There is something about October on the Texas coast that makes anglers start looking toward the bottom. The summer heat finally begins to loosen its grip, the first cool fronts push across the bays, and somewhere beneath the surface, one of the Texas coast’s most unusual fish begins making its annual move. For flounder fishermen around Rockport, October is prime time — and for those who prefer a gig and a slow walk or airboat gliding through shallow water, it may be the most anticipated month of the year. The reason is the fall flounder run.
Southern flounder spend much of their lives in bays and estuaries, but as autumn arrives and water temperatures begin to fall, mature fish begin moving toward the Gulf to spawn. The migration typically occurs from October through December, with fish concentrating in channels and passes leading from the bays toward the Gulf. A strong cold front can trigger a noticeable movement, sometimes producing the concentrated action that has made the fall run a Texas fishing tradition.
November has historically been associated with the heart of the run, but Texas regulations close the recreational flounder fishery from November 1 through December 14. That makes October the final full month to legally pursue these fish before the seasonal closure. Under current regulations, the recreational daily bag limit is five flounder, the minimum length is 15 inches and there is no maximum length limit…