The pattern continues here in the Middle Coast with calmer mornings and breezy afternoons which are the norm this time of year. Aside from the late season cool fronts from the North and the low pressure blowups from the South that we get occasionally during July, the fishing will be consistent during this most Summer like of all months. It’s time to bang out a limit of Speckled Trout and box a Redfish or two right along with the boom of the fireworks.

My favorite type of fishing this month is wading with artificial lures in the early light on these Summer mornings. I have found what’s no secret to those who enter the water this time of year, that the fish are the most active for these couple of hours than they are for the rest of the sunlit day. Years of personal experience along with discussions of what worked from my fellow guides and fishing buddies reveal a few types of lure presentations that work the best. There are three specific lures or lure types I carry and in no particular order they are the Super Spook Junior, the Corky Devil (and Original Corky), and a variety of soft plastic lures from the Texas Tackle Factory (1/16 and 1/4 oz jig heads) both with and without paddle tails. When it comes to color I try dark early then light or shiny later in the wade. I suggest that you try this for sure but also change it up and experiment your own lure types and colors and for that matter presentations. How many ways are there to work a top water lure? About as many as you can think of and the same goes for the other lure types too. Slow, fast, twitching, stop and start, two jerks up, three jerks up, swimming straight and fast then slow…I mean try it all and see what works for you. Also be sure to work the entire water column because while these spots and dots may be deep the later the morning wears on they may also be close to the surface at the beginning of the wade.

The reality for me during my days on the water guiding folks from all walks of life is that I will be mostly in the boat versus wade fishing and I will be helping them catch their fish with live bait versus artificial lures. That’s just what I get and have gotten over the eight plus years running upwards of 300 days on the water. I do enjoy my time wading artificials but I like making a living putting customers on fish. I help those with experience while improving their skills and also those that are new to the sport develop skills that work and will benefit them on future trips.

I have found out through my years running these trips that there are many types of angling and that what works for one may not work for another. Further I believe fishing these waters on the Texas coast is a very personal experience and should be enjoyed without influences from any other person or group of people so if you are a pure artificial lure chunker or a bait guy or heck an avid fly fisherman then good for you and enjoy it to the fullest. There is so much room out there even though at times the bays seem to busy to enjoy. Find another spot away from other boats and do something new because you just might kick the old ‘go to’ spots and discover what some of us find almost daily, that there is a world of untouched water waiting for you but you have to trust your skills and knowledge to separate yourself from the pack then revel in your success knowing you pushed it that day just a little and it worked!

Capt Stephen Boriskie
Bay Flats Lodge, Seadrift, Texas, 888-677-4868