Story and photography by Danno Wise

Tips for fishing the coolest part of the day in the coolest water available, plus where and when to find and do this.

It comes as no surprise to anyone who has spent time on the Texas Coast that August is hot. Extremely hot. As a result, it is a time when both fish and fishermen become a bit more lethargic. In fact, as the heat rises, fish, like fishermen, tend to be a bit lazy. But even in the dog days of summer, fishermen can have steady action if they play it right. The key is picking the right times and places to fish during late summer and, being in the right place at the right time.

With that in mind, the easiest way to beat the heat during August is to fish before the heat of the day hits its peak. That means getting on the water early – as in, before the sun comes up. In those pre-dawn hours, fish will be feeding on the shallow flats, as the shallow water cools relatively quickly overnight.

This drop in temperature is even distinct if there is a little wind and wave action through the nighttime hours. Although days with a breeze can be few and far in between during August, if there is even the slightest wind blowing before sunup, find a flat that has a bit of a ripple, as the water will typically be a bit cooler than the areas which are protected and have slick calm surfaces.

Regardless of the wind and wave action, the flats which will almost always be the most productive during August will be those that are closest to deep water. Flats that have good current flow also tend to produce better on a consistent basis. Flats closest to Gulf passes are also good starting points during late summer, as they receive a dose of cooler Gulf water with each incoming tide.

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