Galveston Fishing

Here we are into December and my question is, what happened to November?

As we get older, time seems to pass at an accelerated rate. As we look back on November 2013, we saw fairly good catches come across the cleaning tables, but overall slower than normal.

November was warmer than usual and that likely was the culprit in slowing down fishing. The flounder run did not start in earnest until about a week or so before Thanksgiving, and speckled trout action has been disappointing for most anglers. Reds and other fish, on the other hand, filled in the gap.

As we start the first week of this final month of 2013, let’s take a look at what should be in store for fishermen.

Early to mid-December has historically been a great time to land good quantities of trout in West Bay. This is especially true for upper West Bay from Greens Cut to the causeway. This year, flounder still are in the bays and many will choose to remain there rather than make the journey to the Gulf of Mexico for the winter.

The number and severity of cold fronts will determine how long fishing will be good in the bays.

After several strong northers pass through with sustained winds lasting several days, fish will become jittery and will start stacking up in deeper waters.

December is an excellent time to make an overnight tuna trip; however, this time of year, more trips are canceled than completed. Weather, usually strong northers, is the main cause of cancellations.

Wade fishing tends to be one of the best methods of fishing this month; however, a good pair of insulated waders is needed if you decide to give it a try.

December is often when we receive our coldest days of the year and historically, it is usually the second half of the month when the really cold weather sets in, if at all. It is also a month when drastic changes in temperatures occur, meaning the thermometer pushing record highs one day and dropping more than 20 degrees the next.

So, keep an eye on the forecast and enjoy some of the best fishing of the year, especially early in the month.