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Port guide / South Padre and the Lower Laguna / Texas
Arroyo City fishing guide
Arroyo City is a small string of fishing cabins along the south bank of the Arroyo Colorado, where the river meets the Lower Laguna Madre about 30 minutes northeast of Harlingen. Fishing is the whole town: tarpon and snook in the brackish river, trout and reds on the shallow Laguna flats, and the hard sand flats along the back side of Padre Island. Boats can also make the run north to the Port Mansfield jetties.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Arroyo City. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Realitos Peninsula, TX (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Port Isabel, TX (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Laguna Madre From The Arroyo Colorado To 5 NM North Of Port Mansfield TX (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Arroyo City. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- We have not found a report source that posts online for this water yet.
Report sources: Captain Experiences Arroyo City guide reports (opens in a new tab) Captain Experiences Texas guide reports (opens in a new tab) Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, South Padre Fishing Scene (Ernest Cisneros) (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Arroyo City. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled trout | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Black drum | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Southern flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Snook | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Tarpon | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow |
Speckled trout
Peak: March, April, May, September, October, November
Big trout hold in the sand pockets on the Laguna, and a lighted private pier on the Arroyo reports trout all year at night on live shrimp under a popping cork.
Redfish
Peak: September, October, November
Local guides pole the clear Laguna flats for tailing reds, and the hard sand flats on the Padre Island side are a classic place to drift or wade.
Black drum
Peak: January, February, March, April
Arroyo City guides target black drum along with reds and trout, often on live or chunk mullet.
Southern flounder
Peak: September, October
Flounder are a regular catch on Arroyo City bay trips, but Texas harvest closes November 1 to December 14.
Snook
Peak: June, July
Snook run the brackish water of the Arroyo Colorado, and TPWD notes they sometimes run up rivers and stay near structure.
Tarpon
Peak: June, July, August
Tarpon are a target in the brackish river water of the Arroyo during the warm months.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Southern flounder, Texas waters
Flounder harvest is closed November 1 through December 14 (bag limit is zero).
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 (regulations valid Sept. 1, 2026 to Aug. 31, 2027) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, Texas state waters
Open year round for private recreational anglers in state waters. Circle hooks are required when using natural bait.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 to 2027 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal waters (private anglers landing in Texas)
The 2026 private recreational season in federal waters opened May 22, 2026. TPWD monitors harvest to set the closing date, and as of October 23, 2026 it remained open.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal waters (federal for-hire boats)
Federal for-hire season has a fixed closure January 1 to May 31, and the 2026 season closed October 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
The 2026 to 2027 recreational season closed October 14, 2026. Fixed closures run August 1 to 31 and November 1 to July 31.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 to 2027 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
The 2026 recreational season ran September 1 to October 1, 2026, and is now closed.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, federal waters
Fixed recreational closures run January 1 to February 28 and June 1 to July 31.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Shallow water grouper (including red grouper), federal waters
Closed February 1 to March 31 seaward of the 20 fathom contour.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Channel
Arroyo Colorado
The brackish river through town holds tarpon and snook.
- Flats
Lower Laguna Madre flats
Wide, shallow, windblown flats south of the Arroyo mouth where guides pole for tailing reds and look for big trout in sand pockets.
- Flats
The sand (hard sand flats off Padre Island)
Clear water over hard sand along the west shore of Padre Island, good for drifting or wading for reds, trout and ladyfish.
- Channel
Intracoastal Waterway
Guides run out the Arroyo and turn along the ICW, the wide deeper channel cutting through the shallow Lower Laguna Madre.
- Jetty
Port Mansfield jetties
A longer run north for pelagic fish when the weather allows.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 37844 Marshall Hutts Rd, Rio Hondo, TX 78583 |
| El Rey Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Arroyo City, TX |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (2)
- Bait and tackle
Bait Shop (Arroyo City Bait Shop)
36690 Marshall Hutts Rd, Arroyo City (Rio Hondo), TX
Locally owned shop on the road along the Arroyo, open since 2001 and packed with corks, rods, reels, knives, nets and bait.
- Store
Arroyo City Country Store
Named as one of two bait shops close to the Arroyo City cabins.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Arroyo City Outfitters (Capt. Ryan Falls) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Making Memories Guide Service (Capt. Rodolfo Martinez Jr.) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Stars and Bars Charters (Capt. Ryan Facundo) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Texas International Fishing Tournament (TIFT) (opens in a new tab)
usually late July into early August, out of Port Isabel and South Padre Island
2027: July 28 to August 1Ladies Kingfish Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually mid August, South Padre Island, with bay and offshore divisions
2027: August 13 to 15
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Arroyo City, asked and answered
Where do you launch a boat in Arroyo City?
Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park at 37844 Marshall Hutts Road has a county boat ramp, and El Rey Boat Ramp is the other public ramp in Arroyo City.
What can you catch in the Arroyo Colorado itself?
The brackish river holds tarpon and snook. A lighted private pier on the Arroyo also reports speckled trout all year at night on live shrimp under a popping cork.
Where is the closest tide station?
NOAA station 8779280, Realitos Peninsula, has tide predictions and wind. Its water temperature data is flagged as suspect, so use Port Isabel (8779770) for water temperature.
Is flounder season open in November?
No. Texas closes flounder harvest November 1 through December 14, and the bag limit is zero during that window.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Arroyo City
Sources for this guide (15), last checked 2026-10-27
- assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/southpadretx/Fishing_Guide_wit (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/guides/making-memories-guide-service (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/guides/stars-and-bars-charters (opens in a new tab)
- fishingbooker.com/charters/view/7296 (opens in a new tab)
- sites.google.com/view/laquinagua-info/home (opens in a new tab)
- spichamber.com/ladies-kingfish-tournament/ (opens in a new tab)
- texassaltwaterfishingmagazine.com/fishing/locations/lower-coast/the-arroyo (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/snook/ (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits/flou (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits/snap (opens in a new tab)
- valleybusinessreport.com/featured/bait-and-fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- cameroncountytx.gov/parks-coastal-parks__trashed/parks-adolph-thomae-jr/ (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal- (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/2025-2026-and-2026-2027-gulf-america-rec (opens in a new tab)
- tift.org/ (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Arroyo City
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.