Black Drum Slot Limit Texas

4/5/2022

Falling for Redfish

Fall season is without a doubt the BEST time to catch Redfish while fishing the Galveston waters. It’s the annual fall migration of big bull reds as they head from the bays into the Gulf to spawn, and you’re sure to see a line of anglers in the pass with lines in the water ready to snag a bull! Here’s everything you need to know about fishing for Redfish in October while visiting Galveston, Texas.

Redfish, also known as Red Drum, are members of the Drum family. This family gets its name from their propensity and ability to make a unique drumming/grunting sound when pulled from the water. Redfish are identified by a large, ringed spot (or spots) on the upper part of the body at the start of the tail. Their colors can run from silver to copper red which fades to white on the bottom. They are similar to black drum, but Redfish have no barbels (or feelers), and the Black Drum never have the spot near the tail.

Redfish are usually bottom feeders, which is why the migratory season is so hot. They are on the move in mass and are easier to target. You know the saying “like fish in a barrel”? It’s *almost* like that… they are running from the nearby bays (Galveston Bay, West Bay, East Bay, and Trinity Bay) into the Gulf of Mexico and have to travel through either Galveston Pass or San Luis Pass. Just anchor down, and get ready to have your reels screamin’!

The current size slot limit of 15 to 23 inches for red drum would remain unchanged. There were two versions of the bill under consideration, one in the House, which also had designs on a ban on. A clerical error made last year in converting a table chart to text in the Texas Administrative Code inadvertently omitted the 30-inch maximum length limit for black drum. The black drum (Pogonias cromis), also known as the drum, is a saltwater fish similar to its cousin, the red drum or redfish.Though most specimens are generally found in the 5-30 lb range, the black drum is well-known as the largest of all the drum family with some specimens reaching excesses of 90 lb. Black drum have a slot limit, so be sure you’re able to unhook and release a fish quickly. The fish on the lower end of the slot are usually better eating than the really large fish. For this time of year, concentrate your efforts from Corpus Christi southward.

Multiple rods improve your chances for a great catch. You could go sight fishing for Redfish, which involves light tackle and fly rods in shallow waters… but during their migration we recommend drift fishing with several rods. Drift fishing is when you toss your bait just past the fish and let the fish discover the bait on their own as it passes by. When you get a hit, set the hook and hang on! The advantage of drift fishing while Redfish are migrating is that it feels natural for the Redfish to grab a bite while traveling, and with any luck the thing they’re snacking on is your bait!

Redfish Baits and Tackle

Redfish like small crustaceans such as shrimp or crab, as well as baitfish like mullet, pinfish, or lizardfish. Live or cut bait is usually best, but you can also land Redfish with artificial lures. When choosing a lure for your Redfish fishing trip, try spoons, spinnerbaits, or topwaters.

If you do decide to go sight fishing for Redfish, stay near shallow waters and watch for the flick of their tail against the top of the water. Again, use either a spoon or spinnerbait that will get the attention of the fish. Be sure to wear your polarized sunglasses when sight fishing, as they will help with the reflection off the water.

Fly fishing is another popular technique for catching Redfish in shallow waters. Redfish are great for fly fishing enthusiasts, as they are easy to see when they flick their tails on the topwater. And Redfish are extremely fun to catch on the fly! Use either a 8-wt or 9-wt rod and throw flies the Reds can see, such as the Chernobyl shrimp.

Redfish Regulations

Before heading out, be sure to check Texas Parks & Wildlife’s website (TPWD) for regulations; the Lone Star State has a daily bag limit and slot limit for Redfish. Currently (and until August 31, 2020) each angler can keep 3 Redfish that are within 20” to 28”. Each year the state also allows anglers to purchase a Bonus Red Drum Tag, allowing the angler to keep one Redfish that reaches more than 28 inches. These Bonus Tags are available at local retail stores that sell fishing gear and supplies.

