their tides around. Speckled trout and flounder are sharing the same marsh-edge zone, per the same report. Salt Strong's technique coverage highlights black drum positioning tight to bridge pilings throughout the coast, where precise small-bait placement near the bottom draws consistent strikes. The CCA Texas STAR Tournament opened in May, per Lone Star Outdoor News, underscoring how seriously the inshore community treats this stretch. Federal red snapper season opened May 22, per Lone Star Outdoor News, for those with the range to run offshore.

6d ago