November 2025 — Texas Gulf Coast: Flounder peak, trophy trout building in Baffin. November is a late fall month with water in the 66-74°F range — flounder peak; seatrout in deeper grass; first cold fronts. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — November 2025
Primary targets this month: Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Sheepshead.
Redfish
Peak fall redfish action. Target Aransas Bay, Copano Bay, Baffin Bay (trophy redfish capital), Lighthouse Lakes, the Land Cut (Lower Laguna Madre), and the East Matagorda Bay flats. Bull reds (28″+) push into passes and inlets during the mullet run. Cut mullet, finger mullet, gold spoons (Johnson Sprite), and soft plastics on jigheads all produce.
Speckled Trout
Trout gathering in Baffin Bay (gator trout — 30″+ fish common), the Lower Laguna Madre, the Land Cut, East Matagorda, and the Galveston West Bay grass flats. Larger fish (gator trout 20″+) hold in deeper potholes. DOA CAL Shads, MirrOlure Lil John, MirrOdine suspending baits, and live shrimp under popping corks. Slow the retrieve in cooler water.
Flounder
Peak flounder migration. Fish staging at Galveston Bay (the famous fall flounder run), Sabine Pass, the Aransas Pass jetty, and the back bays during spawning migration before pushing out to spawn. Bucktail jigs (1/2 oz, white, chartreuse) tipped with Berkley Gulp! 4″ swimming mullet or live mud minnows. Drag baits SLOW along bottom. Inlet and pass mouths on outgoing tides.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are stacked for the winter/early-spring spawn. Target the jetties (Galveston, Aransas Pass, Port Mansfield), the bay structure, and offshore platforms. Fresh fiddler crabs and live shrimp on a #1 or #1/0 octopus hook with minimal weight. Bites are subtle — set on the slightest tap. Vertical jigging tight to structure produces best.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 66-74°F. Flounder peak; seatrout in deeper grass; first cold fronts. Texas Gulf tides are minimal (about 1 foot) — wind dominates the bays. Strong south winds push water and bait into the bays; north winds drop water levels and concentrate fish in deeper holes. The jetties run on real tidal current and fish best on outgoing.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Mullet run. Massive bait migrations trigger feeding frenzies — every predator follows. Target inlets, passes, and beach troughs.
- Topwater dawn. Fall coolness extends the topwater window — walk-the-dog baits produce explosive strikes.
- Front timing. 24 hours before a cold front is typically lights-out; the day after is often slow as fish reset.
November Outlook
Late fall — final striper runs, flounder migration peaks, first sustained cold fronts.
Regulations Reminder
Redfish: 18-27″ slot, one per angler per day (verify FWC zone-specific rules). Seatrout/Speckled Trout: FL: 15-19″ slot, 3 per day (verify zone). TX: 15-25″ slot, 3 per day. LA: 12″ minimum, 15 per day (verify current). Sheepshead: 12″ minimum, 8 per day (FL). Flounder: 14″ minimum, 5 per day (FL). State-specific elsewhere. Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Roy’s Bait & Tackle Outfitters (Corpus Christi), FTU (Fishing Tackle Unlimited — Houston/Galveston), Academy Sports Bait & Tackle.
Public Boat Ramps: Galveston Public Boat Ramp, San Luis Pass, Sargent Beach, Port O’Connor, Rockport Marina, Conn Brown Harbor (Aransas Pass), Bird Island Basin (Padre Island).
Charter Fishing: $450-$700 inshore (bay flats); $800-$1,200 nearshore (jetties); $1,400-$2,800 offshore (rigs, deep snapper).
More Texas Gulf Coast Resources
Texas Gulf Coast Fishing Guide · Texas Gulf Coast Seasonal Calendar · All Texas Gulf Coast reports →
Reports updated every Thursday on fishing.digital.