Port guide / Coastal Bend / Texas

Port Aransas fishing guide

Port Aransas sits at the north end of Mustang Island on the Aransas Pass, where the ship channel and jetties connect Corpus Christi and Aransas bays to the Gulf. That pass is what sets it apart: you get bay fishing for trout and reds, bull reds and sheepshead on the jetties, free piers on the channel, and a short run to the rigs and blue water for kingfish, snapper, mahi and billfish. It is the main offshore port on this stretch of coast.

Conditions now
What is biting
Seasons and rules
Where to fish
Ramps and piers
Bait and charters
Events
Questions

10 ft, conditions now

Conditions now

Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.

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.

NOAA tides, Port Aransas, TX (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Baffin Bay to Port Aransas out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

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

What is biting by month around Port Aransas. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Speckled trout	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak
Redfish	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak
Black drum	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak
Sheepshead	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak
Southern flounder	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Slow
King mackerel	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Slow	Slow	Slow
Cobia (ling)	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow
Red snapper	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Slow	Slow	Slow
Mahi mahi	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Slow	Slow	Slow
Tarpon	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow

Speckled trout
Peak: March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December
Bay trout are best in spring and again from late summer through fall, and some of the biggest fish come in the colder months.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Redfish
Peak: August, September, October, November, December
Bull reds stack up at the jetties in September and October, and slot reds are in the bays year round.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Black drum
Peak: January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December
Drum gather in the channels and around the jetties in the cooler months, and November is a strong month.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December
Fish the jetty rocks, docks and pilings, with February often the best of it.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Southern flounder
Peak: August, September, October, November
Fall is the time, but harvest is closed November 1 to December 14, so plan on keeping fish in September and October.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
King mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Kingfish show up nearshore in spring and stay through summer around the rigs and the jetty tips.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Cobia (ling)
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Ling cruise nearshore and around structure from late spring through summer.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Snapper are fished on offshore reefs and rigs during the federal season, and state waters are open to them year round.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Mahi mahi
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Summer blue water fish, usually found offshore around weedlines and rigs.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Peak: May, June, July, August
Summer fish off the beachfront and around the pass.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)

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); catch and release only during that window.
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 closes October 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
The 2026 recreational season opened September 1 and 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)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

You need a Texas fishing license with a saltwater endorsement to land fish in state or federal waters.
Texas state waters run out to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf; federal rules also apply past that line for federally managed species.
One red drum over the maximum length can be kept with a Red Drum Tag, and a second with a Bonus Red Drum Tag. Digital tags are reported in the Texas Hunt and Fish app.
One spotted seatrout over 28 inches can be kept with a Spotted Seatrout Tag (and one more with a Bonus tag), in addition to the daily bag.
Circle hooks are required when fishing natural bait for red snapper, and boats fishing federal waters must carry venting or descending gear for reef fish.

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-26

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Jetty
Port Aransas South Jetty
The local favorite for casting around the clock, and the place for bull reds in the fall.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Horace Caldwell Pier
Gulf pier with attendants; there is an admission fee and fishing licenses are not sold at the pier.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Charlie's Pasture Fishing Pier
Free pier along the ship channel inside the Nature Preserve at Charlie's Pasture.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Ancel Brundrett Pier (Station Street Pier)
Free pier at the north end of the island next to Cline's Landing on Station Street.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Channel
Roberts Point Park jetties and bulkhead
Fish the granite harbor jetties or the bulkhead around the park off the ferry landing.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Offshore
Nearshore jetties and oil rigs in state waters
Head boats run state water trips January through May to the jetties and rigs inside 9 miles.
Source (opens in a new tab)

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

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

Public boat ramps and fishing piers around Port Aransas
Name	Type	Fee	Where
Dennis Dreyer Municipal Harbor boat ramps (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	301 JC Barr Blvd., Port Aransas, TX 78373
Horace Caldwell Pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Paid	Port Aransas, TX
Roberts Point Park pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Free	Roberts Point Park, off the ferry landing, Port Aransas, TX
Ancel Brundrett Pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Free	Station St., Port Aransas, TX
Charlie's Pasture Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Free	Nature Preserve at Charlie's Pasture, Port Aransas, TX

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Local shops and guides. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle

Bait and tackle shops around Port Aransas
Shop	Where	Phone
Port A Outfitters (opens in a new tab)	126 West Cotter, Port Aransas, TX 78373	(361) 749-3474
Woody's Sports Center (live bait, ice, fuel) (opens in a new tab)

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Port Aransas
Charter	Fishing
Fisherman's Wharf (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Deep Sea Headquarters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Come and Take It Sport Fishing (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Kramer Fishing Charters (Capt. Kenny Kramer) (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.

Deep Sea Roundup (opens in a new tab)
usually mid July
2026: July 9 to 12 (90th Roundup, Port Aransas Civic Center)
Texas Legends Billfish Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually early August
2026: August 5 to 9
Texas Women Anglers Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually August
Billfish Pachanga (opens in a new tab)
summer

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Port Aransas, asked and answered

When do bull reds run at the Port Aransas jetties?

September and October, when bull reds stack up at the jetties. The South Jetty is the local favorite for them in the fall.

Which piers in Port Aransas are free?

Roberts Point Park pier, the Ancel Brundrett (Station Street) Pier and the Charlie's Pasture pier are free. Horace Caldwell Pier charges admission, and fishing licenses are not sold at the pier.

Can I fish red snapper from Port Aransas right now?

State waters are open to red snapper year round. The federal private angler season opened May 22, 2026 and was still open as of October 23, 2026, while the federal for-hire season closes October 26, 2026.

Where do I launch a boat in Port Aransas?

The city's Dennis Dreyer Municipal Harbor at 301 JC Barr Blvd. has the public boat ramps.

When are the big Port Aransas tournaments?

The Deep Sea Roundup runs July 9 to 12, 2026, and Texas Legends Billfish runs August 5 to 9, 2026. The Texas Women Anglers Tournament is usually in August.

90 ft, the kit