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Rio Grande Fishing Report: Catfish, Bass, and Coastal Trout Bites
Published 7 months, 1 week ago
Description
Howdy folks, this is Artificial Lure with your September 19th fishing report for the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding waters right here in deep South Texas. Let’s get you dialed in for a productive trip on the water today.
Starting with the weather, National Weather Service reports a classic mid-September forecast: muggy at daybreak, about 78 degrees, climbing up to the low 90s by midafternoon with southeast winds around 10-15 mph. Skies will be partly cloudy, with a stiff breeze stirring by lunch—so get your surface action in early. Sunrise came at 7:22 a.m., sunset will be at 7:36 p.m., giving you a solid window to chase ‘em.
Tidal movement in South Texas today is moderate, mirroring what the Port Isabel and Boca Chica gauges show: we’ve got a low tide early morning, bottoming out around 7:00 a.m., before a rising tide leads up to a high right after noon. That means ambush feeders will be on the move both early and late, so work those drop-offs and drains as the water pushes up.
As for the fishing, reports from local guides and tackle shops in Brownsville and Rio Grande City say the action’s been steady but picky, thanks to the recent rains coloring up the water. Anglers working the backwater resacas and the river itself have been finding plenty of **channel and blue catfish**. Best reports came from fresh-cut shad, chicken liver, and stink bait fished from the bottom, especially just upstream of community boat ramps and under the shade of old bridges.
San Martin Lake and the lower Rio, including the famed San Juan bend, have given up some chunky **largemouth bass**. Best action was early—try a **Texas-rigged soft plastic**, green pumpkin or watermelon red working best, particularly close to lilly pads and submerged logs. Buzzbaits at first light produced a few bonus strikes for those putting in time before the wind picks up.
The native **Rio Grande perch (cichlid)** are biting too—grab a light ultralight rod, tip with red worms or a small chartreuse jig, and you’re likely to tangle with Texas’ only native cichlid near brushy banks and around downed timber.
On the saltier side closer to South Bay, up the Arroyo Colorado or around Boca Chica, local wade anglers checked in with solid numbers of **speckled trout and redfish**, especially on a rising tide. The ticket’s been downsized paddle-tail plastics in white or new penny fished under popping corks. Live shrimp under a cork accounted for most of the keepers, especially for the trout that’ve been a touch finicky.
Hot Spots? For cats and perch, hit the El Jardín launch just downstream of Brownsville, or fish shorelines between Hidalgo and Rio Grande City where there’s riprap or sunken brush. Bass fans have done best near El Sauz and San Martin Lake early and late. For a shot at inshore reds and trout, the mouth of the Arroyo Colorado near Adolph Thomae Park is primed for the dropping tide.
A couple quick reminders: the river is still moving muddy in spots—fish slow, and bump your baits along the bottom. Watch for floating debris, and wear your PFD. And for best results with finicky eaters, tip lures with a bit of cut bait scent.
That’s the scoop, amigos. Thanks for tuning in to this Rio Grande fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for your weekly fix. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Starting with the weather, National Weather Service reports a classic mid-September forecast: muggy at daybreak, about 78 degrees, climbing up to the low 90s by midafternoon with southeast winds around 10-15 mph. Skies will be partly cloudy, with a stiff breeze stirring by lunch—so get your surface action in early. Sunrise came at 7:22 a.m., sunset will be at 7:36 p.m., giving you a solid window to chase ‘em.
Tidal movement in South Texas today is moderate, mirroring what the Port Isabel and Boca Chica gauges show: we’ve got a low tide early morning, bottoming out around 7:00 a.m., before a rising tide leads up to a high right after noon. That means ambush feeders will be on the move both early and late, so work those drop-offs and drains as the water pushes up.
As for the fishing, reports from local guides and tackle shops in Brownsville and Rio Grande City say the action’s been steady but picky, thanks to the recent rains coloring up the water. Anglers working the backwater resacas and the river itself have been finding plenty of **channel and blue catfish**. Best reports came from fresh-cut shad, chicken liver, and stink bait fished from the bottom, especially just upstream of community boat ramps and under the shade of old bridges.
San Martin Lake and the lower Rio, including the famed San Juan bend, have given up some chunky **largemouth bass**. Best action was early—try a **Texas-rigged soft plastic**, green pumpkin or watermelon red working best, particularly close to lilly pads and submerged logs. Buzzbaits at first light produced a few bonus strikes for those putting in time before the wind picks up.
The native **Rio Grande perch (cichlid)** are biting too—grab a light ultralight rod, tip with red worms or a small chartreuse jig, and you’re likely to tangle with Texas’ only native cichlid near brushy banks and around downed timber.
On the saltier side closer to South Bay, up the Arroyo Colorado or around Boca Chica, local wade anglers checked in with solid numbers of **speckled trout and redfish**, especially on a rising tide. The ticket’s been downsized paddle-tail plastics in white or new penny fished under popping corks. Live shrimp under a cork accounted for most of the keepers, especially for the trout that’ve been a touch finicky.
Hot Spots? For cats and perch, hit the El Jardín launch just downstream of Brownsville, or fish shorelines between Hidalgo and Rio Grande City where there’s riprap or sunken brush. Bass fans have done best near El Sauz and San Martin Lake early and late. For a shot at inshore reds and trout, the mouth of the Arroyo Colorado near Adolph Thomae Park is primed for the dropping tide.
A couple quick reminders: the river is still moving muddy in spots—fish slow, and bump your baits along the bottom. Watch for floating debris, and wear your PFD. And for best results with finicky eaters, tip lures with a bit of cut bait scent.
That’s the scoop, amigos. Thanks for tuning in to this Rio Grande fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for your weekly fix. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.