Summer Saltwater Fishing texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout Summer, more than any other time of the year, offers coastal anglers a variety of fishing options. Not only are there more species of fish available during the summer months, there are also more places and ways to catch them. Fish may be shallow or deep, in the flats or along the channel edges. And, this may change not just from day to day, but throughout any given day as the sun and temperature rises. Being versatile and capable of making a change in locale or technique from hour to hour can make the difference between catching fish all day and just catching them during a portion of the day. There are a number of variables - such as wind, sun, temperature, cloud cover, tide movement, etc. - which can dictate how fish transition through a bay over the course of a long summer day. Although these variables are usually present in a different combination from day to day, there are a few “rules of thumb” that can help get you pointed in the right direction for plenty of action during the “dog days of summer.” Early morning Little else in fishing holds as much promise as the early morning of a summer day. Just before and for a couple hours after sunrise, most every angler on the water is confident they will have a good day. And, with good reason. Fish have been rejuvenated overnight by the radiant cooling of the bay water. More often than not, anglers who find fish during the early part of the day will catch their share. Probably the most common mistake by anglers starting their day during the summer months is looking too deep too early. Usually, by the time most anglers arise, the fish have already staked out their hunting grounds along the shallow shorelines and flats. Because the fish have already moved high on the flat before the sun has risen, it is best to work the flat from the inside out, meaning starting shallow and slowly working deeper. During summer, it is almost impossible to work too shallow. It is amazing how proficiently speckled trout and redfish can feed in scant inches of water. So, in order to work a flat efficiently and not waste any precious early morning hours, it is important to start casting in the shallowest water possible. Topwater plugs and big soft plastics are generally the best choices to start the day. Good surface plugs include the Mirrolure Pop-A-Dog and She-Dog, as well as Heddon Spooks, Cordell Redfins and Rapala Skitterwalks. Some of the traditional color choices include chrome/blue, chrome/black, bone, chartreuse/gold, black, and red/white. Good soft plastics include 5-inch Stanley Wedgetail Minnows, Bass Assassins and Eel Assassins. During the low light period, utilize dark colors such as red, purple, or black. As the sun risers, base your color choice around the water clarity - brights and darks for off-colored water and more subtle colors for clear water. Of course, the exception to the rules is chartreuse, which works in virtually every type of water. As you begin working out, you can easily eliminate water which is not active. Once fish are found, it is usually a matter of simply staying on them and following them as they transition to deeper water as the morning wears on. Mid-morning By mid-morning, the water begins to warm and the fish begin transitioning to deeper water. This is the period of the day when the fish are the most scattered. There will still be some fish ultra-shallow, while others will already be on the edges of the flats and along the drops. In between, a good number of fish will be hovering over the mid-depth flats - anything from 2 - 3 feet of water. During mid-morning, it is still possible to catch fish on topwaters - particularly if it is overcast. However, as the sun gets higher, the odds favor going subsurface. Sight-casting is at a premium during this time frame, as the fish are still relatively shallow and the sun is high enough to penetrate the water and allow them to be seen. While sight-casting, it is often beneficial to downsize your offering. Gold or silver spoons, 3.5-inch Stanley Wedgetails, Bass Assassin Sea Shads, and 3-inch DOA Shrimp are good choices. Working along the edges of the flats can also be productive from mid-morning on, as fish are working off the flats and into the deeper areas of the bay. While fishing along the edges and drops, ideal baits include bigger soft-plastics and slow-sinking plugs such as the Mirrolure Catch 5. This situation also lends well to using live shrimp under a popping cork or a DOA Shrimp under a mauler. Afternoon Summer afternoons can be downright miserable to fish. But, they can also be extremely productive. During the mid-day heat, fish once again become concentrated. This time the majority of the fish will be stacked up in the channels and over deeper structure such as mid-bay reefs or platforms. Throughout the afternoon, fish can usually be found in anywhere from 3 - 6 feet of water. Drifting across an area while throwing large soft-plastics or a popping cork rig is the most efficient way to locate schools of fish.  If a large group of fish is located, it may be beneficial to anchor until the action dies down. If you opt to continue drifting through the school, it is a good idea to throw out a marker buoy when the action gets hot, so it will be easy to repeat the drift. Many anglers - particularly along the mid-coast - opt to fish on bottom with live croaker or pinfish during the afternoon. This method can be extremely effective, particularly over structure or along drop-offs. Evening As the day wears on and evening sets in, it's time to go right back where you started. However, since the day - and thus the water - is just beginning to cool down, you should work a flat from the outside in. Begin fishing on the outside breaks work slowly toward the shoreline. Soft-plastics will still produce during the evening hours, but this is also a time when there is a good topwater bite. As the sun drops and light begins to fade, it is best to switch over to dark, opaque colors such as red, purple, and, best of all, black. Essentially, this is the morning pattern in reverse, so it is usually wise to revert back to the lures and colors which were productive at the start of the day. Evening fishing can be some of the best action of the day. Often times, especially if sunset coincides with good tide movement, the action will continue into the night. However, keep in mind that you still have to make it back to the ramp. If you are unfamiliar with the area or are fishing one of the more hazardous bays, be sure to leave with plenty of light left to navigate safely. Night Fishing off a lighted dock or pier at night is a great way to extend the fishing day. Summer nights are more comfortable for both fish and fishermen. As the water cools through the night, the fish become increasingly active. This is particularly true if a strong incoming tide is present as well. Often times, the later hours of the night - or early morning hours - are some of the best times under the lights. However, although the fish may not become frenzied for several hours after sunset, go ahead and turn your lights on right at dark. The longer the lights are on, the better the chance the “food chain” gets started, as small minnows and shrimp swarm around the illuminated water, in turn attracting speckled trout and other game fish. Once the fish move in, catching them is sometimes more difficult than it would appear. Although specks are sometimes voracious under the lights and will hit anything that touches the water, they can just as quickly become finicky, preferring to hit only those baits that resemble the forage items present under the lights. Since the most common prey items found hovering around the lights are small glass minnows and shrimp, it is best to choose artificial lures which resemble them. Some of the best choices are the 2-inch Stanley Wedgetail Minnow, DOA Terroreyz, 3-inch DOA Shrimp and the Bass Assassin Sea Shad. One of the most common mistakes made by anglers fishing under the lights is choosing colors which are too opaque. Typically, the minnows and shrimp congregated under the lights appear as small, jello-like “globs” with a pair of jet-black eyes. Therefore, the best color patterns are those which are equally unobtrusive. Pearl glow and clear/silver flake are generally the best bets. In short, the long daylight hours of summer offer anglers countless ways to catch fish. And, for fishermen with a well-stocked tackle box and a willingness to change tackle, tactics and locations throughout the day, there is always plenty of action waiting for them practically every day of summer. texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout