As soon as you can tolerate the water temps.

 

74 is magic temp, look for the wind to switch to the N for a day or two and it will knock the surf flat, then check the cams, when its flat drop everything you are doing and go. Never know any given summer when that next window will open.

 

the fish r n the surf now.

 

One month ago

 

yeah there is no magic number... its april ish and when the conditions get right to fish it. It's just rare to get the right conditions during April... a norther with the right wind or a rare calm few hours.

 

Thanks. May 10 used to be the date I started watching conditions on the theory the water should be warm enough to stand by then.
One really has to be vigilant to catch the surf flat enough to wade then but the early surf seems to produce larger trout when fishable.

 

What is the link or ap for the matagorda web cam?

 

Matagorda Beach Webcam | Matagorda Boat and RV Storage (gomatagorda.com)

 

Find a place with a wide gut between bars and fish it if there’s bait. Dirty or clean, they’re there. May have to work a couple different types of bait but they’ll be there.

 

Thanks. Sometimes it helps me to get out of the water when they are not biting and cruise the beach. Then if the conditions improve I am not so beat up from the waves and can get back out and enjoy my time in the surf. What appeals to me during the summer months is that I rarely get hot when I am in the water.

 

Get it!

 

If the water is too rough, they’ll move out past the breakers, unless the bait is bundled up in the rough nastiness. Then they’ll be lurking close by as well. Finesse baits don’t do well in those conditions. Takes something that has quite a bit of drag. Black and chrome works on the ladies in more than one way. Suspending hard baits (black or black and chrome/chartreuse) in calm dirty water will get the job done.

 

I had a trout catch in the surf near Fish Pass (about 1978) that taught me a valuable lesson.
I was camping up and down the beach and getting up at dawn to fish the surf if it was calm enough.
I was catching a lot of trout, slot reds and occasional smacks or pomps.
Somewhere in the trip on a whim I cast into the wade gut as I walked out at first light and Ka Pow!
I sure made a habit of that after I caught trout for a half an hour in the wade gut before the sun cleared the horizon.
The only way I could surf fish for them now would be if they were in the wade gut!
Nothing beat catching those stout trout in the surf.

 

I had a trout catch in the surf near Fish Pass (about 1978) that taught me a valuable lesson.
I was camping up and down the beach and getting up at dawn to fish the surf if it was calm enough.
I was catching a lot of trout, slot reds and occasional smacks or pomps.
Somewhere in the trip on a whim I cast into the wade gut as I walked out at first light and Ka Pow!
I sure made a habit of that after I caught trout for a half an hour in the wade gut before the sun cleared the horizon.
The only way I could surf fish for them now would be if they were in the wade gut!
Nothing beat catching those stout trout in the surf.

Have caught several limits without ever getting my feet wet right at first light. A one knocker on that subtle water is the most fun you can have with clothes on!

 

Unless it is rough I do pay attention to the first wade gut at daylight. Otherwise I move out to the second bar to locate calmer waters to fish in.

 

I like the 2nd or 3rd day of low winds out of the N. Water needs to clear up for me


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I think location ( water movements and bait) are more important than time.

 

Very nice