Trout, Reds, and Drum Bite Strong on Texas Gulf Coast in Spring Conditions

Good morning from the Texas Gulf Coast, this is Artificial Lure with your April 20, 2025 fishing report. We started the day with a sunrise at 6:53 AM, and you can expect sunset tonight around 7:57 PM. The weather has finally settled after some breezy days, giving us clearer water in the bays and along the beachfront. Water temps are holding steady between 70 and 73 degrees, making for some prime spring fishing conditions[1][3]. Tides are running a bit lower than last week, so target fish that are holding in slightly deeper water, about 2 to 3 feet deep, especially where grass beds meet sandy pockets. Early mornings and late evenings have produced the most consistent bites, with a particularly strong topwater bite at dawn and dusk[2][3]. In and around Galveston, trout action has been great along the flats and channel edges, especially with live shrimp or favorite soft plastics. Redfish are solid in sand pockets and near mangroves, with shrimp or cut mullet being hard to beat. For those working the Texas City dike or wading the levee, you’ll find steady action on speckled trout, redfish, and black drum, plus the occasional gafftop, sand trout, and some big croakers. Sheepshead are starting to show around the pilings and structure[1]. Down towards Freeport, hotspots like Bastrop Bay, Chocolate Bay, and Christmas Bay are holding trout, redfish, sheepshead, and drum. Try live shrimp under a popping cork for best results, or work soft plastics like burner shad, pearl pumpkin, or chartreuse dirty tequila on a jig head. The Brazos River is giving up some nice flounder along with redfish and black drum on shrimp[1]. If you’re heading south towards Port Isabel and the Lower Coast, trout are stacking on the Intracoastal edges and around Gas Well Flats. Redfish are cruising behind Three Islands, and the jetties are holding bull reds. Mangrove snapper, smaller black drum, and sheepshead are biting well at Brownsville Channel. Flounder are starting to move in, so bouncing Gulp or soft plastics near the bottom is a smart play[3]. For those who want specifics, some standout lures lately have been Ball Tail Shad, burner shad, and small topwaters. Live shrimp remains king for most species, with finger mullet and crab good for big reds and drum[1][2][4]. Hot spots to check today are the Texas City dike, the Galveston levee, and the reefs in West Galveston Bay. Down south, Three Islands and Gas Well Flats by Port Isabel are loaded with trout and reds right now. That’s the latest from the water. Tight lines, y’all, and remember to pack both soft plastics and live bait. It’s shaping up to be a banner spring day on the Gulf Coast[1][3][4]. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.