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Port guide / Upper Texas Coast / Texas
Palacios fishing guide
Palacios sits where Tres Palacios Bay opens into Matagorda Bay, a small shrimping town with a long bayfront and three free lighted fishing piers that stay open all night. Boats run Tres Palacios Bay, Turtle Bay, Oyster Lake and the west side of Matagorda Bay for redfish, speckled trout, flounder and black drum, and kayakers have calm coves to work. Most of the fishing here is bay fishing close to town, from the piers, by wading or by drifting.
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 Palacios. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Matagorda City, TX (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Matagorda Bay (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Palacios. 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 Palacios guide reports (opens in a new tab) Captain Experiences Texas guide reports (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 Palacios. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled trout | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Redfish | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow |
| Southern flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow |
| Black drum | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow |
Speckled trout
Peak: May, June, July, August
Locals target trout along the grass flats of Tres Palacios Bay and by wading the shallows of Matagorda Bay.
Redfish
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Reds work the grass lines and marsh of West Matagorda Bay and the flats of Tres Palacios Bay, and topwaters are a local favorite.
Southern flounder
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Oyster Lake is a good drift for flounder and fall is the local favorite, but Texas closes flounder November 1 to December 14.
Black drum
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Bottom fish around the jetties and oyster reefs, and use live croaker or mullet for the bigger drum.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: June, July, August
Spanish mackerel show up in the warmer months, and summer is the time to catch them.
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.
Red snapper, Texas state waters
Open year-round for private recreational anglers in Texas state waters.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal waters (private anglers off Texas)
Opened May 22, 2026. As of October 23, 2026 it remains open, and TPWD will set the closure date by monitoring harvest.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal waters (for-hire boats)
Closed January 1 to May 31. The 2026 for-hire season closed October 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
Closed January 1 to August 31. The 2026 season opened September 1 and closed October 1, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
The season opens September 1 each year. The 2026 to 2027 season closed October 14, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, federal waters
Closed January 1 to February 28 and June 1 to July 31, so open March 1 to May 31 and August 1 to December 31.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Shallow-water grouper, federal waters beyond 20 fathoms
Closed February 1 to March 31 seaward of the 20-fathom contour.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Southern flounder, Texas waters
Flounder fishery is closed November 1 to December 14 (bag limit is zero).
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Pier
Palacios town fishing piers
Three free lighted piers plus lighted groins on the bayfront, open 24 hours; the Pavilion pier is a wheelchair-accessible T-head.
- Bay
Tres Palacios Bay
The sheltered home bay, with grass flats for reds and trout and jetties for black drum and sheepshead.
- Marsh
Turtle Bay
Shallow channels and marsh southwest of Tres Palacios Bay that suit kayaks chasing reds and trout.
- Bay
Oyster Lake
A shallow lake between Tres Palacios Bay and Matagorda Bay that drifts well for reds, trout and flounder.
- Bay
West Matagorda Bay
Shallow water, grass lines and marsh that suit wading and kayak fishing.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jensen Point Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Jensen Point Road, Palacios, TX 77465 |
| East Bay Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 533 E Bay Blvd, Palacios, TX 77465 |
| Carl Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Carl Park, TX-521, Palacios, TX 77465 |
| Palacios Pavilion pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Free | Palacios bayfront, Palacios, TX 77465 |
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 (3)
Showing all 3 shops
- Bait shopLive bait
Blackie's Shrimp Shack
Call to ask what bait is in today.
Local bait shop in Palacios that also sells fishing licenses.
- Bait shopLive bait
Grassy Point Bait
Call to ask what bait is in today.
Bait shop in Palacios that also sells fishing licenses.
- Tackle shop
Grassy Point Kayak
412 Main Street, Palacios, TX 77465
Fishing kayak dealer and rental shop on Main Street that also sells fishing tackle; open Monday to Saturday, 9 to 6.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Palacios Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| 5th Day Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Veterans Outfitters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Third Coast Outdoors (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.
CCA Texas STAR Tournament (opens in a new tab)
Summer, coastwide (late May to Labor Day)
2026: May 23 to September 7
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Palacios, asked and answered
Can I fish Palacios without a boat?
Yes. Palacios has three free lighted fishing piers and lighted groins on the bayfront, open 24 hours a day, and the Pavilion pier is a wheelchair-accessible T-head.
Where can I launch a boat in Palacios?
The public ramps are Jensen Point Boat Ramp on Jensen Point Road, the East Bay Park ramp at 533 E Bay Blvd, and Carl Park off TX-521.
When is the best time for redfish and trout at Palacios?
May through August is the best stretch for trout and May through September for redfish, with fair fishing in spring and fall. Work the grass flats of Tres Palacios Bay and the grass lines of West Matagorda Bay.
When should I fish for flounder at Palacios?
Flounder are best from May through September, and fall is a local favorite. Texas closes flounder November 1 to December 14, so October is the last month of the fall run to keep fish.
Is red snapper open off Palacios right now?
Texas state waters are open all year. The 2026 federal season for private anglers opened May 22 and was still open as of October 23, 2026, while the federal for-hire season closed October 26, 2026. Check TPWD before you go.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Palacios
Sources for this guide (13), last checked 2026-10-27
- beachsidetx.com/things-to-do/fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/texas/palacios (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/texas/palacios/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- palacioschamber.com/business-directory-palacios/cat/sports-recreation/ (opens in a new tab)
- palacioschamber.com/recreation/ (opens in a new tab)
- startournament.org/ (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/red-snapper/ (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/2025-2026-and-2026-2027-gulf-america-rec (opens in a new tab)
- grassypointkayak.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- tdlr.texas.gov/TABS/Search/Print/TABS2021013486 (opens in a new tab)
- tdlr.texas.gov/TABS/Search/Print/TABS2025021452 (opens in a new tab)
- tdlr.texas.gov/TABS/Search/Print/TABS2025021454 (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Palacios
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.