The Galveston County Daily News

We are two-thirds of the way through October, and, by now, we should be in the middle of the big flounder run, with easy catches coming from all around the island. Based on conversations with several flounder pros, the water still is too warm to generate much of a run.

The flatfish are definitely moving; however, they are not leaving the shallower waters as they do when the migration is in full swing. Flounder action is picking up, and isolated reports of anglers running into concentrations of the tasty fish are increasing.

Sunday, George Wilson, of Lake Jackson, waded the bay side of San Luis Pass and encountered a bunch of flounder directly behind the tollhouse on the big bridge.

Using live shrimp for bait, he landed eight and retained his limit of five. Wilson said he started out using a popping cork and then watched a nearby wader land two flounder while bottom bumping. When he took the popping cork off, the action started. Two whiting and a lone sand trout rounded out his catch.

Mark McDavid fished the surf from the rocks near 81st Street and the seawall Sunday and ended up with 29 croaker, a few whiting and a slot red. Peeled shrimp was the bait employed, and the action took place from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

McDavid said he was planning one heck of a fish fry Sunday night.

Capt. Steve Hillman, Hillman Guide Service, battled a stiff east-northeast wind Sunday to find fish for his charter in challenging conditions on Galveston Bay.

Hosting Joey Austin, Bert Armstrong and Frank Mistretta, his guests caught 21 solid trout to 24 inches, six reds to 27 inches and a 19-inch flounder.

Dark-colored Saltwater Assassins were the successful baits, and the action came while fishing slicks and concentrations of bait in 6 to 8 feet of water over scattered shell. The catch took place from midday until early afternoon.

Bill McMillan, of League City, fished Moses Lake on Monday morning and caught a 4-pound flounder and a 26-inch red using live shrimp for bait.

Alice Saunders, of Dickinson, reported a nice catch by her 15-year-old grandson, Michael Saunders.

While fishing Greens Lake with his father, Bud Saunders Jr. and uncle, Gil Peers, of Omaha, Neb., he caught a 25-inch trout. He did not mention what bait was used.

We have another norther approaching Thursday, so today and Wednesday might be the best bets for fishing during the next few days. The good news is that the frontal system could help accelerate the flounder run.

To get your catch in the Reel Report, phone Capt. Joe Kent at 409-683-5273, or send an e-mail to reel.report(at)galvnews.com. There’s no charge for this service.