Texas Fishing Reports

Water temperatures at 77°F — confirmed by NOAA buoys 42020 and 42043 — place the Lower Laguna Madre and South Padre flats in prime late-spring condition on May 7. Buoy 42020 logged 11.5-foot seas and 12 m/s winds on May 2, conditions capable of dirtying the shallow system and scattering fish off grass-flat structure. By today, buoy 42043 shows winds down to just 1 m/s — a significant calm-down that opens a key window for wade fishers and skiff anglers. TexasFishingTips (YT) has Capt. Kevin Navid reporting from Baffin Bay and the Laguna Madre area today (May 7), confirming local guides are on the water. Salt Strong's topwater content identifies low-wind, warm-water conditions exactly like these as the optimal trigger for inshore surface strikes. With 77°F water across the system, speckled trout, redfish, and black drum are all within their preferred temperature range and likely in active feeding mode.

1d ago

Sabine River inflow to Toledo Bend is running at 2,810 cfs per USGS gauge 08030500 as of early Wednesday morning, a moderate reading consistent with late-spring water levels. Direct on-the-water reports from the reservoirs themselves are thin this cycle, but the early May timing tells a clear story: largemouth bass across East Texas are deep into post-spawn transition. Tactical Bassin's early May coverage documents exactly this split — some fish pushing toward open-water structure while others hold shallow around flooded timber and bank cover. In a recent session, Tim from Tactical Bassin worked a Karashi finesse presentation, a topwater, and a Magdraft swimbait skipped through standing trees — three patterns that translate directly to the flooded timber corridors Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn are famous for. Crappie, typically finishing their spawn in early May at these latitudes, should be moving off beds toward deeper brush. No water temperature data is available from current gauges.

1d ago

The Colorado River logged 321 CFS at USGS gauge 08158000 just before 4 a.m. this morning — a moderate, non-flood inflow suggesting stable lake levels and workable clarity across the Highland Lakes chain. No dedicated Hill Country boat-ramp or captain reports surfaced in this cycle's feeds; Texas Fishing Forum's freshwater thread was inaccessible behind a login wall at pull time. Conditions assessments here are grounded in seasonal patterns, supported by Tactical Bassin's early-May bass coverage, which documents Texas-region lakes deep in the post-spawn transition. Largemouth should be scattering from spawning flats toward the first depth-break cover, with some fish still shallow enough for topwater at dawn. Guadalupe bass — native to Hill Country rocky structure — likely finished spawning earlier and are already positioned in creek-arm margins. White bass may still be reachable in upper cove systems. Water temperature is unavailable from the gauge this morning; take your own readings to calibrate depth strategy before committing to a presentation.

1d ago

NOAA buoy 42035 clocked 78°F water and just 2.6-ft seas on May 7 — a sharp turnaround from the 11.5-ft surf that hammered buoy 42020 waters on May 2. With winds dropping to near 2 m/s, bay and nearshore access across the Baffin Bay, Laguna Madre, Aransas Pass, and Rockport-Copano corridor has reopened. Charter captains Capt. Kevin Navid (Baffin Bay/Laguna Madre), Capt. Kenny Kramer (Aransas Pass), Capt. Larry Bell (Rockport-Copano and Mesquite Bay), and Capt. Monte Graham (Port Aransas) were all actively filing reports from these waters this week per TexasFishingTips (YT). Upper-70s water temps are historically prime for Texas speckled trout as fish push onto shallow grass flats and bay pockets. Salt Strong (articles) notes that topwater success depends on more than just the clock — water clarity and visible surface activity are the real triggers to read in conditions like these.

2d ago

USGS gauge 08211200 logged Texas river water at 80°F early this morning with flow running low at 37.3 cfs — a pairing that tells a clear story: the spawn is wrapping up and bass are sliding into post-spawn dispersal. Tactical Bassin's early-May coverage confirms the transition, noting largemouth splitting between shallow cover and open water with topwater, swimbaits, and finesse presentations all drawing strikes depending on time of day. With water this warm, feeding activity will be tightest at dawn and dusk. Catfish and alligator gar benefit from the elevated temperatures as well; Field & Stream's comprehensive gar guide highlights Texas's Sabine River specifically, noting drifted cut bait as the traditional river presentation for big fish. Direct Texas freshwater angler reports were limited this cycle. Plan around the gauge data and tune sessions to early-morning windows to beat the midday heat.

2d ago

Specks blowing up on topwater lures across the west bay flats. Some of the best spring topwater action in years.

Apr 9

Port Aransas jetties delivering excellent variety. Sheepshead, black drum, and the first tarpon of the season all reported.

Apr 8

Lake Fork bass transitioning to post-spawn. Larger females still protecting fry in the shallows. Finesse presentations key.

Apr 6

Bull redfish feeding in the first and second guts along Padre Island National Seashore. Cut bait and fresh dead shrimp producing.

Apr 5

Bass moving off beds and staging on nearby structure. Secondary points and submerged timber holding good numbers of fish.

Apr 4