PORT ARTHUR —    Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials are working to investigate a red tide (Karenia brevis) outbreak on the Upper Coast of Texas.



    According to TPWD, the bloom was first confirmed last Sunday by biologists with the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) who collected samples around the Galveston area to follow up on reports of dead fish washing ashore.



    “The bloom is suspected to have caused fish kills along a number of locations along the upper coast, including Crystal Beach, Galveston, Surfside, Sargent’s and Matagorda beaches. TPWD plans to conduct an overflight of the entire Texas coast before the end of the week to get an aerial view of the bloom’s extent.”



    According to TPWD, Karenia brevis is a naturally-occurring organism that produces a toxin affecting the central nervous system of fish, which causes paralysis and the inability to breath.



    “As a result, red tide blooms often result in dead fish washing up on Gulf beaches. When red tide algae reproduce in dense concentrations or "blooms," they are visible as discolored patches of water, often reddish in color.”



    Now onto the report…



    North Sabine---Trout and reds are fair on live mullet fished in the channel with some bird action in the mornings. Flounder are fair to good in the channel on drop offs and are fair in the bayous along the Louisiana shoreline.



    South Sabine---Trout and reds remain fair on live mullet and shrimp fished along the around the south shoreline and at various points along the Louisiana shoreline. Flounder are fair along the Louisiana shoreline on live bait.



    Sabine Pass---Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials report trout are fair to good at the jetty on live bait and topwaters. Red and sharks are fair at the jetties and in the surf.



    Sabine River---Trout and redfish are scattered in the river. Very few reports of bass and catfish.



    Lake Calcasieu (Big Lake)---Hackberry Rod and Gun reports anglers are catching 3-5 pound trout on finger mullet fished in the ship channel. A few trout and reds are coming on topwaters fished early. Very few reports flounder.



    Sam Rayburn---Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials report fair largemouths are good on chartreuse crankbaits and soft plastic worms. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows over brush piles. Bream are good on nightcrawlers. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait and cut bait. Catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live bait.



    Toledo Bend---Holly Park Marina reports largemouths are fair to good at night in 9-14 feet of water on a variety of soft plastics. White bass remain good by trolling the river channel with Hellbenders and throwing various tailspins and slab spoons. Crappie are fair over baited holes on jigs. Catfish are slow.



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LAKE LEVELS



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TOLEDO BEND: Normal Pool Level: 172.0 Current Pool Level: 168.97 Was 169.18



RAYBURN LAKE: Normal Pool Level: 164 Current Pool Level: 162.12 Was: 162.55



B.A. STEIN HAGEN: Normal Pool Level: 85 Current Pool Level: 82.36 Was: 83.00