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Port guide / Coastal Bend / Texas

Fulton fishing guide

Fulton sits on the west shore of Aransas Bay just north of Rockport, with Copano and St. Charles bays a short run behind it and Goose Island State Park up the road. The fishing is shallow bay water for redfish, trout, black drum, flounder and winter sheepshead, worked from the rebuilt Fulton Harbor pier and bulkhead or by boat out of Fulton Harbor. Next to Rockport it is a smaller, harbor centered town where the pier and two bait stands sit within walking distance of each other, and unlike Port Aransas there is no jetty or Gulf pass at the door, so it fishes as protected bay country.

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

  1. 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 Fulton. Updates through the day.

  1. Loading the 7 day forecast.

NOAA tides, Rockport, TX NWS 7 day forecast NWS marine forecast, Copano, Aransas, and Redfish Bays

12 ft, the chart

Chart and depths

The official NOAA chart, centered on Fulton. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.

The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.

NOAA electronic navigational chart: soundings, depth contours, channels, markers and hazards. Zoom in to see more soundings. Not for navigation. Open NOAA ENC Online

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.

  1. Checking the latest reports.

Report sources: DM Fly Fishing reports Captain Experiences Texas guide reports

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.

Run a shop or charter here? Send a report

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Fulton. This month is marked.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Speckled trout
Redfish
Black drum
Southern flounder
Sheepshead
Tarpon

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

  • Red snapper, Texas state waters

    Open year round for private recreational anglers in state waters. Only circle hooks may be used with natural bait.

    Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 to 2027 Official page

  • 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

  • Red snapper, federal waters (federal for-hire boats)

    Fixed closure January 1 to May 31; the 2026 for-hire season closed October 26, 2026.

    NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page

  • Greater amberjack, federal waters

    The fishing year runs August 1 to July 31 with fixed closures August 1 to 31 and November 1 to July 31, so the season opens September 1; the 2026 season closed October 14, 2026.

    NOAA Fisheries, 2026 to 2027 Official page

  • Gag grouper, federal waters

    The 2026 recreational season ran September 1 to October 1, 2026, and is now closed.

    NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page

  • Gray triggerfish, federal waters

    Fixed recreational closures run January 1 to February 28 and June 1 to July 31.

    NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page

  • 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

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

  • Pier

    Fulton Harbor Pier (Fulton Fishing Pier)

    Rebuilt pier into Aransas Bay, open 24 hours with LED fishing lights; 5 dollars per rod, four rods max, and cast nets only off the seawall.

    Source

  • Bay

    Fulton Harbor bulkhead

    Walk-on bank fishing along the harbor bulkhead, a spot the chamber lists for anglers without a boat.

    Source

  • Bay

    Aransas Bay flats and reefs

    Local guides fish Aransas Bay spots such as Allens Bight, Mud Island and Estes Flats, by drifting or wading with lures.

    Source

  • Bay

    Copano Bay and St. Charles Bay

    The Copano Bay ramp at the south end of the Hwy 35 causeway gives some of the most protected access to both bays.

    Source

  • Pier

    Goose Island State Park shoreline and pier

    Bayfront shore fishing and a 1,620 foot pier on St. Charles and Aransas bays; no license is needed to fish from shore or pier inside a Texas state park.

    Source

  • Flats

    Redfish Bay and Lighthouse Lakes

    A run south from Fulton, these mangrove lakes and grass flats hold reds, trout and flounder and fall inside the Redfish Bay State Scientific Area.

    Source

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.

NameTypeFeeWhere
Fulton Harbor boat launchRampCheckFulton Harbor, downtown Fulton, TX 78358
Fulton Fishing PierPierPaidFulton Harbor Park, Fulton, TX 78358
Copano Bay Boat RampRampCheck5701 Hwy 35 North, Rockport, TX 78382
Goose Island State Park boat launchRampPaid202 S. Palmetto St., Rockport, TX 78382
Goose Island State Park fishing pierPierPaid202 S. Palmetto St., Rockport, TX 78382
Rockport Beach breakwater piersPierFreeRockport Beach, Rockport, TX 78382

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 (11)

Showing all 11 shops

Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.

Charters and guides

CharterFishing
Aransas Bay Fishing Charters (Capt. Robert Hamilton)Inshore
Barnard's Guide Service (Capt. Tommy Barnard)Inshore
DM Fly Fishing (Capt. Dylan Mendoza)Fly

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Fulton, asked and answered

How much does it cost to fish the Fulton pier?

Fishing costs 5 dollars per rod with a limit of four rods per person. The pier is open 24 hours, and an honor box takes the fee when the attendant is away.

Where can I buy live bait in Fulton?

Fulton Harbor Bait and Seafood and Aransas Bay Bait Company, both on Deforest Loop by the harbor, sell live mullet, crabs and shrimp. The pier entrance shack sells frozen shrimp.

When is the best time to fish Fulton for redfish and trout?

Spring and fall are the strongest stretches, and redfish feed hardest from September through November. In cold weather trout move to deeper water, harbors and channels.

Can I keep flounder in November?

No. Texas closes flounder harvest from November 1 through December 14, so October is the month to keep fish on the fall run.

Where do I launch a boat near Fulton?

Fulton Harbor has a boat launch, and the Copano Bay Boat Ramp at 5701 Hwy 35 North sits at the south end of the Hwy 35 causeway. Goose Island State Park also has a boat launch inside the park.

90 ft, the kit

What we would take to Fulton

Save $10.00

No. 01 · Headwear

Catfish Hunter

$30.00 $20.00In stock
Fishy Performance hooded fishing shirt in gray camo, front view Save $15.00

No. 02 · Fishing Shirts

Fishy Performance Hooded Fishing Shirt

$40.00 $25.00Large to XXXL in stock
Choose size

No. 03 · Accessories

Hogfish Sticker

$2.50In stock
Black Performance Rope fishing hat with rope detail, front view Sold out

No. 04 · Headwear

Black Performance Rope

$30.00Sold out
View details
Sources for this guide (23), last checked 2026-10-27
  1. aransasbayfishing.com/
  2. captainexperiences.com/blog/best-times-to-fish-in-rockport-tx
  3. deepsearoundup.org/
  4. dmflyfishing.net/
  5. therockportfishingguide.com/
  6. tpwd.texas.gov/boating/paddling-trails/gulf-coast/lighthouse-lakes/
  7. tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/education/angler-ed/Rockport_Fishing_Tournament
  8. tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/blackdrum/
  9. tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/reddrum/
  10. tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/sheepshead/
  11. tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/strout/
  12. tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits/flou
  13. tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits/snap
  14. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/goose-island
  15. acnd.org/copano-boat-ramp
  16. fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal-
  17. fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/2025-2026-and-2026-2027-gulf-america-rec
  18. rockport-fulton.org/fishing
  19. rockportfulton.com/bait-shops
  20. rockportfulton.com/bait-shops/aransas-bay-bait-company
  21. rockportfulton.com/bait-shops/fulton-harbor-bait-and-seafood
  22. rockportfulton.com/event-details/babes-on-the-bay-fishing-tournament
  23. rockportfulton.com/fulton-fishing-pier

100 ft, the seabed

Gear up for Fulton

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.

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