Texas fishing reports
218 reports for Texas — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
East Texas bass shift to summer depths as Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn heat up
Texas Fish & Game Magazine profiles Toledo Bend as one of America's premier freshwater fisheries, and late June marks the start of the reservoirs' critical summer transition. Per Texas Fish & Game, the dog days push bass off the shoreline cover that produced through May; deeper structure, submerged timber, and creek channel ledges become the key zones as surface temperatures climb. Lake Fork Trophy Bass guides in the same East Texas Pineywoods corridor confirm post-spawn bass are actively feeding across multiple depth ranges, 'from shallow to deep,' as fish rebuild condition after the spawn. The Sabine River inflow to Toledo Bend is running at 5,650 cfs per USGS gauge 08030500 as of this morning. Crappie typically stack tight to deep brush piles in summer heat, while catfish remain consistent through the season. Tonight's waxing gibbous moon sets up favorable feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Plan your launch accordingly.
Summer sharks and whiting run strong as Lower Laguna Madre hits midsummer stride
The Getaway Lodge Reel Lifesaver Invitational sent ten boats out of Port Mansfield Harbor Saturday under gray, overcast skies, per Lone Star Outdoor News — a sure sign the Lower Laguna Madre is in full summer swing. That same outlet reports summer sharks picking up along the Texas coast and whiting running "extremely" well, making the surf a productive and accessible target right now. Texas Fish & Game Magazine adds that bull redfish pushing forty inches are working the nearshore surf alongside jack crevalle patrolling beachfront bait schools and large sharks cruising the shallows. Salt Strong's summer series confirms that big reds don't disappear when the heat arrives — they consolidate on grass edges, shell pads, and shaded structure when targeted at the right time of day. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this reporting cycle, but the First Quarter moon sets up moderate tidal movement, historically a solid window for speckled trout and redfish on the wade-able flats at first and last light.
Blue catfish firing across Texas lakes as summer heat sets in
A 75-pound, 50-inch blue catfish hauled from Belton Lake on June 6 by angler Michael Padgett is the standout story on Texas freshwater right now, per Wired 2 Fish: a catch that underscores just how loaded Central Texas reservoirs are with trophy-class blues this season. Up in the Fort Worth corridor, North Texas Catfish Guide reports Eagle Mountain Lake sitting nearly full with consistent fresh-water inflow, a setup that keeps blue and channel catfish actively feeding. "Fish are moving, fish are feeding, and when you get on them it happens fast," the guide notes. As temperatures climb toward peak summer, Texas Fish & Game Magazine signals that largemouth bass are beginning their mid-summer transition off the bank and onto deeper offshore structure. Lone Star Outdoor News points to Rio Grande cichlids as a fun warm-weather target for anglers in South Texas now that cooler-season species have wound down.
Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn bass going deep in East Texas summer heat
Texas Fish & Game Magazine spotlights Toledo Bend this week as one of America's premier freshwater fisheries, and their companion mid-summer bass feature tells a familiar late-June story: the bank bite has faded across East Texas reservoirs and fish are pushing toward deeper, cooler structure. Tactical Bassin's current summer bass breakdown backs this up, pointing to offshore humps, channel bends, and submerged timber as the prime addresses once surface temps climb. No USGS gauge or NOAA buoy data was available for this report cycle, so precise water-temperature readings are unavailable. Plan for typical late-June heat. The MLF Grand Lake tournament this week offers a useful reference point: summer bass there responded to deep crankbaits, Carolina rigs, and flipping baits in heavy cover, a playbook that translates directly to Toledo Bend's standing timber and Sam Rayburn's brush piles. Crappie and catfish round out the catch, with catfish coming into their own on warm summer nights.
Midsummer heat drives Hill Country bass deep on Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan
Texas Fish & Game Magazine's mid-summer bass coverage signals the pattern now defining Lakes Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan: as June closes out, largemouth and hybrid stripers are abandoning shallow cover for deeper humps, channel edges, and creek-arm drop-offs where temperatures stay tolerable through the heat of the day. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data is currently available for the Highland Lakes, and direct fishing reports for these specific lakes are thin this week. The closest recent benchmark from Central Texas comes from Wired 2 Fish, which logged a 75-pound, 50-inch blue catfish catch-and-release at Belton Lake on June 6 — taken over a bottom hump after dark on cut gizzard shad — a technique that maps directly onto the deep-ledge catfish fishery on Travis and Buchanan. With the First Quarter moon on June 23, moderate solunar feeding windows around dawn and dusk are worth planning around.
Bay Action Holds at Eagle Point as Summer Sharks Ramp Up Along the Texas Coast
Anglers fishing Eagle Point near the Galveston ship channel are landing black drum, sheepshead, redfish, and speckled trout despite a stretch of rain and thunderstorms, per Galveston Daily News — Reel Report. The 53rd Annual Hall of Fame Fishing Tournament drew competitive action to the Texas City Dike, reinforcing that the bay complex is holding fish. South of Galveston, Matagorda Bay results are split between east and west bay, with conditions varying enough to move the bite depending on which section you're working, per Galveston Daily News — Reel Report. Offshore, south winds forecast at 10-15 knots through Saturday and building to 15-20 knots Sunday are shaping party boat scheduling. On a separate note, Lone Star Outdoor News — Fishing reports summer sharks picking up noticeably along the Texas coast, and whiting are running well — both timely additions to a summer target list. No buoy readings are available for current water temperatures; confirm conditions locally before launching.
