Gulf Coast Fishing Report: Trout, Reds, and Flounder Thrive in Early Fall Conditions

Howdy anglers, Artificial Lure reporting in for your Gulf of Mexico, Texas, fishing update on this fine Sunday, September 28, 2025. Today’s sunrise along the Texas Gulf Coast was right around 7:12am, with sunset expected at 7:09pm—giving us almost a full 12 hours to wet a line. The tides are moving slow today, with a low tidal coefficient; that means light current and subtle transitions from high to low water according to the Port Aransas report on Tides4Fishing. For Port Aransas, for example, you’ll see the water peaking later tonight at about 2 feet, after a modest low this morning—so plan on working those structure points and creek mouths when the water’s got some movement. Weatherwise, it’s a classic early fall morning—air is barely crisp, humidity is starting to back off, and temps are climbing through the low 80s by midday, with an easy southeast breeze around 8 to 10 mph. Cloud cover is light, so sunglasses and sun protection are still a must if you’re staying out through the afternoon. Inshore, the bite’s been steady for speckled trout and slot reds along the grass flats and shallow reefs. Reports from Freeport down to Port Mansfield indicate solid action early with topwaters like the Spook Jr. or a bone-colored Skitter Walk before sunrise, then switching up to soft plastic paddle tails—Down South Lures in watermelon red or chartreuse sparkle have been the ticket this week. Gulp shrimp on a quarter ounce jighead is also pulling fish on channel edges and deeper potholes. If you prefer live bait, live shrimp and croaker are getting hammered by both specks and reds around the jetties and drop-offs. Anglers around Matagorda and Galveston jetties are bringing in reds up to 30 inches and plenty of keeper trout at first light. Flounder activity is picking up—GreatAnglers.com had a verified 12”er landed in the surf near Galveston last week using live minnow, and gigging has been productive on falling tides. Freeport backlakes and mudflats are classic spots for late September flounder. Drifting a mullet strip or bouncing a chartreuse Gulp mullet can land you a stringer if you hit the right drain. Offshore, the kings are still active chasing sardine balls past the third bar. If you can get out there, slow-trolled ribbonfish and cigar minnows are the best presentation. Snapper action on structure in 70-90’ of water is steady, especially on cut squid. A few cobia sightings have come in around Port O’Connor rigs, mostly on live eels or big bucktail jigs fished deep. A heads-up for you surf fishers: several “pink meanie” jellyfish—a new species with tentacles reportedly up to 70 feet—have been spotted along Corpus Christi and North Padre Island this week per Texas A&M’s Harte Research Institute, so mind where you wade. Hot spots to mark on your GPS today: - **East Matagorda Bay**: Marsh drains on an outgoing tide for reds and flounder. - **Port Aransas South Jetty**: Great for sunrise trout and jack crevalle runs. - Bonus: **Galveston beachfron This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.