Save $10.00
Port guide / Upper Texas Coast / Texas
Port Lavaca fishing guide
Port Lavaca sits on Lavaca Bay at the top of the Matagorda Bay system, with Chocolate, Cox and Keller bays and the Lavaca River all close by. Palacios, the nearest guide, faces open Matagorda Bay across the water, while Port Lavaca is an upper-bay town: lighted piers, wade flats and river marsh for black drum, reds, trout and night flounder gigging, with the Gulf about 30 miles away. Most offshore trips leave from Port O'Connor, so locals here fish the bay, the piers at Lighthouse Beach and Bayfront Peninsula Park, and Six Mile Park up the bay.
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 Port Lavaca. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Port Lavaca, 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 Port Lavaca. 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 Lavaca Bay fishing 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 Port Lavaca. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black drum | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Speckled trout | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak |
| Southern flounder | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak |
| Tarpon | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Jack crevalle | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
Black drum
Peak: February, March
Big pre-spawn drum stack in the deeper bay water in February and March, and smaller drum hit fresh bait from the piers and banks most of the year.
Redfish
Peak: September, October, November
Waders find reds on the shallow grass flats, and fall brings bull reds, with October a peak month.
Speckled trout
Peak: January, February, December
Trout hold on grass beds in summer and slide to deeper bay water in winter, and they bite best early and late in the day.
Southern flounder
Peak: September, October
Night gigging in the shallows on a calm incoming tide is the local tradition, but Texas closes flounder November 1 to December 14.
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, December
A winter fish around the piers and shell, and a favorite for kids.
Tarpon
Peak: August, September, October
Tarpon show up in August and stay through fall, and October is rated a peak month.
Jack crevalle
Peak: April, May
Jacks push into the shallows in spring and are still around in October.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: June, July, August
Mackerel arrive with summer and are a trolling target.
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 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)
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)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Bay
Lavaca Bay
The home bay, well suited to kayaks, with the quieter upper bay the place to go when the town end is crowded.
- Pier
Fishing Pier Park at Lighthouse Beach
A town pier next to the Bird Sanctuary and Lighthouse Beach, with a fish cleaning station and restrooms.
- Pier
Bayfront Peninsula Park
Downtown bayfront park with a pier and fish cleaning station that is set up well for night fishing.
- Pier
Six Mile Park
A 2-acre day-use park on Lavaca Bay with a lighted pier, boat ramps, rip-rap shoreline and marsh.
- Marsh
Garcitas Cove
Upper bay water near Six Mile Park and the Lavaca River that is best fished from a kayak, with some wading.
- Channel
Lavaca River
River banks and neighboring marsh suit waders, bank anglers and kayaks.
- Reef
Bauer Reef
A wading spot for reds and trout; ask locals how to reach it without trespassing.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighthouse Beach boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 700 Lighthouse Beach Rd, Port Lavaca, TX 77979 |
| Bayfront Peninsula Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 725 E Railroad St, Port Lavaca, TX 77979 |
| Six Mile Park ramps and lighted pier (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | End of Park Road off FM 1090, about 6 miles north of TX 35, Port Lavaca, TX |
| Fishing Pier Park pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | Lighthouse Beach, Port Lavaca, TX 77979 |
| Indianola Fishing Marina launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 8 Bell St, Port Lavaca, TX 77979 |
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 (1)
- MarinaLive bait
Indianola Fishing Marina
Bait: live bait
8 Bell St, Port Lavaca, TX 77979
At the mouth of Powderhorn Bayou at Indianola, with a boat launch, live bait and tackle, restaurant and RV hookups, open 7 days a week.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Fish On! Texas Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Mid Coast Bay Fishing (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Second To None Charters (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 Port Lavaca, asked and answered
Where can I fish Port Lavaca from a pier?
Try Fishing Pier Park by Lighthouse Beach, which has restrooms and a cleaning station, the pier at Bayfront Peninsula Park, which is good for night fishing, or the lighted pier at Six Mile Park on Lavaca Bay, about 6 miles up FM 1090.
When are the big black drum in Lavaca Bay?
February and March, when big pre-spawn black drum stack up in the deeper bay water. Smaller drum hit fresh bait from the piers and banks most of the year.
Can I gig flounder at Port Lavaca?
Night gigging in the shallows on a calm incoming tide is a local favorite, and September and October are the best months. Texas closes flounder entirely November 1 to December 14.
Where do I get live bait near Port Lavaca?
Indianola Fishing Marina at the mouth of Powderhorn Bayou sells live bait and tackle and has a boat launch, open 7 days a week; call (361) 676-7452 to ask what is in the tanks.
Which tide station and marine forecast cover Port Lavaca?
NOAA's Port Lavaca station (8773259) gives tide predictions plus water temperature and wind. The bay forecast is NWS zone GMZ330, Matagorda Bay.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Port Lavaca
Sources for this guide (11), last checked 2026-10-27
- business.portoconnorchamber.com/list/member/indianola-fishing-marina-425 (opens in a new tab)
- fishingbooker.com/blog/fishing-in-port-lavaca/ (opens in a new tab)
- fishingbooker.com/charters/view/35015 (opens in a new tab)
- fishingbooker.com/destinations/location/us/TX/port-lavaca (opens in a new tab)
- startournament.org/ (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wildlife/wildlife-trails/ctc/calhoun-loop (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)
- howsyourriver.com/access_sites/bayfront-peninsula-park (opens in a new tab)
- howsyourriver.com/access_sites/lighthouse-beach (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Port Lavaca
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.