Luring Locales

Some shallow flats in East Matagorda Bay are kayak-friendly (read: motor-free).

East Matagorda Bay, Texas
South of the town of Matagorda, East Matagorda Bay is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a long peninsula and offers protected fishing in shallow flats-perfect for a kayak. And this is one destination where kayaks get preferential treatment over motorized craft. A handful of marked kayak trails lead through a shallow estuary to some excellent fishing for redfish and speckled trout on East Matagorda Bay-and motorized boats don't have access.

Follow FM 2031 south of town toward the gulf, and you'll spot multiple kayak trail put-ins on the left side of the road. Paddle along any one of these marked trails-established by Captain James Arnold, owner of Day on the Bay Services-out to the East Bay, where the redfish and speckled trout can be found schooling in the grassy flats and shoreline in water that's one to three feet deep.

Captain Arnold offers this bit of advice to kayak anglers who are fishing here for the first time: "Look for birds going after baitfish. Redfish and speckled trout will school when they get after baitfish, and that causes the baitfish to come to the surface, where the birds come in and scoop them up."

And there are plenty of birds in the area to help locate those schooling fish. Matagorda County has ranked No. 1 in North America in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count since 1997, and last year 251 species were spotted in one day.

When to Go: Fall (October-November) is the best, but it's fair to good year-round. Mornings are an ideal time to be out there.
Fish to Fish: Redfish and speckled trout
Where They Hide: In the grassy flats and along protected shorelines
What They Bite: For live bait, you can't beat shrimp. As for artificial lures, try gold spoons and soft plastics (in either strawberry/white or pearl/chartreuse) with 1/4- and 1/8-ounce jigheads.
Recommended Outfitter: Day on the Bay (979-244-6787)
Bites and Beers: Waterfront Restaurant (979-863-2520) in Matagorda Harbor. Take in your filleted fish and they'll even prepare it for you.
-Adem Tepedelen