Fishing Report
July 7 - July 20

Capt. Gary Luetge              Fins ‘N Feathers Guide Service & Lodging
979-244-2155                      www.sargent-eastbay-guide.com


EAST MATAGORDA BAY – Fishing over the past few weeks has remained good.  Recent rains also helped to improve fishing.  The bay actually needed some fresh water.  Best catches are coming from drifting over deep shell in about 4-5 feet of water, throwing live shrimp under a popping cork or bouncing soft plastics off the bottom.  There are some good solid trout up to 26” coming from these areas & also lots of small fish.  But that is typical for this time of year.  Wading or drifting mid-bay reefs has also been good to excellent at times for trout & scattered red fish.  Bouncing soft plastics has produced the best.  Some birds have been working on the north shoreline over schools of trout chasing shad & small mullet.  Top waters & soft plastics has been the key.  A lot of these fish are running small.  Top waters are catching the bigger fish, with some reds scattered in with them.  Wading the south shoreline has also been good at times.  Trout & reds have been good using slow rolled soft plastics, drifting out in front of Bird Island around the log & the oyster farm east have been spotty for trout.  Live Oak has produced fair to good catches of trout, also drifting or wading shell reefs.  East end has remained a little on the slow side.  Live shrimp under a popping cork produces some small trout & red fish.  When winds are calm, watch for bait activity over waters & you can see trout working these pods of bait.  Top water also produces the best catches.  Over the open bay, watch for slicks popping up.  There are some good solid trout coming from these slicks.  Drum fishing around the reefs using fresh dead shrimp on the bottom has been good.  No update on trout counts yet, but I can tell you this much:  there is a lot of trout in the bay right now.

CANEY CREEK – Fishing under the lights at night has come to a halt due to fresh & high water.  My cousin was fishing on my pier last week-end using cut mullet & shad & he caught several blue cat.  I was standing down there with him & he hung a yellow cat that had to be 50 lbs. plus.  He got him up to the pier.  We both saw him, then he went down & wrapped the pilings on my pier, breaking the line.

SARGENT BEACH FRONT (Surf) – Fishing along the beach front has been good when the wind allows.  Trout have been there when the surf is flat & green.  Top waters & soft plastics have produced the best catches.  Also pan fish, lots of gaff-top & puppy drum have been good on fresh dead shrimp.  Bull reds have been fair around the cuts using half crab or cut mullet.  Also, lots of shark & some jack fish have come from the same areas.

MITCHELL’S CUT – According to several reports, this area has been a little slow due to fresh water run-off.  Some reds being reported being caught along the banks using poggies or cut mullet.  Grassy point has also produced some red fish & pan fish using the same bait.  No report on trout.

CEDAR LAKE & COW TRAP –No report due to lots of fresh water.

SWING BRIDGE – No reports - Give us a call!

Give us a call – let us know about your fishing trip!
Remember, a safe trip is the best trip - good luck on your next outing.         Capt. Gary