November Fishing In Port O'connor

Port O’Connor is a year-round fishing destination, and November is a special month if you like to catch redfish and speckled trout in shallow water. The hot summer temperatures keep the water warm throughout September, and often times the warm weather continues through October. By November, the water has usually cooled off, and the fish are on the move. Reds and trout can find comfortable water temperatures in the shallow back lakes, coves, and small bays, which offer some of the most scenic fishing opportunities anywhere along the Texas coast.

Where to Fish in Port O’Connor during November

Port O’Connor is surrounded by water. There are so many choices for where to fish on any given day, that it can be difficult to find the best place to increase your chances of coming back home with a limit of your target species. In November, anglers can start to narrow their focus on the shallow back lakes and coves that run for miles along the barrier islands. The fish no longer will need to hide from the summer heat in deep water, and even the sandbars that offer productive summertime fishing opportunities will hold less fish during the colder weather months.

Fortunately, Port O’Connor has a large number of back lakes and coves from which anglers can choose. The southern shoreline of Matagorda Bay is covered with lakes and coves worth exploring. Greens Bayou and Cotton Bayou are two of the more famous locations, but there are many smaller, lesser-known areas that are just as productive. Closer to town, there are shallow grass flats surrounding the islands starting at Barroom Bay and heading south to Big Pocket.

On the southern shore of Espiritu Santo Bay, another set of back lakes and coves extends for miles and miles along Matagorda Island. The biggest and most well-known of these back lakes is Pringle Lake. Other popular back lakes include South Pass Lake, Long Lake, Contee Lake, Corey Cove, Pat’s Bay, Power Lake, and Twin Lakes. Some anglers venture as far south as Panther Lake and beyond if the weather permits. On the northern shore of Espiritu Santo Bay is Shoalwater Bay, a massive, but often very shallow fishing destination.

The back lakes, coves, and shallow bays offer consistent fishing during November, but they are not the only places that you can catch a redfish or a speckled trout. The jetties and reefs will still have good fish hanging around the rocks and shells. Also, be on the lookout for birds over open water that could be hovering over a variety of fish including speckled trout that will follow the shrimp migrating to the Gulf of Mexico. The shorelines surrounding the major Port O’Connor bays can also be productive fishing locations, but look for areas of the shoreline with more grass and mud versus areas with solid sand to improve your chances.

How to Fish Port O’Connor during November

Port O’Connor’s back lakes, coves, and small bays have several things in common that make them a good choice for fishing during November and other cool weather months. These areas usually hold a mix of bottom surfaces including grass, sand pockets, mud, and occasionally shell. The water depth varies, with substantial portions of these lakes, coves, and bays being knee to waist deep. Some areas are much shallower, and the occasional deep hole or channel is often nearby.

The depth of these lakes and coves is ideal for wade fishing. Knee to waist deep with a slightly firm bottom that is mostly grass should keep most anglers comfortable. You may encounter areas that are too muddy or too deep, and those will become areas that you learn and avoid on future fishing trips. The fishing maps of the Port O’Connor area are not detailed enough to show the many ups and down that you will learn through experience or from following the instructions of a professional fishing guide.

Wading fishing is not the only way to enjoy the scenic coves and back lakes that surround Port O’Connor during the month of November. Drifting is also a popular way to target speckled trout and redfish in these shallow water areas. Several of the back lakes have channels that provide access to boaters, and experience navigating these waters is a must. These access channels are not always marked and often include multiple curves and sharp turns. Hiring an experienced fishing guide who is familiar with the back lakes and channels of Port O’Connor will help you find more fish and help you explore new fishing areas without getting your boat stuck.

Regardless of whether you are drifting or wading, the clearest water is not necessarily the best. The water in these shallow grassy areas can get so clear that every blade of grass is visible along the bottom. The fish spook easier in this clear water, so look for areas that are just a little off colored for better success in hooking up with a keeper-sized redfish or speckled trout.

Best Lures for Fishing Port O’Connor in November

Many different lures work well when the fish are only one to four feet deep. On most days, soft plastics are the main lure of choice for people throwing artificial lures. Lighter sized jig heads such as a 1/16 ounce jig head will be best for avoiding the shallow grass. On some days, the fish seem to prefer a soft plastic shrimp imitation lure thrown under a cork, and on other days no cork is needed. The best color, shape and size selection for soft plastics can also vary from day to day. Natural colored lures are always a good color to start with when fishing shallow grass with a couple of feet of visibility in the water.

Spoons, Corkies, and many other hard-body lures can all be worked effectively when fishing the back lakes, coves and shallow bays for reds and specks. When the weather is overcast and warm, speckled trout and redfish will explode on topwater lures in the shallow water. If you are lucky enough to be fishing when there is a good topwater bite, that will be some of the most memorable days you can have fishing the shallow waters around Port O’Connor.

For those using bait, popping corks with live shrimp are usually a great choice. If you know you are fishing an area that has large sand potholes or channels, then it is possible to fish with bait on the bottom. Black drum and redfish generally prefer a bait closer to the bottom, but you want to make sure that you are not in an area with too much grass for bottom fishing. In general, a popping cork will be more effective when drifting, and fishing along the bottom will produce more fish when you anchor to fish a specific hole or sand pocket using bait.

Things to Know about Port O’Connor

Port O’Connor is a perfect location for anyone’s next fishing excursion. If you are heading to Port O’Connor during November or other cool weather months, then you are in for an excellent outdoors adventure. Keep in mind that November also brings the opening of duck season, and the same back lakes, coves, and shallow bays that are popular with anglers are the same places that waterfowl hunters put out their decoys for redheads, buffleheads, scaup, and pintails. Be aware of your surroundings and avoiding getting too close to duck hunters in the area.

The town of Port O’Connor has multiple motels and rental properties that cater to the needs of fishermen. There are many restaurants, bait shops, and tackle suppliers that can provide anything that you may need. To find the best fishing guides for Port O’Connor, Captain Experiences is here to help you. We offer guides that know the back lakes, coves, and shallow bays surrounding Port O’Connor based on their many years of experience. Find the right guide whether you prefer to wade or fish from the boat; there is no bad choice when fishing Port O’Connor in November.