Being on the water at sunrise or sunset is a more comfortable and productive period during summer’s heat.

Story and photography by Danno Wise

August sees summer heat at its scorching zenith in Texas. Daytime temperatures routinely hit triple digits and water temperatures often rival that of a hot tub. Being on or in the water during the midday hours can be miserable for both fish and fishermen. However, one saving grace for anglers during August is the hottest bite often takes place during the coolest portions of the day. As a result, anglers willing to get up early or stay late to fish the lowlight hours can be both more comfortable and more productive.

During late summer, low light periods – early morning, late in evening and at night – usually produce a bite of varying degrees. This bite may be short or long or somewhere in between, but there is almost always some sort of bite before the water warms after sunrise or as it cools at sunset. When a low light period coincides with a moving tide, the bite can be extraordinary. Bright moonlight is another trigger for low light period feeding. Full moons can result in a prolonged overnight bite. Moving water during nighttime hours on a full moon is about as good as it gets for late summer action.

The most common adjustment anglers make this time of year is to rise earlier and be on the water before sunup. While this is an easy way to beat the searing summer heat, it can also present a few challenges. The first of these early morning challenges is usually encountered before anglers even get on the water, as multitudes of like-minded anglers converge on coastal boat ramps in the pre-dawn hours during August. Frustrations and delays are often the end results for unprepared anglers, so fishermen should begin the day with the expectation of putting in at a crowded ramp and all that entails.