Early Summer Rio Grande: Trout, Reds, and Cats on the Bite

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Rio Grande, Texas fishing report. We’ve got early-summer patterns settling in along the lower Rio Grande and nearby Laguna Madre. Weather’s warm and sticky: overnight lows in the low 70s, afternoon highs pushing upper 80s to near 90, light to moderate southeast breeze building by late morning. Humidity is high, skies partly cloudy with a decent Gulf breeze kicking up a light chop on open water. Along the coast near Boca Chica and South Bay, NOAA’s Brownsville/Port Isabel data shows a pre‑dawn low tide, a strong incoming push through mid‑morning, then a higher afternoon tide easing off toward night. That incoming morning water has been the sweet spot, stacking bait and feeding reds and trout along drains and channel edges. Sunrise is right around 6:40 a.m., sunset near 8:10 p.m. The bite has been best in two windows: the gray‑light first hour of sun and then that late‑afternoon period when the wind lays a bit and tide is still moving. In the river itself, water is a little stained with decent current. Catfish and drum are active on the deeper bends, especially where there’s brush and rock. Folks soaking cut shad, chicken liver, and stink bait have been reporting steady channel cats in the 2–5 pound range with an occasional blue cat mixed in. A few nice freshwater drum and the odd gar are showing up on cut bait near structure. Closer to the coast, anglers running out of the Brownsville Ship Channel toward South Bay and the jetties have been into solid speckled trout and slot reds. Local bait shops in Brownsville and Port Isabel are reporting recent catches of specks from 15–22 inches, some limits taken early when that incoming tide lines up with sunrise. Reds have been running mid‑slot, 22–26 inches, with a couple of heavier bruisers hanging on the edge of the channel. Best artificial lures have been: - 1/8 to 1/4 oz jigheads with paddle‑tail plastics in white, opening night, and new penny - Topwaters at first light: bone or chrome/black “walk‑the‑dog” plugs for trout over shallow grass and sand pockets - Gold spoons slow‑rolled along edges for reds and schoolie jacks Live bait is still king for numbers. Live shrimp under popping corks along channel drops and bay grasslines have been hot, especially on that rising tide. Finger mullet and mud minnows freelined or on light Carolina rigs are producing reds and the occasional snook tight to mangroves and docks. For pure numbers on the river side, stink bait or punch bait on small circle hooks with just enough weight to hold bottom will keep you busy with channel cats all morning, particularly just downstream of logjams and outside river bends. A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind: 1. Ship Channel to South Bay edges Work the channel breaks and adjacent flats on an incoming tide. Drift with plastics or anchor and throw live shrimp under corks. Watch for slicks and nervous mullet. 2. Lower Rio Grande deep bends near town access points Look for sharper outside bends with visible current seams. Drop cut shad or prepared baits right on the seam for cats and drum. Early and late are best, especially when the wind isn’t howling. Water temps are warm enough now that mid‑day bites get sluggish, so plan around tide and low light. Downsizing leaders and going a little more natural on colors helps in the clear bay water, while in the river’s murkier flow you can get away with heavier gear and louder baits. That’s the rundown from Artificial Lure—hope it puts more bend in your rod next trip. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn