Best Times & Seasons to Fish Near Port Arthur (Full Guide)
Port Arthur is one of the best fishing spots on the Gulf Coast. Knowing the best seasons and times of day to fish in Port Arthur can make a huge difference for your fishing success.
The best time to fish near Port Arthur is from August through November for largemouth bass, flounder, redfish, and speckled trout. Black drum and sheepshead are best fished for December through April.
| Fish Species | Best Season to Fish Near Port Arthur |
| Redfish | August through December is the best fishing window. |
| Flounder | September through November is the hottest window for flounder fishing. |
| Speckled Trout | The best fishing time is July through December. |
| Sheepshead | The best fishing time is December through April. |
| Black Drum | December through April is the best fishing window for black drum near Port Arthur. |
| Largemouth Bass | Year-round availability; fishing is best in spring and fall. |
Port Arthur is a popular fishing destination. The area offers 367 miles of coastline and provides anglers with easy access to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The area is well-known among fishermen for its unique ecosystem, diversity of fish, and strong fishing community. The Port Arthur area attracts so many anglers from different parts of the United States. Click here to find out the best periods for fishing in Texas.
Best Time to Fish Port Arthur
A fishing trip in Port Arthur always requires meticulous planning. A well-planned fishing trip increases the chances of anglers for success. That’s why you have to decide when it’s best to go fishing in the area.
It’s crucial for anglers to know what species of fish they are going to target during their trips. After that, it’s necessary to study bite times for these species of fish.
Actually, it’s possible to enjoy fishing in Port Arthur all year round. However, some fish species are active during certain times of years only. That’s why you have to take advantage of the fishing times calendar to decide when to go fishing in Port Arthur.
Would you like to enjoy redfish fishing in Port Arthur? If so, it makes sense to visit the area between April and November.
Let’s say that you want to catch a large speckled trout in Port Arthur. In this case, it would be great to fish the area during the spring months.
Or, maybe, you are interested in targeting flounder? The best time of the year to enjoy flounder fishing in the area is between the late summer and the early fall.
Check out this helpful guide to the best fishing times for Matagorda. You may also be interested in this article on the best times for Port Isabel fishing.
Port Arthur Species Breakdown: Best Time
It’s worth noting that fishing is very productive in the Port Arthur area. Here, anglers often catch many species of fish. The area provides fishermen with a year-round opportunity. Now, we’ll tell you about species of fish that you can catch in Port Arthur.
Redfish
Anglers can enjoy redfish fishing in Port Arthur. The season to catch redfish starts in August and lasts till November. Fishermen, who target redfish, usually get the best results during these months.
Sabine Lake is the ideal fishing spot to catch redfish in the area. Oftentimes, redfish can be found near bridges and wrecks. So, it makes sense to fish in these places. Redfish bites well in the morning.
Flounder
Port Arthur offers great opportunities for fishermen, who want to catch flounder. Flounder can be found near docks, piers, rocks, and reef areas. It would be better to target flounder in the canals that connect to Sabine Lake.
Here, founder fishing opportunities are always high. Flounder actively feeds between October and November. It’s a good idea to fish flounder in either early morning or late afternoon.
Speckled trout
Speckled trout feeds on shrimps. So, anglers should aim to target the areas where shrimp are abundant. For example, you can try to catch speckled trout in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s possible to fish for speckled trout all year round. The fish actively fish during the evening time.
Black drum
Many anglers prefer to catch black drum in Port Arthur. The fish gives a preference to the spots with current and structures. Black drum can be found in bays, channels, or in the areas near piers and bridges.
Black drum is a good fighter and that’s why catching it is always a big pleasure. The season for fishing black drum is high in February and March. Port Arthur Reservoir is the best place to fish for black drum in the area.
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass are well-known for its explosive force. So, catching this fish is very exciting. You can catch largemouth bass any time of the year. It would be great to catch largemouth bass in the Sabine River. The fish actively feeds around dawn and dusk.
