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Port guide / Upper Texas Coast / Texas
San Leon fishing guide
San Leon is a small peninsula on the west shore of Galveston Bay at Eagle Point, between Dickinson Bay and the open bay, which puts it close to a lot of shell reefs, gas well pads and drift water. Texas City next door is a walk-on dike town; San Leon is a launch town, built around fishing camps and ramps like Eagle Point Fishing Camp, open since 1929, and April Fool Point. Boats run short hops to reefs like Todd's Dump and Redfish Reef, drift the wells for trout with live shrimp under a cork, and reach Trinity Bay and Moses Lake easily.
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 San Leon. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Eagle Point, Galveston Bay, TX (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Galveston Bay (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on San Leon. 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 San Leon 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 San Leon. 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 |
| Black drum | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Southern flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Blacktip shark | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Bull shark | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Speckled trout
Peak: May, June, July, August
Run to the gas wells and drift scattered shell in 3 to 5 feet next to deeper water with live shrimp under a popping cork, and move wells if you keep catching throwbacks.
Redfish
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
The most sought species out of San Leon, caught on the same reef and well trips as the trout.
Black drum
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Drum bite on the bottom around the wells, even on a slack tide when the trout shut off.
Southern flounder
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Second on the list of most sought species here, but Texas closes flounder November 1 to December 14.
Sheepshead
Peak: May, June, July, August
A bottom fish that keeps biting around the well pads on slack water, along with drum and gafftop.
Blacktip shark
In the bay from March through November and one of the top five species San Leon guides target.
Bull shark
Shown as fishable all year on the San Leon guide calendar; summer reds-and-sharks trips are offered here.
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
- Reef
Todd's Dump
A shell reef just out from Eagle Point, one of the area reefs that hold fish through much of the year.
- Reef
Redfish Reef
A noted reef near the ship channel where fish gather.
- Reef
Gas wells and platforms off San Leon
Fish the shell pads around the wells on moving tide for trout, and switch to bottom baits for drum and sheepshead on slack water.
- Bay
Dickinson Bay and Dickinson Bayou
The bay and bayou beside San Leon, called well-kept secrets among seasoned local anglers.
- Flats
April Fool Point and Cat Point
Shoreline points around the peninsula listed among the local spots to work.
- Channel
HL&P Spillway at Bayshore Park
The spillway next to Bayshore Park in Bacliff, named among the San Leon area spots.
- Bay
Trinity Bay
Easily reached from the San Leon ramps when the main bay is not producing.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Point Fishing Camp boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 101 1st Street, San Leon, TX 77539 |
| April Fool Point boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 815 Avenue O, San Leon, TX 77539 |
| Bayshore Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 5437 FM 646, Bacliff, TX 77518 |
| Bacliff Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | FM 646, Bacliff, TX 77518 |
| Dickinson Bayou Boat Ramp (Hwy 146) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Hwy 146, Dickinson, TX 77539 |
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 (4)
Showing all 4 shops
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Eagle Point Fishing Camp
Bait: live shrimp, live croaker, dead bait
101 1st Street, San Leon, TX 77539
Full service camp on the bay since 1929 with a boat ramp, gas dock, tackle shop, RV park and fresh Galveston Bay eating shrimp.
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Boyd's One Stop
Bait: live shrimp, live croaker, live mullet, mud minnows, live crabs, dead croaker, shad, dead mullet, dead crab, squid, dead shrimp
227 Dike Rd, Texas City, TX 77590
Open 24/7 at the base of the Texas City Dike, south of San Leon; look for the flag or call the daily live bait price recording.
- MarinaLive bait
Marina Bay Harbor Ship Store
Bait: live shrimp, frozen bait, finger mullet, squid, shrimp, croaker
323 W 6th St, Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565
Ship store on Clear Lake, north of San Leon, selling live and frozen bait, fuel and ice; opens at 6 a.m. Friday to Sunday.
- Bait shop
April Fool Point Marina bait house
815 Avenue O, San Leon, TX 77539
Seasonal bait house at April Fool Point Marina, next to Topwater Grill.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Salty Hooker Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Reel Smooth Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Second Chance Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Fresh N Salty Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Steel Salty 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.
Boyd's One Stop Bull Red Tournament (opens in a new tab)
fall; the 2026 leaderboard is posted on the Boyd's tournaments page
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 San Leon, asked and answered
Where can I launch a boat in San Leon?
Eagle Point Fishing Camp at 101 1st Street has a boat ramp, and April Fool Point at 815 Avenue O is another ramp on the peninsula. Galveston County also lists the Bayshore and Bacliff ramps on FM 646 and a Dickinson Bayou ramp at Highway 146.
Where do I get live bait in San Leon?
Eagle Point Fishing Camp sells live shrimp and croakers plus dead bait and tackle. April Fool Point Marina has a seasonal bait house, and Boyd's One Stop at the Texas City Dike is open 24/7.
How do locals catch trout at the San Leon wells?
Be there when the tide starts moving, drift the shell pads around the wells with live shrimp under a popping cork, and move to another well if you keep catching undersized trout. On slack tide, switch to bottom baits for drum and sheepshead.
When is the best time to fish San Leon for speckled trout?
May through August is the peak on the San Leon guide calendar, with fair fishing in March, April, September and October.
Can I keep flounder in San Leon in November?
No. Texas closes the flounder fishery November 1 to December 14 with a bag limit of zero.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to San Leon
Sources for this guide (16), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/fishing-reports/locations/texas/san-leon (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/texas/san-leon (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/texas/san-leon/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- galvestoncountytx.gov/our-county/advanced-components/list-detail-pages/facility-directory- (opens in a new tab)
- marinabayharbor.com/ship-store/ (opens in a new tab)
- startournament.org/ (opens in a new tab)
- topwatergrill.com (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)
- boydsonestop.com/boydsonestop (opens in a new tab)
- boydsonestop.com/tournaments (opens in a new tab)
- eaglepointfishingcamp.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- eaglepointfishingcamp.com/1/feed (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/2025-2026-and-2026-2027-gulf-america-rec (opens in a new tab)
- galvnews.com/sports/fishing_report/san-leon-a-hot-spot-for-anglers/article_07fbcce1-823f-5 (opens in a new tab)
- howsyourriver.com/access_sites/april-fool-point (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for San Leon
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.