August Inshore Fishing Strategies Anglers know Texas heat can become unbearable during August. This heat wave is every bit as formidable beneath the waters surface as above. The key for fishermen routinely scoring good catches during the dog days of summer is finding pockets of cooler water. Depending on tides and time of day, these areas of 'agua frio' can be found in various areas of a bay system. WHERE TO LOOK Shallow Flats - That's right, you can still catch fish in skinny water during the dog days of summer. However, timing is everything. Early morning is the time to stalk the flats in August. True, the shallows are the quickest areas to heat up, but they also can cool down quickly. This is particular true during calm, clear nights when the shallows release their stored heat in a process known as radiant cooling. Key on flats close to deep water. Unlike spring and fall, when fish will travel great distances in knee-deep water, summer sees most fish holding close to the relatively cooler deeper water. So, most shallow water activity will be concentrated within a few hundred yards of a channel or deep flat. Shaded Structure - Any type of structure that provides shade holds the potential to hold fish during summer. Docks and bridges are obvious examples. But, platforms holding range markers or gas wells can also serve as fish magnets - particularly those located in relatively deep water. The closer the structure is to the water's surface, the more cooling shade it will provide to the water directly beneath it and the more fish it will attract. These areas are particularly productive during the heat of the day. Often times fish holding around these objects won't venture very far from the confines of the structure. So, it may be necessary to cast in and under and "go get 'em." In these instances, it's necessary to bulk up your tackle in order to bring fish clear of the structure once they're hooked. Deep Pockets - Most Texas bays are relatively shallow. However, most also have a number of deep holes or pockets of deeper water somewhere within their confines. These holes may be formed naturally by currents or from some artificial means such as dredging. Regardless of how they formed, these deep pockets will usually find fish seeking refuge from the summer heat. Although conventional wisdom says these fish will be holding on the bottom, they may also be suspended at various depths within the water column. The key to finding the fish in deep holes is finding the thermocline, or layer of cooler water. A thermocline can occur at different depths for a variety of reasons. Whenever a thermocline is present, water within the thermocline will be cooler than the water either above or below it. Although there may be fish scattered throughout the water column, the greatest concentration will always be found in the thermocline. So, rather than dropping baits straight to the bottom, experiment with different depths until you find where the fish are holding. Channels - Whether natural or manmade, channels offer relief from the summer heat for many fish species. The reason for this is two-fold. For one, channels will always be deeper than the surrounding area. Secondly, channels usually concentrate tidal flow. Moving water will always be cooler than still water. Concentrate on the channel edges early in the day, then drop down a little deeper as the day wears on. Try to time your channel fishing during times of moving current.  And, as is the case with deep holes, there is often a thermocline present in channels. Find the thermocline and you will find the largest concentration of fish. Passes - Passes are the key to healthy bay systems. In general, the beachfront water temperatures are cooler than those of back bays. The water exchange between the Gulf and bay ensures the water in passes and flats adjacent to a pass will be more moderate than that found on the backside of a bay system. Current flowing through a pass also serves as a trigger for feeding activity. During periods of outgoing flow, angling efforts should be concentrated around the mouth (Gulf side) of the pass. When an incoming flow is present, anglers should focus on the inside of the pass and flats just inside the bay's entrance. Most major Gulf passes on the Texas coast are jettied. These extended rock groins certainly concentrate fish. The same rules apply when fishing a jettied channed. Outgoing flow means fish near the end of the structure, whereas an incoming flow will concentrate fish inside and near the base. Beachfront - Many Texas coastal anglers live to fish for speckled trout in the surf during summer. But, most don't stop to think about why the fish are found so consistently along the beachfront during the summer months. Again, water temperature plays a key role. Although surf temperatures may be "bath water" during August, much of the back bay water is more like "hot tub" water. Predator fish such as speckled trout generally find more comfortable water and a greater food source in the surf this time of year. However, as is the case inside the bay, fish will move throughout the day in the surf. Early morning will find fish feeding right up to dry sand. As the sun rises, these fish will move progressively deeper, taking advantage of the deeper guts found behind the sand bars that parallel the beach. WHAT TO THROW As summer bears down full force along the Texas coast, fish behavior changes. No longer are fish aggressively tracking down and striking baits and lures with rather abandon. Rather, they become more subdued and try to take advantage of an easy meal when the opportunity presents itself. Typically, the most aggressively activity on a summer day will occur very early or very late. In other words, during the cooler part of the day. Fish are no different than humans in that sense - they are going to be more active when they are more comfortable. During the hot midday hours, fish may still feed, but will typically be much more lethargic. In both instances, fish often rely on current to trigger their feeding activity to a larger degree in the summer. This is particularly true of the midday time frame. During the heat of the day, an incoming flow of cooler Gulf water can trigger fish in and near a pass to go on a feeding binge. The key is timing. Early and late, fish will usually feed regardless of tidal movement, but will do so more vigorously if the current is moving. It is during this period when a surface bite is possible. However, although fish will attack a topwater plug during the early and late hours of a summer day, the bait still needs to be worked in a manner that makes it hard for them to resist. This means a slightly slower retrieve. Usually, it also pays to go to "junior"-size plugs, which appear easier to catch, during the summer. Downsized surface baits such as Super Spook Juniors and Bomber 15As can be extremely productive during the lowlight periods. The balance of the day, the majority of fish will be taken subsurface. However, downsizing is still the way to go. There are a couple of reasons for this. For starters, summer fish are notoriously finicky, especially when there is no tidal movement. And, as is the case any time fish turn finicky, smaller baits will often tempt them to take a bite. Secondly, much of the available forage in the bay is small during the summer months. Glass minnows and juvenile shrimp are a mainstay of a fish's summertime diet. Artificial lures that are representative size-wise to these prey items will get more attention. During the summer months, 3.5-inch baits should be considered the top end size for most situations. In many instances, smaller baits such as grubs, will work even better. Glass minnow imitations like the DOA Terroreyz are also reliable when fish are keying in on small baitfish. Summer fishing can certainly be productive. However, anglers need to remember that fish, like fishermen, like to stay cool as summer temperatures soar. So, the key to finding fish will be finding the areas they go to "chill" when the water warms.