If you enjoy fishing Texas bays, October is like an exquisite gift just waiting to be unwrapped.

Story and photography by Danno Wise

For many inshore anglers along the Texas Coast, October – not the Christmas season – is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. This is because often, October is the perfect confluence of comfortable temperatures, active fish, a myriad of available species and relatively low fishing pressure. Additionally, much like Christmas, anglers can ‘make a list’ of things they want – species, experiences, etc. and, most often those wishes will come true so long as they ‘are good boys and girls’ that spend an adequate amount of time on the water in October.

Perhaps nothing gets anglers into the “spirit of the season” for fall fishing quite like the myriad of available species. Catching a mixed bag is always a nice change of pace. During October, there are plenty of species available beyond speckled trout, redfish and flounder (more on those in a bit). So, whether looking for a stand-alone trip for “non-glamour” species or simply adding to a box of specks and reds, species such as black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and more are readily available in autumn.

Two of the more popular species that fall outside of the “Big 3” have become somewhat target species in their own right. The less glamorous cousin of the redfish, black drum are everywhere on the flats during fall – often in the same area as reds. They are usually game for GULP! or lives shrimp.

Sheepshead will be found both on the flats and around structure such as bridge pilings during the fall. As is always the case with sheepies, they are most likely to take live shrimp or a small, scented artificial such GULP! Shrimp. Over the past several years, they have also formed a cult-like following among a group of dedicated fly anglers who refer to them as “Texas permit” and anxiously await an opportunity to target them on the fall flats.

When it comes to the “Big 3” there are plenty of options as well. Anglers in every Texas bay will typically find plenty of solid “keeper” specks seemingly everywhere during the tenth month of the year. These fish will be found on flats, shorelines, mid-bay structure, reefs – again, seemingly everywhere. However, inshore anglers won’t be regulated to box-size fish, overslot trout will be a very real possibility as well.

While spring is THE time to target trophy trout, fall is a not too distant second. In fact, the number of trophy trout caught in fall will exceed the number caught in spring some years – the biggest difference will be the weight.

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