Texas Gulf Coast fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. Fall is the best time of year on much of the Texas coast. The water is cooling, the shrimp are moving out of the bays, and the trout, reds, and flounder are following the food. From Galveston to Port O’Connor, October is when the fishing gets good.
What’s Hitting
What’s hot this week: speckled trout are feeding under the birds in the bays, chasing shrimp moving out of the marsh. Bull redfish are at the jetties and passes, and slot reds are on the shorelines and in the marsh. The fall flounder run is starting to build, with fish moving toward the passes. Black drum are on the structure, and sheepshead are around the jetties.
Where to Find Them
For trout, look for birds diving on shrimp in Galveston Bay, East Matagorda Bay, and Matagorda Bay. For bull reds, the Galveston jetties, the San Luis Pass, and the Matagorda jetties. For slot reds, the shorelines and marshes in West Bay and East Bay. For flounder, the passes, the marsh drains, and the channels leading out to the Gulf.
Tides & Conditions
Tides are small along the Texas coast, and the last quarter moon softens them further this weekend. The wind is often the biggest factor. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s and dropping. The first fall fronts typically arrive in October and bring a few days of north wind, followed by excellent fishing as conditions settle.
Tackle & Tactics
For trout under the birds, a soft plastic on a 1/4-ounce jig head, or a popping cork with a live shrimp. For bull reds, a fish-finder rig with a chunk of cut mullet or a half crab. For flounder, a mud minnow on a Carolina rig or a soft plastic bounced along the bottom. For slot reds, a gold spoon or a soft plastic along the shorelines.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Galveston Yacht Basin area ramps, the Eagle Point area in San Leon, and the Matagorda Harbor ramp. Shore anglers have good access at the Galveston jetties, the San Luis Pass area, and the Texas City Dike. Fish are concentrated under the birds for trout and at the jetties for reds. Texas has specific rules for trout, redfish, and fall flounder, so check current Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
When you find birds working over trout, do not run your boat into the middle of the action. Shut down upwind and drift into casting range. The fish will stay up longer, and other anglers will thank you for not pushing the school down.
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