Lower Laguna Madre water stays warm as fall trout window opens

What's next

Both stations list the next predicted low tide in the evening. Station 8775237 shows it at 21:29 UTC, about 4:29 PM local, and station 8779770 shows 21:43 UTC, about 4:43 PM local. Expect water to be draining out of the flats through the afternoon, which tends to push bait and the fish feeding on it toward channel edges and cuts. Plan to be set up there before the low rather than chasing it after.

The moon is at First Quarter, so tidal swings are moderate rather than extreme. Moving water around the tide change is the window to build the day around, with early morning and the hours leading into the afternoon low the most useful stretches.

If you are throwing for trout, Sport Fishing Mag's advice on slow-sinking and suspending plugs fits conditions as the water continues its seasonal slide. Work them slowly and let them hang in the strike zone. Water this warm still lets fish respond to a faster retrieve, so vary your cadence until one gets a reaction.

Context

Late October on the Texas coast is a transition period. Summer patterns are fading and fish begin moving toward the cooler-season routine, with bait gathering in creeks and channels as fronts start arriving. Water in the upper 70s is on the warm side for the date, which usually means the full fall shift is still ahead rather than behind us. Typically, each front that pushes through drops temperatures and tightens fish onto deeper edges and warmer pockets. Check state regulations before harvesting anything.