Mustang Bayou is a River located in Brazoria County, TX. Starting in Missouri City, TX the Mustang Bayou flows 43 miles through Manvel, TX before ending in Liverpool, TX. The Mustang Bayou rises to an elevation of 3 feet and has a surface area of 79,746 square miles. Find maps, fishing guides, weather and recreation information at Guidesly.

All About The Mustang Bayou, TX

The Mustang Bayou is a short marshy stream located south of Houston. Surrounding the bayou is League City and Pearland to its east, Sugarland to its west, and Missouri City to its northwest. The stream rises just south of Missouri City and runs southeast for forty-five miles, passing four miles southwest of Pearland and north of Alvin, where it turns south. At its junction with Persimmon Bayou, the creek is channeled until it reaches its mouth on New Bayou in southeastern Brazoria County where it outflows into Chocolate Bay and finally to the Gulf of Mexico.

A bayou is defined as a slowly-moving section of marshy water. Most of the time, they are categorically creeks or a stream. Bayous can either be freshwater, saltwater, in some cases, both. Waters that are a combination of both fresh and saltwater are known as brackish waters. In the case of Mustang Bayou, it completely runs freshwater. Marshes are what bayous are most known for, and their vegetation ranges from moss to cypress trees serving as important habitats for animals like alligators, shrimp, and all manner of birds. 

In America, the most known system of bayous is located in Louisiana’s Mississippi River delta but in the state of Texas, bayous like the Buffalo and the Mustang bayou are just as important as Houston was founded near Buffalo bayou and became a drainage basin for the city during heavy rain. 

All About the Mustang Bayou, TX

As a bayou known for its vegetation, the Mustang bayou hosts a diverse set of marine freshwater life. Some fish you can find in the bayou are largemouth bass, catfish (flathead, channel, and yellow bullhead), and spotted gar.

For anglers looking to catch popular game fish like the largemouth bass, it’s good to prepare a 6 or 8-weight fly rod. These fish may not spook easily but can weigh up to 20lbs and will put up a fight. Anglers may opt to use a disk drag for a more gradual resistance in a line. Otherwise, when using bait, you have a variety of options from jigs and jerk baits to live bait like worms and minnows. These fish are abundant and can be found hiding in shallow waters with thick weeds.

Catfishing in the Mustang bayou is also quite common with species like the channel, flathead catfish, and yellow bullhead being native to the area. Despite being in the same family, their methods of catching are very different. Flathead catfish are significantly heavier and can weigh up to 60lbs in contrast to channel catfish that only weigh from 2 to 4lbs. Most anglers use live bait like perch or bluegill. It’s also good to prepare a line that can tolerate at least 50lbs of weight. In contrast, fishing for channel catfish requires bait that appeals to their sense of smell. Most anglers will use cheese or stinkbait that creates strong scents. Using a rod about 7” to 7.6” long will help when using techniques like pitching and flipping. Channel catfish are known for their hard mouths so anglers tend to use big treble hooks that can pierce through their mouths and latch on properly. For anglers looking for an easier catfish to reel in, the yellow bullhead is a popular option. Considered a minor game fish, they’re used for fly fishing practice. They’re known as voracious eaters that are not bait-shy. Anglers have found success in using flies setup for bass. 

Spotted gar can also be found in the Mustang Bayou. They are mostly in softer mud bottoms, where it hunts in the night. During the day, however, they can be found near fallen logs, trees or bushes. Just like the yellow bullhead, the spotted gar are said to be an easy catch as they’re also the same type of eaters. Anglers make sure to bring a 6ft spinning rod with a 14 to 30lbs braided line

Fishing Seasonality in The Mustang Bayou, TX

Anglers looking for the best time to head on to the Mustang bayou will be pleased to know that different fish are in season all year long. Starting off with the yellow bullhead, they are non-migratory and will stay in the bayou for the entirety of their lifecycle. Despite that, anglers will have a better chance of finding these catfish in colder water. Similarly, the channel and flathead catfish are in season and best caught in colder temperatures, during fall and winter. Otherwise, anglers looking to catch fish in the summertime will find a lot of spotted gar and largemouth bass.

Fishing Seasonality in The Mustang Bayou, TX

Anglers looking for the best time to head on to the Mustang bayou will be pleased to know that different fish are in season all year long. Starting off with the yellow bullhead, they are non-migratory and will stay in the bayou for the entirety of their lifecycle. Despite that, anglers will have a better chance of finding these catfish in colder water. Similarly, the channel and flathead catfish are in season and best caught in colder temperatures, during fall and winter. Otherwise, anglers looking to catch fish in the summertime will find a lot of spotted gar and largemouth bass.

All About the Mustang Bayou, TX

As a bayou known for its vegetation, the Mustang bayou hosts a diverse set of marine freshwater life. Some fish you can find in the bayou are largemouth bass, catfish (flathead, channel, and yellow bullhead), and spotted gar.

For anglers looking to catch popular game fish like the largemouth bass, it’s good to prepare a 6 or 8-weight fly rod. These fish may not spook easily but can weigh up to 20lbs and will put up a fight. Anglers may opt to use a disk drag for a more gradual resistance in a line. Otherwise, when using bait, you have a variety of options from jigs and jerk baits to live bait like worms and minnows. These fish are abundant and can be found hiding in shallow waters with thick weeds.

Catfishing in the Mustang bayou is also quite common with species like the channel, flathead catfish, and yellow bullhead being native to the area. Despite being in the same family, their methods of catching are very different. Flathead catfish are significantly heavier and can weigh up to 60lbs in contrast to channel catfish that only weigh from 2 to 4lbs. Most anglers use live bait like perch or bluegill. It’s also good to prepare a line that can tolerate at least 50lbs of weight. In contrast, fishing for channel catfish requires bait that appeals to their sense of smell. Most anglers will use cheese or stinkbait that creates strong scents. Using a rod about 7” to 7.6” long will help when using techniques like pitching and flipping. Channel catfish are known for their hard mouths so anglers tend to use big treble hooks that can pierce through their mouths and latch on properly. For anglers looking for an easier catfish to reel in, the yellow bullhead is a popular option. Considered a minor game fish, they’re used for fly fishing practice. They’re known as voracious eaters that are not bait-shy. Anglers have found success in using flies setup for bass. 

Spotted gar can also be found in the Mustang Bayou. They are mostly in softer mud bottoms, where it hunts in the night. During the day, however, they can be found near fallen logs, trees or bushes. Just like the yellow bullhead, the spotted gar are said to be an easy catch as they’re also the same type of eaters. Anglers make sure to bring a 6ft spinning rod with a 14 to 30lbs braided line