The Secret Behind Brown Water: Visibility & Lure Color on the Texas Coast

[mmontelongo]

If you’ve fished the Texas coast long enough, you know the feeling: staring down into that classic brown, tea-colored water, wondering how can a fish see anything in here?
Understanding water visibility and how it affects your lure choice is key to turning those slow days into personal bests.

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Why Is Texas Coastal Water Brown?​

From Galveston to Port Mansfield, coastal waters often appear brown or stained due to:

• Tannins from decaying vegetation and marsh runoff
• Suspended silt and sediment stirred by tides and wind
• High dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorbing blue light, shifting water color toward warm brown hues

But don’t let the color fool you. Even tea-stained water can have surprisingly good visibility on calm days.

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How to Test Your Water Visibility​

Before tying on that lure, test the water clarity:

1. The White Lure Test
   • Tie on a white jighead or spoon.
   • Drop it straight down or hold it horizontally.
   • Note the depth where it disappears from sight.
   • General guide:
     • >5 ft: Clear
     • 1–5 ft: Stained
     • <1 ft: Very murky
2. Rod Tip Ruler
   • Stick your rod tip into the water to measure visibility quickly.

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Choosing Lure Colors by Water Clarity​

1. Clear Water (>5 ft visibility)​

• Natural and subtle hues- mimic baitfish without spooking them:
  • Browns, tans, translucent silver, light green
  • Chrome or silver spoons add flash

2. Stained/Brown Water (1–5 ft visibility)​

• Use mid-tone and bright contrast lures to stand out:
  • Chartreuse, gold, dark green, purple, red-orange highlights
  • Metallic gold blades excel in tannic water

3. Very Murky Water (<1 ft visibility)​

• High contrast and silhouette is key:
  • Black, dark blue, chartreuse, white, gold
  • Noise and vibration lures (rattling soft plastics, chatterbaits) increase detection

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Time of Day & Color Strategy​

Time of Day	Best Colors
Bright midday	Natural browns, tans, translucent silver
Cloudy/dawn/dusk	Chartreuse, gold, dark blues or purples
Night fishing	Black, dark blue, brown + vibration or noise

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Texas Coast Application Example​

Example:
Fishing near Port O’Connor, you test visibility at 18 inches using a white jighead. For daytime, tie on a chartreuse paddle tail with a gold jighead. As the sun sets, switch to a dark blue or black soft plastic for maximum silhouette.

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We Want to See Your Water Clarity!​

CALL TO ACTION: Next time you hit the water, test the clarity using your white lure or rod tip ruler and Reply with a picture along with your location. We want to showcase water clarity conditions across the coast and beyond.

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Final Thoughts​

Knowing how visible your lure actually is makes all the difference. Stop guessing, start testing, and choose your colors with confidence to unlock new fish stories this season.

 

[DcMak72]

Thanks for the good info.. I’m trying to add artificial lures to my saltwater fishing for more options.

 

[Chris.mtz-HTX]

Anyone have success with glow in the dark plastics? I see people throwing them at night under the lights but personally haha success yet.

 

[TEXSON]

Went fishing on Saturday at Texas City Dike with my daughter., Her kids were with their dad, not realizing so was she. She didn't catch anything, but I did. Good times were in abundance.
By the way, I was a dogfish and hardhead magnet during the trip, but I didn't let that get in my way... making memories is pretty valuable at my age. Score the win-win!!!

 

[mmontelongo]

Anyone have success with glow in the dark plastics? I see people throwing them at night under the lights but personally haha success yet.

I’ve had some luck with them, but it’s really situational. Glow plastics can work great when the water’s murky or there’s just enough light to make them “pop” without looking unnatural. I usually recharge mine with a UV light before casting, and I’ve had the best results slow-rolling them through the shadow line under lights rather than directly in the bright spot.

 

[mmontelongo]

Went fishing on Saturday at Texas City Dike with my daughter., Her kids were with their dad, not realizing so was she. She didn't catch anything, but I did. Good times were in abundance.
By the way, I was a dogfish and hardhead magnet during the trip, but I didn't let that get in my way... making memories is pretty valuable at my age. Score the win-win!!!

That’s what it’s all about right there — the fish are just a bonus. Sounds like you reeled in the best catch of all: a day full of memories.