Come late November most flounder are headed toward the spawning grounds of the Gulf of Mexico and anglers have moved on to duck hunting or seeking redfish.

The key word here is “most” because there are flounder that stick around during winter especially in the Galveston Bay complex.

    “You can catch some flounder in the winter if know where to look,” said Capt. Shane Chesson.

    Chesson said anglers should target mud flats adjacent to the Intracoastal Canal in East and West Galveston Bay on warm, sunny winter afternoons when the tides are running high.

    “The black mud in the shallow water retains heat and gets the fish on the flats,” Chesson said.

    They do not move around much when the water is warm so with their metabolism low, they typically stay on the flat’s side of the drop off and I believe this serves to purposes.     First, it fits their lazy nature. They do not have to move far.

    Secondly, when the tides are both rising and falling, it gives the flounder a place to intercept baitfish going to and from the deep. Tides are the number one crucial issue in flounder fishing because they almost totally rely on them to bring baitfish to them. In these areas, it is no different.

    In my research for this article, I interviewed several guides I know target trout in these areas in the winter and each of them said they have incidentally caught flounder all over the flats but did say they caught the most near the drop-offs and also bonding to any structure on the mud such as small oyster reefs.

    Stick with slow-moving lures in these areas such as the Corky which is what most of the anglers that I know use for trout there. Also, consider the DOA Crab, which is a good lure to move across the bottom at a snail pace. Crabs are an important part of a flounder’s diet during the winter and is an overlooked food source to target.

    The Houston Light and Power (HL&P;) outfall canal in Trinity Bay can be productive for winter flounder.

    “The HL&P; Canal is just a downright great place to fish for anything in the winter and it will hold some flounder,” Chesson said.

    Baitfish congregate here during cold spells, making it a sort of buffet for a host of flounder that winter in the bays. Flounder often sit down current and can be found in eddies that form near drop offs. Small baitfish cannot negotiate current very well and they often are stuck in eddies. Flounder will stack up in these eddies and gulp up the shad, shrimp and whatever else ends up there.

    Something to keep in mind is that even small flows from a single drainpipe can draw fish. They may not hold massive schools of fish for long periods, but even a slight change for the positive in water temperature can make a difference in cold weather. It is very important to look for the little things in these spots since very often that is all it takes to attract game fish. When fishing at HL&P; any kind of structure or flow producing warm water is worth trying.

     If you can get your hands on live mud minnows, they are great this time of year for these warm water flounder. In addition, any shad or minnow imitation fished on a 1/8 ounce jig head in glow or chartreuse can be killer. I typically use 1/4-ounce heads but during the winter will switch to something a bit lighter.

    Another option for anglers this month is the holdover flounder that hang around Rollover Pass. Most of them have already left to spawn in the Gulf but there are enough holdovers to make things interesting for anglers wanting to catch flatfish.

      In this area, fishing live mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig along the edges of the ship channel is the best move. Some anglers are starting to wise up to the fact that they can set out several rods with live bait so that they can get more action as more flounder move through their area. Look for outgoing tides to provide the best bites, especially after a cold front passes through.



Chester Moore, Jr. is The News Outdoors Editor.