As summer hits its homestretch, don’t leave those surface plugs behind.

Story and photography by Danno Wise

There are no two ways about it, August along the Texas coast is hot – oppressively so at times. Of course, that doesn’t stop people from going fishing. Indeed, August is one of the busiest times of the year on bays across the Lone Star State. However, it does often change the way those people fish. So much so that many anglers mothball their topwater plugs until the first few fronts of fall start pushing through, cooling air and water temps. However, leaving those surface plugs in your tackle room can be a huge mistake, as it is still quite possible to have great topwater action during even the hottest stretch of summer.

Inevitably, if you do hear someone mention topwater fishing for speckled trout and redfish during the summer months, it typically comes with the caveat that the bite is only at sunrise. Although the old myth that fish won’t hit surface baits later in the day has been disproven repeatedly, without a doubt the early morning hours are prime time for topwaters during summer. Actually, if you combine the right spot, bait and retrieve, late summer sunrise topwater action can rival any bite at any time of the year.

Picking the right spots

To get in on tremendous topwater action during late summer, it all starts with picking the right spot. Obviously, the right spot has to have fish or you won’t get bit regardless of what you’re throwing. However, when looking to toss topwaters during summer, choosing the right spot is a little more nuanced.

Warm water temperatures during late summer often make fish feel and act lethargic. A lethargic fish is far less likely to rise up and attack a surface plug than a frisky one. While water temperatures will dip overnight throughout the bays, some areas will consistently hold cooler water.

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