It Starts in November
A majestic time begins each year in November here at Bay Flats Lodge on the Texas coast. As our southern shores begin to cool, ducks look to Texas as an escape from the bitter northern winters. It’s a destination where the ducks find ample food provisions coupled with lavish marshlands and vast open warm bay waters.
Fall is when avid Texas coastal anglers are yearning for some of the best speckled trout action of the year. At the same time, a lot of them are also having opposing thoughts about the presence of ducks. So, why not mix fishing for trout and redfish with duck hunting? These cast and blast trips start for our guests in November, and typically entail duck hunting in the morning followed by an afternoon of bay fishing.
Our Texas coast stretches 367 miles between Louisiana and Mexico and consists of more than 3,300 miles of shoreline. This coastal ecological community offers numerous species of fish and waterfowl that all make for great eating. Our unique location near the center of the Texas coast provides a level of variety not found elsewhere.
The Texas Coastal Bend is comprised of 7 bay systems, with one of them being our local San Antonio Bay. This fishery yields a considerable number of fish species, but speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and black drum are main targets.
The speckled trout are found in the bay system throughout the year, with coastal anglers catching them every month on the calendar. Similarly, redfish, flounder, and black drum are caught year-round, but most of them migrate to Gulf waters during wintertime. Boat fishing with live bait or wade fishing with lures are common choices among our Cast and Blast guests. However, our guests can also enjoy exciting fly-fishing action as the “Cast” portion of their Cast and Blast adventure.
The San Antonio Bay region and the surrounding wetlands also offer a tremendous assortment of duck species for waterfowl hunters. Large populations of Gadwall, Widgeon, Pintail, Canvasback, Redhead, and Teal are the ones that keep hunting guests busy each season. It’s not out of the question for hunters to also encounter Lesser Scaup, Mallards, and Mottled Ducks, as well.
What You’ll Need
We recommend bringing waders, boots, and your favorite 12-gauge shotgun and ammo. We also have all these items available for rent if you need them. It is also recommended that you purchase your duck hunting and saltwater fishing permits before you arrive at the lodge by clicking on the link below. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 888-677-4868.
Get Your Duck Hunting and Saltwater Fishing Permits Here
- A valid Texas fishing license with a saltwater endorsement for any angler 17 years of age or older fishing in Texas saltwater.
- Every hunter (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete a Hunter Education Course.
- All migratory game bird hunters must have a valid Texas hunting license.
- A migratory game bird endorsement is required for persons 17 years of age or older to hunt any migratory game bird, including mourning doves.
- A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp(commonly called a Duck Stamp) is required by Federal law for waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and over. The stamp is available at most post offices and TPWD offices.
- Harvest Information (HIP) Certification is required to hunt migratory game birds.
- All hunters and anglers must carry a form of identification (i.e., driver license, etc.) when fishing and/or hunting in Texas.
You can explore all Texas hunting and fishing rules and regulations by visiting Texas Parks & Wildlife.