Texas Gulf Coast Fishing Conditions Outlook: Redfish, Trout, and Conservation Considerations for December 1st 2024

As of December 1st, 2024, the Gulf of Mexico along the Texas coast is offering some excellent fishing conditions despite the transitioning weather. ### Weather and Tides We're expecting a mix of sunny and warm days before a front moves in early next week, bringing cloudy skies and north winds up to 15 mph. Tides are normal to above normal, kept high by steady southeast winds. Sunrise today is at around 6:55 AM, and sunset will be at about 5:15 PM. ### Fish Activity Yesterday saw good catches of redfish and speckled trout, particularly around the jetties and bays. In areas like Galveston and Texas City, slot redfish and oversized redfish were caught using silver spoons, shrimp, and cut mullet. Speckled trout were active on live shrimp free-lined along rocks[4]. ### Best Lures and Bait For redfish, small weighted dark crab flies and small brown shrimp patterns are working well, especially early in the morning. As the sun rises, switch to sight-casting mode with tan, slow-sinking flies. For trout, use longer leaders (up to 12 feet) with 12# to 16# fluoro tippets and small weighted flies like Blind Chicken, White, gray, and ginger bead-eye seaducers. Small hair bugs, poppers, and grizzly seaducers are also effective, especially on calm, early to mid-day walks[1][2]. ### Hot Spots - **Galveston Jetties**: Bull redfish are being caught off the dike and jetties using cut mullet and live halved crabs. - **Port Mansfield**: Good trout catches up to 26 inches on drifts and edges, with picky fish responding to tan kwans and small dark flies. - **South Padre Island**: Speckled trout are active on the gas well flats and north of Unnecessary Island using live shrimp under popping corks. Redfish are mixed in with black drum in channels in the south bay[4]. ### Conservation Note Remember the new regulations for speckled trout: a limit of three fish per day in the 15" to 20" slot, with one fish allowed over 28". Please release all large female trout, as they are crucial for breeding stock[1][2]. Enjoy your day on the water, and be mindful of duck hunters along shorelines and back lake systems during the first split of the Texas South Zone waterfowl season, which ends today. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.