South Padre in early September is hot, still, and full of fish. The Lower Laguna Madre flats are giving up trout and redfish at first light, the jetties at Brazos Santiago Pass are holding tarpon and snook on the outgoing tides, and the first bull reds of the fall run have shown along the beach and at the pass. The fall pattern is arriving ahead of the first front.
What’s Hitting
What’s hitting this week: speckled trout on the grass flats and the spoil islands of the Lower Laguna Madre in the first two hours of light, with some solid fish among them. Redfish are tailing on the shallow flats on the east side and on the sand along the island, and the first bull reds are showing at the jetties and in the surf. Tarpon are rolling on the outside of the jetties and along the beachfront, and snook are on the jetty rocks on the outgoing and in the Brownsville Ship Channel at night. Flounder are starting to show around the jetties and the causeway, and kings and Spanish are on the nearshore structure.
Where to Find Them
Trout on the grass flats between the Arroyo Colorado and the causeway, and around the spoil islands along the Intracoastal. Reds on the east-side sand and the flats north of the causeway. Tarpon and snook on the south jetty at Isla Blanca Park and the north jetty at Boca Chica. Flounder around the jetty rocks and the causeway pilings. Kings on the nearshore wrecks and the bait schools in 30 to 60 feet.
Tides & Conditions
Water temps on the flats are in the upper 80s and the bite fades once the sun is high — be on the water at first light and fish the wind-blown shorelines with a bit of chop. Outgoing tides at the jetties for tarpon and snook. The wind usually builds in the afternoon. Watch the tropical outlook closely; the lower Texas coast is in play throughout September.
Tackle & Tactics
Trout on the flats take a topwater at dawn and a soft plastic on a light jig head once the sun is up. Reds take a gold spoon, a weedless soft plastic, or a live shrimp under a cork. Tarpon at the jetties want a live mullet on a 7/0 circle hook and 80-pound leader; snook take a live mullet or a swimbait on 40-pound. Bull reds take cut mullet or a live crab on a fish-finder rig. Flounder take a Gulp on a jig head.
Local Intel This Week
Public ramps: the Jim’s Pier area ramp on South Padre, the Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park ramp on the Arroyo Colorado, the Port Isabel city ramp, and the Isla Blanca Park ramp. Fish are concentrating on the flats at first light and on the jetties on the outgoing tide. Texas red drum rules include a slot, a bag limit, and an oversize tag, and snook have a narrow slot and a one-fish limit — check current Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Trout on the Laguna Madre flats in September push to the deeper edges of the grass by mid-morning. When the topwater bite dies, do not leave — move to the 3- to 4-foot edges and switch to a soft plastic worked slow.
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