Texas Gulf Coast Fishing Report: Hot Summer Bites on Trout, Reds, and More

Artificial Lure here with your July 6th, 2025, Texas Gulf Coast fishing report, coming to you right after a sunny afternoon on the salt. If you’re headed out, here’s what you need to know to make the most of your time in the Gulf of Mexico. Today along the coast, sunrise rolled in at 6:39 AM and you’ll have daylight till sunset at 8:28 PM. The weather has been classic mid-summer—hot, humid, with a southeast wind in that 8 to 14 mph range. Skies are mostly clear, and the water’s holding warm at about 80 to 87 degrees, depending on your bay. Tides have been pretty gentle. In Corpus, for example, high tide peaked at 11:13 AM and we’ll see a low tide at 11:20 PM. Over in Port Aransas, look for a high around 6:38 PM before a modest drop. That late evening falling tide should get the bite going near jetties and channels—prime time to have a line in the water. Let’s talk action. This week the most consistent bite has come from speckled trout and redfish, both inshore and in the surf. Captain Steven Hillary’s updates from Today We Fish Charters mention solid numbers of both in the Laguna Madre, Port Isabel Channel, and near the jetties. Trout have been eager to hit live shrimp under popping corks or croaker, especially early mornings. Redfish have been hitting live shrimp, soft plastics, and mullet around marsh drains and grassy flats. If you’re wading, soft plastics in natural colors like new penny, white, or chartreuse have been deadly—especially when tipped with just a bit of shrimp for scent. Galveston and Matagorda have had strong trout reports, with fish holding on deeper shell and drop-offs, especially on the outgoing tide. The new moon phase this week has brought on flounder, particularly around deeper cuts and creek mouths. Live finger mullet or a white curly-tail jig is your best bet there, but don’t be afraid to bounce a soft plastic paddle tail if the live bait’s tough to find. Offshore, folks are making hay with king mackerel, red snapper, and an occasional grouper. Reports from the Gulf this week mention kingfish being caught trolling deep diving plugs and silver spoons, and red snapper action remains hot on squid-tipped jigs and cut bait over nearshore wrecks. Trolling Nomad Design plugs or rigging up a big live bait is a great way to tempt a smoker king. If you’re after something special, the Port O’Connor jetties and the Freeport Surfside jetty have both been producing bull redfish and jack crevalle on cut blue crab, Spanish sardines, and heavy spoons. Over on Sabine Lake, the trout bite is still going, and black drum are showing up for anglers soaking fresh shrimp on Carolina rigs. Want hot spots? Try these: - East Matagorda Bay: Drift the deeper shell for trout on croaker or top-waters at first light, then switch to live shrimp and work the drops. - Port Aransas North Jetty: Fish the channel side for redfish and drum during the falling tide with live mullet or crab. - Laguna Madre flats: Wade in the mornings with a light jig or This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.