Fall redfish window opens along the Upper Texas Coast

What's biting

What's next

All three stations show the next low tide landing between about 3:20 PM and 4:40 PM local time today (station 8772471 first, then 8771341, then 8771450). The tide should turn after those lows, so the late afternoon and evening push of incoming water is the window to plan around. Moving water tends to line up redfish along edges and drains where bait gets funneled, so fishing the first couple of hours of the incoming tide makes sense.

With a First Quarter moon, tidal swings are moderate rather than extreme. That usually means steadier current and less of the blown-out, fast-moving water that scatters fish. Early morning and the last light of the day are the best bets, with midday sun typically pushing fish toward deeper or shaded water.

Salt Strong also walked through a popping cork rig that lets you re-set depth and presentation without re-tying, which is handy when you are hopping between spots as the tide changes. Check the live Weekend Game Plan for the latest local trends before launching.

Context

Mid-October on the Upper Texas Coast sits squarely in the fall transition. Water is shedding its summer heat but has not yet dropped into winter territory, so the readings above, from the upper 60s to the upper 70s, are typical of a coast still cooling in stages. Fall is generally one of the most productive stretches of the year for redfish as they feed up and gather in larger groups, and cold fronts later in the season tend to push them further into the back bays. Check state regulations before keeping any fish.