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Port guide / Coastal Bend / Texas
Riviera and Baffin Bay fishing guide
Riviera and Riviera Beach sit on the west end of Baffin Bay, about 20 minutes south of Kingsville, with Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Park, Cayo del Grullo and Drum Point close by. Baffin has no major freshwater inflow and no open pass to the Gulf, so its water runs saltier than other Texas bays, and its rocky Serpulid worm reefs and shallow flats are known for trophy speckled trout and bull reds. Compared with Corpus Christi, the nearest existing guide, there are no jetties, piers on the Gulf or pass fishing here: this is wade and drift fishing over rocks and grass, and winter into early spring is trout season.
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 Riviera and Baffin Bay. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Bob Hall Pier, Corpus Christi, TX (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Baffin Bay, TX (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Baffin Bay and Upper Laguna Madre (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Riviera and Baffin Bay. 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 Baffin Bay 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 Riviera and Baffin Bay. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled trout | Peak | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Peak |
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Black drum | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Southern flounder | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Slow | Slow |
Speckled trout
Peak: January, February, March, December
Baffin's signature fish; winter through early spring is prime as trout feed ahead of the spawn, and in fall they hold in heavy grass near deeper water.
Redfish
Peak: September, October, November
Wade the shallow flats and rocks all year; in fall, schools of bull reds run the passages and gold spoons work.
Black drum
Reliable in the shallower water along the rocks and grass flats.
Southern flounder
Peak: October
Flounder start moving in October, but Texas closes flounder November 1 to December 14.
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)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Reef
Baffin Bay rocks (Serpulid reefs)
Ancient Serpulid worm rock formations that give the bay its structure and hold trout, reds and drum; Baffin has the last active Serpulid reef on the Gulf Coast.
- Pier
Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Park pier
Lighted fishing pier on the bay near Loyola Beach, the easiest way to fish Baffin without a boat.
- Bay
Drum Point
Remote overlook on Cayo del Grullo off CR 1132 on an unpaved caliche road; best during spring and fall migrations and slick after rain.
- Flats
Site 55
Shoreline wade fishing access on the south edge of the bay near Riviera, best on calm days because wind hits this open shore hard.
- Flats
King Ranch shoreline
Guides finished limits on a late afternoon bite along this shoreline in October 2026.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | FM 628 near Loyola Beach, Kleberg County, TX |
| Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Park lighted pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | FM 628 near Loyola Beach, Kleberg County, TX |
| FM 1140 boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | FM 1140 on Cayo del Grullo, Kleberg County, TX |
| Riviera Beach Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | Riviera Beach, 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 (3)
Showing all 3 shops
- StoreLive bait
Brown's Convenience Store
Bait: live shrimp, mullet, squid
Near Riviera Beach; sells ethanol free fuel for boat motors, bait and basic supplies.
- Store
Baffin Bay Convenience Store
548 S County Road 1140, Riviera, TX 78379
Bait and tackle store near the water that also sells fuel, boat supplies, food and drinks.
- Bait shop
Smithwick's Bait Shop
943 E FM 628, Riviera, TX
Behind The Reel Baffin Bay Country Store on FM 628.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Gilbert's Guide Services (Capt. Gilbert Barrera) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Baffin Bay Hunting and Fishing (Capt. Mark Franklin) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Captain Sally Black (opens in a new tab) | Fly |
| Paradise Guide Services (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Baffin Guide Service (Capt. Lance Self) (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); Kingsville tourism notes many of the tournament's top trophy trout have come from Baffin Bay
2026: May 23 to September 7
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Riviera and Baffin Bay, asked and answered
When is the best time to catch a big trout in Baffin Bay?
Winter through early spring is prime, when trout feed hard ahead of the spring spawn. Wading and drifting the rocks and grass flats are the usual ways locals fish for them.
Can I fish Baffin Bay without a boat?
Yes. Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Park near Loyola Beach has a lighted fishing pier on the bay, and Site 55 near Riviera and Drum Point on Cayo del Grullo are shoreline access points. Wind has a big effect on the open shoreline at Site 55.
Where do I launch a boat near Riviera?
Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Park near Loyola Beach has a boat ramp, and there is a public ramp on FM 1140 on Cayo del Grullo.
Where can I get bait near Riviera?
Kingsville tourism says Brown's Convenience Store near Riviera Beach sells live shrimp, mullet and squid plus ethanol free fuel. Baffin Bay Convenience Store on County Road 1140 and Smithwick's Bait Shop on FM 628 also sell bait; call ahead.
Why is Baffin Bay different from other Texas bays?
It has no major freshwater inflow and no open pass to the Gulf, so the water is saltier than most bays, and its rocky Serpulid worm reefs give fish structure you do not find elsewhere on the Texas coast.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Riviera and Baffin Bay
Sources for this guide (6), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/fishing-reports/locations/regions/baffin-bay (opens in a new tab)
- kingsvilletexas.com/outdoors-nature/fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- startournament.org/ (opens in a new tab)
- thelandingatrivierabeach.lodgify.com/es/pesca (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits/flou (opens in a new tab)
- howsyourriver.com/access_sites/fm-1140 (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Riviera and Baffin Bay
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.