Port guide / Upper Texas Coast / Texas

Sabine Pass fishing guide

Sabine Pass is the outlet of Sabine Lake, a big estuary where the Sabine and Neches Rivers meet on the Texas and Louisiana line. Locals fish the lake for trout, reds and flounder, work the marsh at Keith Lake and Texas Point, fish the long Sabine Pass jetties, and surf fish at Sea Rim State Park. In fall the flounder funnel through the pass on their way to the Gulf to spawn.

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, Texas Point, Sabine Pass, TX (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Cameron LA to High Island TX 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 Sabine Pass. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Sabine Pass. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Southern flounder	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Good	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Slow	Slow
Speckled trout	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good
Redfish	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good
Sheepshead	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good
Cobia (ling)	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Slow	Slow
Tarpon	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow

Southern flounder
Peak: October
Flounder gather near the Keith Lake fish pass and move out through Sabine Pass once the water drops below about 68 degrees, but the fishery is closed November 1 to December 14.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Speckled trout
Peak: September, October, November
Sabine Lake guides catch trout on lures all year by drifting or wading the lake.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Redfish
Peak: September, October, November
Reds roam Sabine Lake, Keith Lake and the bayous and marsh between them, and spring is a favorite time to sight cast to them with a fly.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: February, March
Sheepshead spawn near jetties and rock in late winter, so fish tight to the Sabine Pass jetty rocks.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Cobia (ling)
Peak: September, October
Ling hang around the nearshore gas platforms, and guides reported plenty of them inside Sabine Lake in the fall.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Peak: July, August
Summer tarpon roam the near offshore water between San Luis Pass and the mouth of the Sabine.
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.

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 closes 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 when the quota was reached.
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)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

You need a Texas fishing license with a saltwater endorsement to fish in state or federal saltwater, and to possess fish from federal waters in state waters.
Freshwater and saltwater license packages run from the date of sale to August 31.
A red drum over the slot can only be kept with a Red Drum Tag or Bonus Red Drum Tag; digital tags are reported in the Texas Hunt and Fish app.
A spotted seatrout over the slot can only be kept with a Spotted Seatrout Tag or Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag.
You do not need a fishing license to fish from shore inside a Texas state park.
Inland of a line across Sabine Pass between Texas Point and Louisiana Point, licensed residents of either Texas or Louisiana may fish, but fish landed in Texas must meet Texas bag and length limits.

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-26

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Bay
Sabine Lake
About 70,000 acres of estuary that is best known for flounder, redfish and speckled trout.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Jetty
Sabine Pass jetties
Pleasure Island offers one of the largest jetty systems in Texas, with piers and levees along the ship channel.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Marsh
Keith Lake and the Keith Lake fish pass
Marsh lake off Highway 87 where flounder stage in fall before running out through the pass.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Beach
Sea Rim State Park surf and marsh
Surf fish the beach or paddle the marsh trails, and shore fishing in the park needs no license.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Marsh
Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge
Nearly 9,000 acres of tidal marsh open at no charge for fishing and crabbing.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Offshore
Nearshore gas platforms
Close-in platforms in the Gulf that hold ling and tripletail.
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 Sabine Pass
Name	Type	Fee	Where
4 Pier Boat Launch (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	4701 Broadway Street, Sabine Pass, TX
Keith Lake Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	State Hwy 87, Port Arthur, TX 77640
Miracle Beach Boat Launch at Pleasure Island (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	3974 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Port Arthur, TX 77640
Sea Rim State Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	19335 S. Gulfway Drive, Sabine Pass, TX 77655

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 Sabine Pass
Shop	Where	Phone
Causeway Bait, Tackle and Grill (opens in a new tab)	3897 State Highway 82, Port Arthur, TX 77640	(409) 985-4811
Fish or Hunt Bait Shop (opens in a new tab)	3001 State Hwy 73, Port Arthur, TX	(409) 736-1900
Luck in a Bucket Bait Shop (opens in a new tab)	344 Highway 365, Port Arthur, TX	(409) 736-3486
Outkast Tackle and Arms (opens in a new tab)	5603 E Parkway St, Groves, TX	(409) 960-6866

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Sabine Pass
Charter	Fishing
Captain Randy's Guide Service (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Sabine Outdoors (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Have Boat Will Travel Guide Service (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Golden Hook Guide Service (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Sabine Lake Guide Service (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
Sabine Showdown Fishing Tournament (Lamar State College Port Arthur) (opens in a new tab)
usually early to mid September, weigh-in at the Carl Parker Multipurpose Center in Port Arthur
2026: September 12

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Sabine Pass, asked and answered

When is the flounder run at Sabine Pass?

Flounder gather near the Keith Lake fish pass and move out through Sabine Pass toward the Gulf once the water drops below about 68 degrees. Texas closes flounder November 1 to December 14, so October is the time to keep them.

Do I need a Louisiana license to fish Sabine Lake?

Inland of a line across Sabine Pass from Texas Point to Louisiana Point, a licensed resident of either Texas or Louisiana can fish, but fish landed in Texas must meet Texas bag and length limits.

Where can I fish Sabine Pass from shore?

Sea Rim State Park has surf and marsh fishing, and you need no license to fish from shore inside the park. Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge is open at no charge for fishing and crabbing, and the Sabine Pass jetties have piers and levees along the ship channel.

What can I catch on Sabine Lake?

The lake is best known for flounder, redfish and speckled trout, and guides catch all three on lures year round. In the fall guides have also found ling inside the lake.

90 ft, the kit