Texas fishing reports
579 reports for Texas — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Fall bass window opens as Texas water cools into late October
Two USGS gauges in the Coastal Bend area read 73°F and 77°F this evening, with gauge 08211200 showing modest flow near 59.5 cfs. That is warm for late October, but the cooling trend is what matters. Texas Fish & Game Magazine notes that October can produce monster Texas largemouth, as cooling water pushes baitfish into creeks and coves and bass become increasingly aggressive. Tactical Bassin's fall coverage points the same direction, favoring paddle tails on a blade or underspin when bass are chasing baitfish, and jerkbaits as water cools.
Redfish and fall trout get set for the cooling-water push
Water along the Texas coast is still warm, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8771450 reading 77°F and station 8771341 at 75.2°F as of the 23:30 UTC observation. Station 8772471 sits at 74.1°F. That spread is a useful reminder that the bays and the open shoreline are not cooling at the same pace, and fish will follow the most comfortable water. Redfish remain the dependable target in these conditions. Coastal Angler Magazine's October game plan points to hungry inshore redfish and says tides, structure and the right retrieves are the keys to fall artificial-lure fishing.
Hill Country bass settle into the fall transition
Fall is shaping up as the best stretch of the year for largemouth bass in Texas, per Texas Fish & Game Magazine, which notes that cooling water pushes baitfish into creeks and coves and makes bass noticeably more aggressive. Our readings from the Austin-area gauges back up that picture: USGS gauge 08155500 shows 72°F water with a light 19.5 cfs flow, while gauge 08170990 reads 70°F and gauge 08105891 reads 80°F. That spread is wide. The cooler readings are in the range where bass start following bait shallow, and the warmer one is a reminder that not every water has made the turn yet. Tactical Bassin (blog) has been running fall content on jerkbaits and bladed swimbaits, with the point that bass chasing baitfish respond to added flash and vibration.
Texas fall bass window opens as water cools
Fall is one of the best times of year to catch largemouth bass in Texas, per Texas Fish & Game Magazine. As water temperatures begin to cool, baitfish move into creeks and coves and bass often become more aggressive. Both USGS gauge 0821150305 and USGS gauge 08211200 read 71°F this morning, still warm enough to keep fish comfortable, with the cooling trend just starting. Tactical Bassin (blog) notes that when bass are chasing baitfish in the fall, adding a blade to a swimbait is one of the best ways to draw strikes, since the added flash and vibration helps. B.A.S.S. News says baitfish gather in tight schools as water temperatures fall, which makes them vulnerable. Find the bait and you find the bass. The bite window also opens wide, occurring through much of the day.
Redfish fall pattern builds along the Texas coast
Water temperatures along the Galveston to Corpus stretch are sitting in the low to upper 70s, with three NOAA CO-OPS stations reading 77°F at 8771450, 73.4°F at 8772471 and 71.4°F at 8771341 this morning. That spread points to cooling bays and a classic October transition. Salt Strong (articles) highlights fall as a prime window for big schools of redfish moving into certain areas, and its Upper Texas Coast weekend game plan was refreshed for October 16th to 18th. Coastal Angler Magazine's October game plan likewise points anglers toward hungry inshore redfish on artificial lures, working tides, structure and varied retrieves.
Hill Country bass settle into fall pattern as water cools
Water temperatures across the Hill Country gauges sit in a tight 70 to 74°F band this morning, with USGS gauge 08105891 reading 74°F, gauge 08155500 at 72°F and gauge 08170990 at 70°F. That is warm enough to keep largemouth feeding actively, yet cool enough to pull them out of their summer holding pattern. Per Texas Fish & Game Magazine, October is prime time for big Texas bass, as cooling water pushes baitfish into creeks and coves and makes bass more aggressive. Tactical Bassin's fall content points to the same shift, with bass chasing baitfish and responding to flash and vibration from bladed swimbaits.
East Texas bass shift into fall feeding mode
Fall patterns are building across Texas bass water. Texas Fish & Game Magazine says October can produce monster Texas largemouth, with cooling water pushing baitfish into creeks and coves and making bass more aggressive. B.A.S.S. News echoes the theme: as water temperatures drop, baitfish gather in tight schools, bass begin their fall feed, and the bite window opens through much of the day. Gauge readings near the region show water temperatures of 71 to 76°F, still warm enough to keep fish active but cool enough to start the transition.
Redfish and snook window opens as Laguna Madre water cools
Water in the Lower Laguna Madre area is holding in the mid to upper 70s, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8775237 reading 75.7°F and station 8779770 reading 77.5°F early this morning. That is warm enough to keep redfish and snook feeding comfortably through the day, and Salt Strong notes that fall is one of the best times to find big redfish, with large schools moving into certain areas. Coastal Angler Magazine's October game plan points inshore anglers toward artificial lures worked with the tides and around structure, with retrieves matched to the fish's mood.
Texas bass turn aggressive as fall feed builds
Fall is one of the best stretches of the year for largemouth bass in Texas, per Texas Fish & Game Magazine. As water cools and baitfish move into creeks and coves, bass often become more aggressive and easier to pattern. B.A.S.S. News points the same way: bass are on the move, baitfish are gathering in tight schools, and the bite window opens wide, often through much of the day. Find the bait and the bass are usually close by.
Redfish fall pattern builds as Gulf water cools into the 70s
Overnight readings from NOAA CO-OPS stations 8771450, 8771341 and 8772471 put Upper Texas Coast water between 73.6°F and 77.2°F, a comfortable range that keeps fish feeding as autumn takes hold. Salt Strong reports that fall is a prime stretch for big redfish, with large schools moving into certain areas. Coastal Angler Magazine's October game plan points to hungry inshore redfish and says tides, structure and the right retrieves matter most. Salt Strong also notes that a popping cork rig is one of the most effective setups for redfish.
Hill Country lakes settle into the fall bass pattern
Water temperatures across the Austin-area gauges are sitting in the low 70s, which is the range where fall bass start following baitfish into creeks and coves. USGS gauge 08155500 reads 72°F with 18.5 cfs flowing, and gauge 08170990 shows 70°F with no measurable flow. Gauge 08105891 reads a warmer 79°F. Per Texas Fish & Game Magazine, October is a prime window for big largemouth in Texas, as cooling water and baitfish movement make bass more aggressive and easier to find in schools.
Lower Laguna Madre redfish settle into a steady fall pattern
Water temperature across the Lower Laguna Madre is holding in the high 70s, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8775237 reading 76.8°F and station 8779770 reading 77°F as of late afternoon on October 19. That is warm for the back half of October, and it keeps shallow flats comfortable for redfish. Texas Fish & Game Magazine is pointing anglers toward the last days before the November 1 flounder closure, a sign that fall movement is well underway along the coast.