Record Blue Catfish at Belton Lake as Texas Bass Push Deep for Summer
A 75-pound, 50-inch blue catfish was caught and released at Belton Lake on June 6, per Wired 2 Fish — a standout result from the 12,400-acre Central Texas reservoir, where angler Michael Padgett was anchored over a bottom hump after dark, soaking cut gizzard shad on 85-pound-test braid. That catch signals a productive overnight catfish bite on large Texas impoundments heading into peak summer heat. On the bass front, Texas Fish & Game Magazine's mid-summer breakdown makes the seasonal shift clear: the shoreline cover patterns that fired through May are fading, and fish are retreating to deeper, cooler water on main-lake structure. Tactical Bassin's early-summer primer reinforces that bass become temperature- and baitfish-driven as the dog days arrive. Lone Star Outdoor News also flags Rio Grande cichlids as a fun light-tackle alternative in Texas river systems now that the rainbow trout program has wound down. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this update; verify current conditions before launching.
Toledo Bend bass push offshore as midsummer dog days arrive
Texas Fish & Game Magazine flags what any East Texas veteran already senses: as late June arrives, the productive spring shoreline patterns on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn give way to a deeper, offshore game. Bass that were hugging shallows through the spawn are now pulling to submerged timber, channel edges, and mid-lake humps. The Sabine River gauge (USGS 08030500) recorded 7,960 cfs of flow at dawn today — a moderate reading that can position fish along current seams near creek channel intersections feeding the reservoir. No water temperature was available from today's instruments, but mid-to-upper 80s on the surface are typical for East Texas impoundments in late June, pushing feeding activity toward low-light windows. No guide or shop reports surfaced for crappie, catfish, or striped bass this cycle — all three are listed as seasonal-default Active, typical for these reservoirs in summer. Anglers willing to adapt to offshore structure will separate themselves from those still working the bank, per Texas Fish & Game Magazine.
Highland Lakes bass push deep as Hill Country summer takes hold
Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes that mid-summer bass patterns on Texas reservoirs are now fully in effect — shallow spring cover has faded and largemouth are hugging deep points, humps, and channel ledges. That shift is squarely in play across Lakes Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan entering the final week of June. The Colorado River at Austin (USGS gauge 08158000) is recording 1,170 cfs, consistent with moderate, stable releases from the Highland Lakes dam chain and suggesting no major drawdown or flood event is in progress. No water temperature is available from the current gauge feed, though surface temps in the upper 80s are typical for the Hill Country by late June. My Canyon Lake Fishing reports that Canyon Lake — a nearby Hill Country impoundment — is sitting roughly eight feet above last year's level, a positive regional signal. Regionally, a 75-pound record blue catfish was caught June 6 at Belton Lake (per Wired 2 Fish), reinforcing that Central Texas catfish are actively stacking on deep structure and eating cut bait.
Trout, reds, and black drum biting through summer storms on Galveston Bay
Pattie and Joe Holecek fished Eagle Point toward the ship channel this past weekend and came away with plenty of black drum, a couple of sheepshead, redfish, and speckled trout despite rain and thunderstorms interrupting the bite, per the Galveston Daily News — Reel Report. South of Galveston, Matagorda Bay is showing variable results depending on whether you're fishing the east or west end. Summer sharks are ramping up along the Texas coast per Lone Star Outdoor News, adding an exciting element to nearshore trips. Whiting are also running strong and are an easy, rewarding catch for anglers looking for a fish-fry outing. The bay forecast cited by the Galveston Daily News — Reel Report calls for south winds 10-15 knots with conditions staying choppy through the weekend, so timing your departure around calmer morning windows will pay off. First Quarter moon this week supports moderate, predictable tidal feeding windows.
Texas catfish run hot at Belton Lake as bass move deep for summer
At 87°F on the San Antonio River system (USGS gauge 08211200), Texas freshwater is locked firmly into peak summer mode. The biggest story this week came from Belton Lake, where Wired 2 Fish reported Michael Padgett landing a 75-pound, 50-inch blue catfish on June 6 — anchored after dark over a bottom hump on the 12,400-acre Central Texas reservoir, soaking cut gizzard shad on 85-pound braid. That catch-and-release fish signals trophy-class blues are active and feeding aggressively at night. Elsewhere, Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes the mid-summer bass shift is underway: spring shoreline patterns that produced in May are fading, with fish relocating to deeper, cooler structure as water temps climb statewide. Lone Star Outdoor News flags Rio Grande cichlids as a fun emerging alternative now that rainbow trout season winds down. With water this warm, early-morning and post-sunset windows will consistently outproduce anything attempted midday.
Hill Country bass push deep as mid-summer heat grips Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan
Mid-summer conditions have settled firmly over the Highland Lakes chain. Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes that by late June, the shoreline cover patterns that produced quality bass through May are giving way — pushing largemouth deeper across Travis, LBJ, and Buchanan. The USGS Colorado River gauge (site 08158000) registered 270 cfs on June 22, signaling moderate late-season flow. Canyon Lake, a Hill Country bellwether just east of the chain, sits at 886.46 feet with three boat ramps open and conditions that WORD coordinator Alexis Runnels calls "ideal for fishing," per My Canyon Lake Fishing. In Central Texas, a 75-pound, 50-inch blue catfish was caught and released at Belton Lake on June 6 — Wired 2 Fish covered the catch — signaling that trophy cats are in full summer feeding mode across the region's impoundments. Plan early-morning and post-sunset windows for the sharpest action before midday heat locks fish down.