Fall redfish pattern builds along the Upper Texas Coast

What's biting

What's next

Expect little change in water temperature over the next two to three days unless a front pushes through. A real cool-down is the trigger for the fall shift, so watch the forecast for the first strong northerly wind. Once the water starts sliding, bait tends to move toward channels and back bays, and predators follow.

The station at 8772471 shows a predicted high tide at 23:42 UTC today, which is 6:42 p.m. local time (CDT). Moving water around that window, and the dim light that follows, is worth planning an evening session around. With a new moon, expect the strongest tidal swings and the darkest nights of the cycle, so dawn and dusk should carry the best bite, with a possible lull in the bright middle of the day.

Salt Strong notes that high water in the Southeast has spread fish out across more territory. Their advice to slow down and adjust your approach when fish are hard to find applies equally when tides run strong around a new moon. Lures change with conditions: Salt Strong suggests switching from plugs to soft plastic jerk lures when the bite goes quiet over good-looking water.

Context

Mid-October on the upper and middle Texas coast is typically a transition period. Summer patterns are fading, bait begins gathering in the bays and passes, and the first cold fronts usually arrive in the weeks ahead. Water in the low 80s is on the warm side for the date, so the full fall run may arrive a little later than in cooler years. Check current TPWD regulations before harvesting, since seasons and limits can change.