Alligator gar
Some anglers choose to catch alligator gar in Port Arthur. The fish impresses with its huge size. Alligator gar is a strong fish and catching it can be hard. Only highly experienced anglers can catch alligator gar.
The best time of year to fish for alligator gar is the late summer. McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge is the best fishing spot to target alligator gar.
Blue catfish
Blue catfish is a beautiful fish with a forked tail. The season to fish for blue catfish starts in late March and lasts till early May. McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge is one of the top fishing spots to target blue catfish in the Port Arthur area. It’s recommended to go fishing either 2 hours after sunrise or an hour before sunset.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead is also known as sea bream. The fish has impressive teeth. The season to fish for sheepshead in Port Arthur starts in December and lasts till April. You should aim to target sheepshead in the south part of Sabine Lake. Sheepshead can be found in the areas near jetties.
Tripletail
Tripletail fishing is incredibly popular in the Port Arthur area. The season to fish tripletail in Port Arthur starts in the spring and ends in the fall. Anglers should go to Sabine Lake to enjoy tripletail fishing. The best time of day to go fishing is between 10 and 2 o’clock.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Port Arthur
These Port Arthur-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to 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 | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Sabine Outdoors | Inshore & Nearshore |
| Bigguns Guide Service | Inshore & Nearshore |
| Have Boat Will Travel Guide Service | Inshore & Nearshore |
| Tidal Charters LLC | Inshore & Nearshore |
| Hackberry Guide Service | Inshore & Nearshore |
Best Time of Day to Fish Port Arthur
The vast majority of anglers in Port Arthur choose to go fishing in the early mornings. There are also anglers, who prefer to fish in the late evenings.
It’s up to you to decide when is the best time of day to fish Port Arthur. Do you like to wake up earlier? If so, give a preference to morning fishing. Or, maybe, you find it difficult to wake up in the morning? In this case, you should give a preference to fishing in evening times.
Your choice also all depends a lot on the time of the year. It would be better to fish in the early mornings during the summer months. When the weather is hot, water will cool down in the morning and this will have a positive impact on the activity of fish.
On the other hand, you should go fishing in the late evenings during the cold months. The water is cold in the morning. However, fish start feeding actively in the late evenings when the water warms up.
Port Arthur Fishing & Tidal Impacts
When planning a fishing trip to Port Arthur, you need to take into account the local tide times. Anglers need to know when high tides and low tides are in the area. There is a direct link between tide times and fish feeding times.
Anglers should plan their fishing trips with Port Arthur tide times in mind. It would be great to fish Port Arthur either during high to low or during low to high tide times. Fish actively feed when the tide is running. Water brings food sources closer to shore and this has a positive impact on fish activity. Fish bite well during these times.
Storms & Port Arthur Fishing
Anglers should always study weather forecasts carefully when planning a fishing trip to Port Arthur. It’s dangerous to fish during storms. That’s the reason why fishing in the middle of storms should be avoided.
It’s also important to note that storms negatively affect fish behavior. Fish usually go to deep waters and stay inactive during storms. However, fish often bite well before and after storms. So, try to go fishing during these times.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Port Arthur?
Winter is a great time of the year to catch flounder. Visit Port Arthur to enjoy flounder fishing during the winter months. Fishermen can also catch black drum, trout, and redfish in the winter.
Night Fishing in Port Arthur
Port Arthur also offers great opportunities to those folks, who prefer to fish at night. The truth is some anglers find it comfortable to fish in Port Arthur at night. It’s a good idea to fish on piers at night. Keep in mind that a lot of piers are lighted for night fishing.
Also, you can do kayak fishing at night. During the night fishing adventures, anglers have a good chance to catch a big fish. Among fish you can catch at night are flounder, reds, and specs.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Shore fishing is always excellent in Port Arthur. There are many places where anglers can enjoy fishing from the shore in the area. Anglers can do surf fishing on beaches and piers.
Sea Rim State Park is one of the best places to enjoy shore fishing in the area. Here, you can fish from shore all year round. However, shore fishing in the area is the most productive between April and September.
