This month fishermen will have angling options that won’t be available the rest of the year.

Story and photograph by Danno Wise

June is the start of summer. Texas coastal anglers often have mixed views on that. The glass-half-full crowd always bemoans the fact that the bays and beaches will become filled with casual anglers, beachgoers and watersport enthusiasts. More optimistic anglers will see June for what it is — the start to an incredible stretch of fishing activity along the coast. It is a time when Texas saltwater fishermen have a myriad of inshore, nearshore and offshore options. This incredible action will occur despite the swelling crowds.

Basically, starting this month Texas saltwater fishermen can expect two very big positives – more species and more productive water. In fact, the next four months will give fishermen angling options that won’t be available the rest of the year. Furthermore, some of the options that will still be available later in the year won’t be as good as they are starting right now.

Given the quality and quantity of angling options that will be available beginning in June, now is the perfect time to try something new and/or different. With that in mind, here are some of the best options available the next couple of months along the Texas coastal curve.

INSHORE OPTIONS ABOUND

Plugging for the speckled trout in the surf has been a time honored tradition in many parts of the Texas Coast. However, it’s hard to find any surf that produces more fish each year than Matagorda. As legendary guide Capt. Tommy Countz likes to say, there are 20 miles of beachfront on either side of the Colorado River that will be holding plenty of speckled trout starting this month.

The stretch of sand heading north can be accessed by vehicle, while a boat is necessary to reach the beachfront waters south of the Matagorda jetties. Whichever direction is chosen, fishermen will most likely find plenty of willing fish – especially on those days when the water is ‘green to the beach’. Topwaters, dark-colored soft-plastics, sinking plugs and spoons will all produce well, as will live shrimp and croaker.

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