One of the more encouraging of recent developments in the Coastal Bend fishing scene has been the appearance of schools of large redfish behind Mustang and San Jose islands.

The sightings hint of the beginnings of the redfish roundup, an annual angling event that occurs when maturing redfish herd together on the flats and slowly migrate toward Port Aransas to reach the Gulf.

The development is especially welcomed by shore-bound anglers because the roundup is one event that puts good redfish action within casting distance of piers and bank fishing areas.Experienced onshore anglers familiar with the migration routes and staging areas of the Gulf-bound reds are well aware of the choice ambush locations.

Their top picks include:

• Humble Channel at the JFK Causeway. Baffin Bay reds bound for Port Aransas must pass through the narrow Humble Channel to exit the Laguna Madre. That brings them past the piers of Trainer's Marina and Red Dot bait stand.

• Intracoastal Waterway at the JFK Causeway. Laguna Madre reds migrating along the backside of Padre Island out of areas like Yarborough Pass must pass under the high bridge to reach Corpus Christi Bay. Piers and bankfishing areas along both sides of the channel put anglers and reds in close proximity.

• Ocean Drive. Schools of redfish migrating along the mainland shoreline of Corpus Christi Bay pass within range of Oso Pier, Cole Park Pier and other publicly accessible bank and wade fishing areas along Ocean Drive.

• Indian Point Pier and nearby wade fishing areas. Indian Point on the Nueces Bay Causeway is the point redfish must round as they leave Nueces Bay and take aim at Port Aransas. Recent good catches of redfish on the reefs of Nueces Bay indicate a run could start at any time.

• Morris Cummings Cut at the Aransas Pass-Port Aransas Causeway. The intersection of the Morris Cummings Cut with the Aransas Pass shrimp boat channel beside the causeway is a turning point for redfish coming out of Estes Flats and South Bay flats. Bank fishing areas along the shrimp channel can also be good.

• Charlie's Pasture Pier. Located just south of the ferry landing in Port Aransas, this small concrete pier is a traditional hot spot for Gulf-bound reds. Passing this pier will be reds out of the Laguna Madre and Corpus Christi Bay that follow a migration route along the backside of Mustang Island. The quiet word is that the first reds passed the pier Labor Day weekend.

• South Jetty. The migrating redfish not only pass the South Jetty's easy access rocks, they also linger there, making it a consistent place to find redfish action during the roundup. Just bring plenty of extra terminal tackle and plan on losing a lot of it.