Top 5 Fishing Spots in Port Arthur
There are plenty of fishing spots in Port Arthur and its surrounding areas. Here, we’ll review the best spots where fishing is the most productive. So, you’ll know what fish species you can catch here as well as the best bite times for these species of fish.
Sabine Lake
Sabine Lake is the place where the two rivers Neches and Sabine merge into one. The length of the lake is 14 miles and the width of the lake is 7 miles. Here, you can enjoy fishing as well as boating activities.
It’s the ideal place for kayak fishing. Among the most common fish species that you can catch here are: flounder, redfish as well as speckled trout. It’s possible to fish in Sabine Lake all year round.
Sabine Pass
Sabine Pass is another place that anglers should visit during their Port Arthur fishing trip. The neighborhood is located on the west bank of the Sabine River. Sabine Pass is close to Sabine Lake and Keith Lake.
The place provides anglers with great inshore and offshore opportunities. Sabine Pass is best-known for its rocks, reefs and shipwrecks. Here, anglers can take advantage of the world-class amenities and get a fantastic fishing experience.
When fishing in Sabine Pass you can catch black drum, red drum, catfish, flounder, redfish, seatrout, sheepshead, and other species of fish.
Anglers can go to Sabine Pass to enjoy fishing at any time of the year. Fishing is the most productive in the early mornings and late evenings.
McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge
Many anglers choose to go to this place to enjoy fishing. Here, anglers can get easy access to the Gulf of Mexico. Alligator gar, blue catfish, flounder, red drum, and other species of fish can be caught in this spot. The best time of year to fish here is between April and October. Fishing is the most productive during these months.
Pleasure Island
Pleasure Island is known for its parks. It’s the ideal place to enjoy fishing from piers. This fishing spot attracts so many anglers, who are interested in targeting trout. Here, you will manage to catch different species of trout including brown trout, brook trout as well as rainbow trout. Here, fishing is productive year-round, but anglers have a better chance to catch a big fish in the late spring. The best times of day to fish here are early morning and late afternoon.
Sea Rim State Park
Sea Rim State Park attracts so many anglers, who prefer to fish from shore. The park provides anglers with easy access to the rich waters of the Gulf Coast. It’s the place where you can catch such species of fish as black drum, red drum, and trout. Actually, you can enjoy fishing at Sea Rim State Park any time of the year. However, anglers usually get the best results during the fall months.
Booking Charters in Port Arthur
Port Arthur is a fishing destination where anglers can always book a trip and get a fantastic experience. However, it’s incredibly important to fish in the right place and at the right time. Now, we’ll tell you everything that you need to know about booking charters in Port Arthur.
Best season to go
The fishing season in Port Arthur is high between March and December. It’s worth noting that fishing is the most productive at this time of the year. Anglers can catch a variety of fish species such as black drum, flounders, trout, redfish as well as sharks during these months. The demand for fishing is usually high in summer. So, you can go to Port Arthur in the spring or in the fall. The demand is lower, but opportunities are great during these months.
Morning vs. afternoon
Fishing in Port Arthur is the most productive in the morning during the summer months. However, mornings are not suitable for those anglers who don’t like to wake up early. They should go fishing during the afternoon.
Anglers don’t need to wake up early if they give a preference to afternoon fishing. Afternoon time is more suitable if you choose to go fishing during the cold months. The water warms up later during the day and fishing is becoming more productive.
1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
Different types of fishing trips are available for anglers in the Port Arthur area. Each option has its own pros and cons.
If you are fishing on a budget, then a half-day fishing trip is worth considering. It’s the cheapest option. In this case, you will fish either in the morning or in the afternoon.
You can consider a full-day trip if you want to spend more time fishing. However, you must be prepared that full-day fishing trips are more expensive.
Some anglers want to spend even more time fishing. If the budget allows, then you can book multi-day fishing charters. Such fishing trips will make it possible for you to get the most out of fishing in Port Arthur.
