Need some advice from experienced anglers - trout fishing in the bay vs. gulf

[Hogie70]

Man...y'all are some nice guys.

You should try it sometimes... you may like it lol... Just don't go overboard like you know who...

[GHSmacker]

Man...y'all are some nice guys.

[TroutSupport]

because yesterday evening trout were hitting everywhere, with birds diving to my left and right and mullet/baitfish jumping around and they wouldn't bite at all. I was kicking myself for not having live shrimp but I knew that someone who was good with artificials would have caught them.

Question is... where you really in trout or redfish? if you didn't see them.. it could have been sandies, ladyfish, small gaftop (big gaftop in inhale a super spook and plastic). Trout in trinity and east have mostly moved off the shoreline... except for smaller one (generally speaking) If you are wading this time of year it would be more productive to wade the drop off and perhaps wade out the drop off as far as possible. If you can wade an area that has some shell scattered shell past that drop off in 5-6 feet of water it will increase your chances in the bay.

As far as bay vs surf ... the surf stays more oxygenated this time of year and hence the fish don't mind being shallower, that combined with the light winds making it accessible can put you close to more fish. There are tons of trout in the near shore gulf and surf. And yes, in the summer, the heat, bait amounts, oxygen, and salinity levels will concentrate more fish in the bays around deep reefs and those fish come from all over including influx from the gulf. If you are landlocked the surf is hard to beat this time of year.

Tobin

[XtremeAngler]

I hear ya. I do think that the trout in the surf, probably stay in the surf though. Just based on numbers alone, there are more trout in the bays during the warm months, and less (although they do congregate more in certain areas like deep reefs) during the colder ones.

If the surf trout went into the bays during the winter, they would be packed with fish.

I think that there are "resident" bay trout that stay all year, and bay trout that enter with the bait influx around April, then leave come December or so. Surf trout are close in during the Summer, and go somewhere else, maybe offshore or further South during the Winter.

This is just a hypothesis based on the seasonal patterns I have seen, no real solid data.

Could be. I'm really curious. I always thought that in winter most fish just move to the deepest part of the bays in the warmest water and hug the bottom. Who knows though

[XtremeAngler]

Spring summer and fall is bait heaven-lots of bait-menhaden, mullet and shrimp have annual migration patterns-so do fish-water temp and daylight length trigger mass migrations/spawning just like planting seasons.

As far as consumption advisories, yes, they are true and most bad stuff is absorbed and held in the body fat of the fish and the fat is nearest the skin on trout, so leave a small sliver of meat against the skin and you'll be fine-look at me-I am in perfect health-260#s, bald, can't run 10 yards w/o needing another cig or oxygen, drink in mass quantities, deaf in one ear, blind, work 10 hour days, take meds to sleep and meds to stay awake, all good---sheeit-I'm a chick magnet and have fillets to feed em with. Oh, and over 50.

and a t sip

[Robalo]

Spring summer and fall is bait heaven-lots of bait-menhaden, mullet and shrimp have annual migration patterns-so do fish-water temp and daylight length trigger mass migrations/spawning just like planting seasons.

As far as consumption advisories, yes, they are true and most bad stuff is absorbed and held in the body fat of the fish and the fat is nearest the skin on trout, so leave a small sliver of meat against the skin and you'll be fine-look at me-I am in perfect health-260#s, bald, can't run 10 yards w/o needing another cig or oxygen, drink in mass quantities, deaf in one ear, blind, work 10 hour days, take meds to sleep and meds to stay awake, all good---sheeit-I'm a chick magnet and have fillets to feed em with. Oh, and over 50.

[ubermensch1324]

Oh man, the stuff you are asking about could fill up a book

Bays always hold trout through the year and are more consistant producers (less conditions-dependent). Can't say they hold more in the summer, the surf is a big place.

Bay fishing is a different game in the Winter. Much less bait in the bays during the winter, and more of it is large mullet, less small fish and shrimp. A mullet jump or two will make me stop and fish in the winter, but wouldn't garner much attention in the summer. Trout are often deeper around mud and shell, less around shorelines, coves, and grass (summer pattern). They are often concentrated in these areas during the winter, and you can hammer if you get it right. Another nice thing about the winter is that there is often a good afternoon bite (sun warms the shallow mud and the trout come in), compared to the summer, where the am is often best (too hot and sunny during the afternoon).

Ha ha, thanks Milkjug! I know I'm asking a lot but I think anyone would after getting skunked the past few times .

[Milkjug]

Oh man, the stuff you are asking about could fill up a book

Bays always hold trout through the year and are more consistant producers (less conditions-dependent). Can't say they hold more in the summer, the surf is a big place.

Bay fishing is a different game in the Winter. Much less bait in the bays during the winter, and more of it is large mullet, less small fish and shrimp. A mullet jump or two will make me stop and fish in the winter, but wouldn't garner much attention in the summer. Trout are often deeper around mud and shell, less around shorelines, coves, and grass (summer pattern). They are often concentrated in these areas during the winter, and you can hammer if you get it right. Another nice thing about the winter is that there is often a good afternoon bite (sun warms the shallow mud and the trout come in), compared to the summer, where the am is often best (too hot and sunny during the afternoon).

[ubermensch1324]

I hear ya. I do think that the trout in the surf, probably stay in the surf though. Just based on numbers alone, there are more trout in the bays during the warm months, and less (although they do congregate more in certain areas like deep reefs) during the colder ones.

If the surf trout went into the bays during the winter, they would be packed with fish.

I think that there are "resident" bay trout that stay all year, and bay trout that enter with the bait influx around April, then leave come December or so. Surf trout are close in during the Summer, and go somewhere else, maybe offshore or further South during the Winter.

This is just a hypothesis based on the seasonal patterns I have seen, no real solid data.

That's interesting Milkjug.

Is is the general consensus among experienced anglers that the bays hold more trout during the warmer months than the surf? Also, how is bay fishing in the winter compared to the summer and what, if any, are the main differences? Bait, conditions, location, etc.?

It seems that this record heat we are having is producing more wind than usual, which is why I'm looking to fish the bay for some protection. Thanks!

[Milkjug]

Not trying to open a can of worms, but I disagree. I fished with Mike Mcbride and he told me they did some study down south (Port A or Rockport or somewhere down there) where they tagged trout and released them. I can't remember the time frame, but they found trout as far as 20 miles away from the release point. That's why I think the consumption advisory is bogus. You may have a few resident fish but trout move around. Do those surf trout live in the surf all year, even during the winter?

I hear ya. I do think that the trout in the surf, probably stay in the surf though. Just based on numbers alone, there are more trout in the bays during the warm months, and less (although they do congregate more in certain areas like deep reefs) during the colder ones.

If the surf trout went into the bays during the winter, they would be packed with fish.

I think that there are "resident" bay trout that stay all year, and bay trout that enter with the bait influx around April, then leave come December or so. Surf trout are close in during the Summer, and go somewhere else, maybe offshore or further South during the Winter.

This is just a hypothesis based on the seasonal patterns I have seen, no real solid data.

[Reef Drifter]

Looks like I'm gonna move down to 12 # test from 20. Thanks!

Also, does 20# test cause more backlashes than 12# test on bait casting reels (I'm using a curado)? Curious if me switching down to 12# will help me get a few less tangle-up's, although, the wind was blowing 10-15 mph into me yesterday .

never tried it on a curado, mine are both spooled with 10# vanish and i never have a problem unless its an operator error lol

[ubermensch1324]

that's what I use to do before I switched to braid. 12# big game was and still is a winner.

Looks like I'm gonna move down to 12 # test from 20. Thanks!

Also, does 20# test cause more backlashes than 12# test on bait casting reels (I'm using a curado)? Curious if me switching down to 12# will help me get a few less tangle-up's, although, the wind was blowing 10-15 mph into me yesterday .

[Gilbert]

I use 12 lb big game no leader no swivel or quick clips... Just tie straight to the line nothing fancy,keep it simple... I really don't think there is a wrong way just whatever works for you... Lots of good info here from alot of good anglers...

that's what I use to do before I switched to braid. 12# big game was and still is a winner.

[Hogie70]

I use 12 lb big game no leader no swivel or quick clips... Just tie straight to the line nothing fancy,keep it simple... I really don't think there is a wrong way just whatever works for you... Lots of good info here from alot of good anglers...

[lurefisher]

don't use a leader if you are fishing with mono already. just tie the lure on with a loop knot.

I use 12 # andie then blood knot to 20 vanish shock leader as long as the pole then loop knot to top water ,when you swich to assisn take topwater off and tie on swivel and a short 20 # leader and loop knot to assisn/.