Lure switch turns on redfish and snook as Gulf waters stay summer-warm

What's biting

What's next

With all three CO-OPS stations between Galveston Bay and Freeport holding in the low-to-mid 80s, the water stays warm enough to keep redfish and snook feeding aggressively through midweek. The approach Salt Strong highlighted — working soft plastic jerk lures once a hard-plug bite goes quiet — is worth carrying into the weekend rather than moving spots.

Tide-wise, all three stations build toward a midafternoon high today, so that last hour or two of the incoming push is the window worth planning around for inshore structure and drains. Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes TPWD has proposed changes affecting redfish tagging this season, so confirm current regs before keeping fish on upcoming trips.

Context

Water in the low-to-mid 80s is typical for the Galveston-Corpus corridor in early October. The Gulf cools slowly, and inshore species like redfish and snook generally stay active well into fall before a sharper cold front forces a shift toward deeper holes. This stretch of the season sits in the fall transition, with baitfish pushing out of the bays, and the bite tends to reward anglers who adjust presentation before assuming fish have moved. A waning crescent moon this week means smaller tidal swings than around the full or new moon.