Best Times & Seasons to Catch Mackerel in Texas
Mackerel (both king and Spanish) are some of the most popular fish to target in Texas. Knowing the best times and seasons to catch mackerel in Texas helps anglers maximize the success of their fishing trips.
The best time to catch mackerel in Texas is during the late spring through early fall, especially in the morning and late afternoon.
Texas offers world-class mackerel fishing throughout the year. Mackerel can be found in Texas’s open waters, near jetties, and underwater structures like reefs and drop-offs.
Dive into this detailed guide highlighting the optimal fishing times in Texas.
Best Times to Catch Mackerel in Texas
The best time to catch King Mackerel in Texas is from late spring to early fall, especially between May and September. For Spanish Mackerel, you have a good chance from late spring to early winter, roughly from April to November. You’ll find more King Mackerel in deeper ocean areas, while Spanish Mackerel are often closer to the shore. Early morning and late afternoon are great times to fish for both types.
Spanish Mackerel
In Texas, the best time to catch Spanish Mackerel is from late spring to early winter, so think about going fishing between April and November. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times of day to try. You can usually find them near the shore, especially near rivers flowing into the ocean.
King Mackerel
The best time to catch King Mackerel in Texas is from late spring to early fall, so you might want to plan your fishing trip between May and September. The fish are often found in deeper waters away from the shore. Early morning is a great time to fish for them, especially if you use live bait like small fish or squid.
Check out this helpful guide to the best spots for striped bass in Texas. You may also be interested in this article on the fishing for snook in the best times.
Seasonal Breakdown: Texas Mackerel
Winter
In winter, catching mackerel in Texas waters can be a bit challenging. The fish often move to deeper waters when it’s cold. You’ll have better luck where rivers pour into the sea. Late morning to early afternoon is usually the best time to fish in winter because the water is a bit warmer.
Spring
You can find mackerel in Texas waters in spring, especially in April and May. They like to swim where the water is a little deeper, away from the shore and where rivers flow into the ocean. Fishing in the morning and evening is a good idea because mackerel are most active. Use lures or live bait like shrimp to get their attention.
Summer
In Texas, you can catch mackerel in the summer, especially in June and July. Because it’s hot, mackerel move to deeper water to stay cool. Try fishing away from places where rivers join the ocean. Early morning and late evening are the best times to fish because it’s cooler and mackerel come closer to the surface.
Fall
If you want to catch mackerel in Texas during the fall, late September and October are good months to try. This is because mackerel like cooler water, and the temperature starts to drop around this time. You’ll find them in deep water away from rivers flowing into the ocean. Early mornings or late afternoons are usually the best times to fish.
Best & Worst Time/Tides of Day
The best time to fish is usually early morning or late afternoon. Mackerel are most active during these times. High tide is another good time to fish, especially a few hours before or after it peaks. This is when the water moves a lot, bringing more fish near the shore.
Now for the not-so-great times: Middle of the day when the sun is bright is usually not the best for mackerel fishing. They don’t like the hot sun and often swim deeper into the water. Low tide can also be tough because the fish move away from the shallows.
Try fishing where rivers flow into the ocean for a better chance of catching mackerel. So remember, early morning, late afternoon, and high tide are your best bets for a successful mackerel fishing trip in Texas.
Night Fishing for Texas Mackerel
The best times at night are usually right after sunset and just before sunrise. Fish near spots where a river flows into the ocean for a better chance at catching some. However, the middle of the night can be less successful because mackerel might go to deeper waters.
Recommended Fishing Guides in Texas
These Texas-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and will put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Grace Fishing Charters | Galveston, TX |
| Drift Water Charters | South Padre Island, TX |
| The Bay Bandits | Port O’Connor, TX |
| Galveston Offshore | Galveston, TX |
| Lil Joe’s Guide Service | Port Aransas, TX |
| Bravo Zulu Fishing Charters | Galveston, TX |
| Team Liberty Guide Service | Corpus Christi, TX |
| SeaPlay Sportfishing | Galveston, TX |
| Bodes Bay Fishing | Port Isabel, TX |
Top Texas Mackerel Locations
Galveston: Summer is the best season for mackerel fishing here. Early morning or late afternoon is ideal, especially when the tide is coming in.
Corpus Christi: Spring and fall offer good mackerel fishing. Go out when the tide changes to get the best results.
Port Aransas: In late spring and early summer, mackerel are plentiful. Fish near the jetties for the best luck.
South Padre Island: Fall is a good time for mackerel. Try fishing close to where the water gets deep for good results.
Freeport: Summer is the prime time for mackerel. Look for spots where the sea floor changes, like sandbars or drop-offs.
Rockport: Early fall is good for mackerel fishing. Fish in areas where the water changes from shallow to deep.
Matagorda: Spring and fall are great seasons. Fish around the mouths of inlets for the best catch.
Port Mansfield: Summer is the ideal season. Look for areas where the current flows strongly to find mackerel.
Port Isabel: Late spring is an excellent time. Fish in areas where you see birds diving, as this often indicates fish below.
Aransas Pass: Fall is the best season, especially during tide changes. Fish close to underwater structures like reefs or rocks.
Texas Mackerel & Weather
Weather plays a big role in how easy or hard it is to catch mackerel in Texas. On sunny days, mackerel might swim to deeper water, making them harder to catch. Cloudy days are better because the fish are more likely to swim in shallower areas.
Rain can be both good and bad. Light rain might make mackerel more active, but heavy rain can make the water muddy and that’s not good for fishing. Windy days can also stir up the water and make it hard for you and the fish to see.
Cold fronts in winter can make mackerel move to deeper water, but once the weather warms up, they usually come back to areas where rivers join the ocean. Storms usually make fishing difficult because they can change the water currents.
Texas Mackerel Spawning Seasons
In Texas, King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel have different times for laying eggs, also known as spawning. King Mackerel usually spawn from May to October in the open ocean. On the other hand, Spanish Mackerel spawn from April to November.
They also lay their eggs in the ocean, but closer to the coast. Both kinds of mackerel like to spawn in places where the ocean is deep, far from where rivers flow into the sea. You might see more mackerel near the water’s surface during these months.