Once you’ve landed your Redfish, it’s time to clean & fillet your catch to start preparing a delicious meal. You’ll want to cook it as soon as possible for the freshest dinner possible. Smaller Redfish tend to have a much better texture and taste than the larger Bull Reds. The larger fish tend to be more coarse and stringy, and the meat doesn’t have as good of flavor. Make sure to cook the fish all the way through, such as fried or grilled; do not serve raw for sashimi or ceviche as Redfish may contain parasites. However you cook Redfish, get ready for one of the most delicious and moist white meats with sweet & mild flavor.

If you haven’t experienced fishing for Redfish in Galveston during the fall migration season, get yourself a rod in hand and get out there! Whether you’re fishing solo from the shore, or hire a Professional Fishing Charter, it’s an experience not to be missed. Get your lines ready for a Red October in Galveston!

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Corpus Christi Bay is one of Texas’ best fishing grounds in the state. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at how often you see people out on the water or wading the shallows. The fishing here can happen 365 days (usually only delayed for thunderstorms or hurricanes) with some of the largest catches in the state.

Located along the Texas Gulf Coast, Corpus Christi Bay is near the town that shares its name, as well as Mustang Island and Ingleside on the Bay. The bay is an estuary, a mixture of freshwater from the Nueces River and Oso Creek and saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico. It’s one of seven major estuaries in Texas, all found along the Gulf Coast. Other notable Texas bays include Matagorda Bay and Laguna Madre.

Anglers enjoy fishing this large bay that has almost 107,000-acres of surface area. It averages almost 10 feet deep and is home to several species of fish. Among the species found in Corpus Christi Bay are black drum, red drum (or redfish), speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead, tripletail, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and catfish just to name a few. The area is also home to hundreds of species of birds and waterfowl.

Fishing Corpus Christi Bay

When it comes to fishing the bay, anglers have plenty of options in techniques to use and species to target. If you’re unfamiliar with any of these techniques or species, we recommend hiring a local Corpus Christi fishing guide. They know the area, the fish, and the techniques with the highest success rate.

Many anglers will fish Corpus Christi from a bay boat, a shallow-hull vessel that allows anglers to access shallow waters. If you’re fishing the north side of the bay (near Ingleside) these vessels are a great option. Or you can consider kayak fishing the bay. The waters are much calmer than the gulf, and anglers carry all their fishing gear on the kayak. This is a physically demanding way of getting to the fish, but a fun and different way to experience fishing the bay.

A third option for fishing Corpus Christi Bay is wade fishing. Whether you first use a boat before wading, or just enter from the shore, you must be certain about the area and your footing. There are holes and drop-offs in the bay that can prove disastrous if you’re unprepared. However, wade fishing gives anglers an advantage when fishing the Texas Gulf Coast bays. You can sneak-up on the schools of fish with ninja-like silence and harvest quite a few before they even know you’re there.

Corpus Christi Bay Fish

No matter what technique you employ, your Corpus Christi Bay fishing trip will probably be all about the top three fish of the area: redfish, speckled trout, and flounder.

Redfish (also known as red drum) are a bronze or tan color with distinct black dot(s) near the tail. They are in the drum family, known for the grunting noises when pulled from the water. In the fall months they begin their migration to the gulf, and in the cuts near Mustang Island is where you want to be. Just look for their tails and fins breaching the top water and cast your shrimp or crab among the school. Each angler is allowed to harvest five redfish per day within the 14-30” slot limit.

Speckled trout are found in the same areas as redfish and can often be caught with the same tackle and bait. Speckled trout are also known as spotted seatrout; the multiple black dots along their back explains the name. Winter months are a great time to fish for this inshore species, and anglers can keep any trout within the 15-25” slot limit. If you’re looking for larger trout, consider trying larger bait in deeper waters.

The third favorite inshore species in Corpus Christi Bay is flounder, a flat fish that lives along the bottom of the bay. The flounder is brown on the top and white on the bottom, blending in with its surroundings in order to ambush their prey. Anglers will drift live or cut bait along ledges or drop-offs to entice flounder to the line. Get ready to set the hook as flounder are known to strike quickly. There is a state-wide limit of five per day for flounders over 14”; except for November 1-30 when there is a two fish limit.

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