Around Matagorda Bay

Weekly Newsletter
and
Fishing Report

We've got another tournament this weekend - the Bay City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture's 2002 Redfish & Trout Tournament on Saturday, May 4, 2002. Entry Fee is $35.00 per person. Entry forms, rules and regulations are available at the following locations: Skipper's Bait and Tackle Shop at Matagorda Harbor and the Chamber of Commerce at 201 7th Street, Bay City. For more information, call 979-245-8333 or 979-863-7620.

Now...what can I say about the fishing situation down here? No definites, but some possibles. Any protected spots should produce for you this weekend. If you like to fish with live shrimp and a popping cork, try drifting in Oyster Lake -- you'll be having redfish for supper (with maybe a little gafftop mixed in.) The Raymond Shoal Reefs area in the west end of East Matagorda Bay has some good-lookin' clear water around it -- you might try drifting across that area using your favorite lures or bait. Hog Island and Brown Cedar Flats in East Matagorda Bay might be a winner for redfish with live shrimp and a popping cork. Just to throw some colors out there for you to choose from on your artificials, try roach/chartreuse, glow, pumpkinseed/chartreuse, or red shad. Give the south shoreline of West Matagorda Bay a try -- white/chartreuse Corkies will net you some trout. The Colorado River is getting right for all you Weekenders -- beautiful water and lots of bait!

It might be a little windy for you on Friday or Saturday - the wind should be out of the east southeast and will pick up during the middle of the day. Saturday looks better as far as the wind goes because it shouldn't blow as hard as on Friday. The weather will be beautiful, though, and you should be able to work on your tan even if the fish aren't biting!

Take a look at the main page of our site - Home Page ! There's a picture of a really nice redfish caught at the Port O'Connor jetties. I would REALLY love to be able to put your picture there, too. So, send me some pictures -- they don't even have to be current -- just you with some fish and a big smile!

Good Luck!

See ya next week,
Webmaster

Thursday, 05/02/02
In West Matagorda Bay a lot of trout were caught along the south shoreline by wadefishermen using bone-colored topwaters and chartreuse/white Corkies around the Greens Bayou area. A few reds were brought in from West Matagorda Bay also. Some nice big whiting were caught at the pier down at Matagorda Beach. And check out that 43-inch redfish on our home page - it was caught at the Port O'Connor jetties this week!

Wednesday, 05/01/02
In West Matagorda Bay a few trout and redfish were caught along the south shoreline by wadefishermen from Greens Bayou to Pass Cavallo using soft plastics. The wind is still tearing everything up.

Tuesday, 04/30/02
The wind is back....very little fishing was done today. There were a couple of reports of gafftops being caught in West Matagorda Bay, but that's about all.

Monday, 04/29/02
The Greens Bayou area of West Matagorda Bay produced a few trout and redfish today for wadefishermen using Norton Sand Eels.

Sunday, 04/28/02
At last the wind quit blowing hard. Lots of fishermen went out today, and looks like lots of redfish and some trout were brought in. Fishing was good along the south shoreline of both bays for wadefishermen, and drifting over scattered shell produced a few trout.

Saturday, 04/27/02
The wind woke me before dawn with its howling -- and it never slowed down all day. None of the fishing guides even went out today because of the wind. There was a tournament down here, though, so some fishermen did go out. Wadefishing was just about all that you could do with the wind, and pickings were slim.

Friday, 04/26/02
Sorry there was no fishing report yesterday. I was out of town at the King Ranch in South Texas on a birding trip -- really great! Fishing has improved a little. The south shoreline of West Matagorda Bay is still the answer -- fire tiger or rootbeer/chartreuse Bass Assassins will get you some trout. One guide came in with limits of trout for everyone in his party -- great fishing, Captain Paradoski!

Wednesday, 04/24/02
West Matagorda Bay is where the action was today. There was a fair amount of trout and redfish caught along the south shoreline by wadefishermen using Bass Assassins and Norton Sand Eels.

• If a fish hits when you are bringing your line in or letting it out - try fishing shallow or faster
• If you are fishing alone, make sure someone knows where you are fishing incase of an accident (preferably someone who won't divulge your secret spot)
• Fishing is sometimes best 2 hours after sunrise and 2 hours before high tide