Redfish are the headliner on the Rockport coast this week, and Tuesday through Thursday sets up as a prime stretch to get on the water. Guide reports through mid-October kept pointing to steady redfish action on the flats, and the forecast cooperates.

**Conditions:** Bay water at Rockport read 74.1°F Monday morning, a comfortable fall range. Winds run northeast at 10 to 15 knots Tuesday and Tuesday night, ease to around 10 knots Wednesday, then settle at 5 to 10 knots and smooth water Thursday. No marine advisories are posted. Skies look sunny Tuesday, with a 30.20 inHg barometer.

**Best windows:** The moon is waxing gibbous, about 70% lit. Our top pick is Thursday, 9:23 to 11:23 AM, the primary solunar window with the calmest water of the week. Next best is Wednesday, 3:26 to 4:56 PM, around moonrise.

**The Big Three:** Redfish (Very Good) are cruising Aransas Bay and Copano Bay flats, so try live shrimp, cut mullet or soft plastics. Speckled trout (Fair) should work the grass in Redfish Bay and Aransas Bay on a popping cork. Flounder (Fair) lean toward the Copano Bay shorelines and Rockport back-bay edges as fall settles in.

**Also active:** Black drum and sheepshead are Fair around reefs and structure on dead shrimp.

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