In general, the temperature slowly starts to drop from the dog days of summer and the speckled trout and redfish move into Trinity Bay, which is bordered on three sides by land (mostly marshes).
It is often said we fish all year to get ready for the final part of the season, known to most anglers as “Trinity Bay in the Fall”.
Everyone has a particular time of the year to fish or method to use, but I really enjoy the fall fishing patterns that develop from mid-September to late-December each year. These patterns include wade fishing, drift fishing, fishing gas wells and pipe stands, and the most popular of them all “chasing the birds”.
Salinity plays a major role on the trout’s ability to stay in the area, and any excessive amount of fresh water coming from several water sheds in the bay will push the trout out of the area towards Galveston, appearing in large numbers around the north and south jetties. This year, with the San Jacinto and Trinity Rivers out of its banks, fish are staging near the channel markers 50 to 72……………..
They will also fan out on the beachfront where or wade fishermen Can catch their limits. The fish will return to Trinity Bay when the salinity is stable.
Most of this bay is only accessible by boat, but some can reach public ramps by using their ‘Hot Spot’ map, and may elect to trailer to some of these ramps instead of traveling across the open bay. It doesn’t take very long for Mother Nature to turn Trinity Bay into an ugly sea with waves in excess of five to seven feet.
It is best to wade or drift fish early in the day. This is the time when the speckled trout are in shallow waters looking for bait fish.
While wading, use your previous experience and knowledge to scan the waters for signs of trout. ‘Slicks’ will pop up generally in these areas, about the size of a washtub. Position yourself upwind of these telltale signs of feeding trout and cast around and inside of each one. Not always will you catch trout, but I have found these slicks to have gaff-top and sometimes hardheads in them.
Be assured that if you work several slicks that day, your stringer will be rewarded with trout.
Look for pockets of bait that appear to be nervous or being herded around. The trout are under them and the bait is not sure when they will feed. Areas like Hodges, Submerged, and Double Bayou are noted for quality fish to 25 inches.
As the day begins to heat up from the sun, move to the open bay and work the gas wells and pipe stands or some of the large separators. Also, work structure like oyster beds or areas that have guts running parallel with the shoreline. Lady’s Pass or Deep Reef is excellent ones. You will find success because these trout will wait in ambush in these guts or oyster beds and feed on the bait as it crosses these areas.
A good method is to drift on either side of the wells and if you pick up a trout, return and anchor in the general area. Sometimes, if the fishermen in your boat are quick enough to tell you of their catch, you may want to anchor.
Keep moving from well to well until you find the fish and be alert to tide and current in these areas. Most of your fish will be caught on the down side of the well from which the tide is moving.
Another option is to set out your anchor at a particular well and work it for at least 30 to 45 minutes, Remember; fish patterns can change, so be patient in these areas.
Each year, the birds in Trinity Bay lead fishermen to limits of trout and redfish. It sounds so simple, but in practice is not often so.
Once you locate the flock, make a turn upwind approximately 100 feet and drift into the area. Schools of speckled trout and occasionally big gaff top will work under the shrimp and herd them to the surface where they catch the attention of the gulls.
Speckled trout will often go on a feeding frenzy and hit anything you throw in the area. Be sure and cast around the edges, and if you can get your bait down quickly enough, solid trout to three pounds will be your reward.
The trout near the surface will be smaller, but more aggressive. Use ‘Bass Assassin’ or even a gold spoon. There is no point anchoring here unless there is a complete absence of wind.
Once you move out of the area, crank up and move upwind and start another drift.
Some anglers prefer the “sling-shot” method, which may or may not be good in certain situations. This method means to go full tilt with your engine until you are right in the middle of the diving birds, shut your engine down and work in he area 360 degrees around the boat. While this may be successful, be sure other boats are not already working the same set of birds.
Pay attention to gulls that fly for a minute and return to the same area and set upon he water. The shrimp and trout are down deeper and the birds are waiting for them to be driven to the surface.
Take special note to be careful and not disturb other boaters working a particular set of birds. If there are three or more boats in the area, move off and start a look through you binoculars. There are sure to be other birds working over schools of bait.
As always, enjoy the day fishing and catching your favorite species.
Remember what you have learned and pass it on to the little ones. You too, were young once.
Good lock and good fishing.
See you’ll on Galveston Bay.
Capt. Paul Marcaccio
