Best Times & Seasons to Fish Texas (Freshwater & Saltwater)
Texas offers some of the best fishing in the world for largemouth bass, redfish, flounder, catfish, crappie, and many other species. Understanding the best seasons and times to fish in the Lone Star State can make a huge difference in your success.
Great fishing is available year-round in Texas in both freshwater and saltwater. The best times to fish in Texas are from February to May and from September to November.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish in Texas |
| Largemouth Bass | Year-round availability; spring & fall offer the best fishing. |
| King Mackerel | April-October is the best. January-March tends to be slow fishing. |
| Spanish Mackerel | Year-round availability; August to December is the best time. |
| Sheepshead | Year-round availability; March & April is the best time. |
| Speckled Trout | Year-round availability; October to March is the best time. |
| Black Drum | Year-round availability; December to March is the best time. |
| Flounder | Year-round availability with fall offering the best fishing. |
| Jack Crevalle | Year-round availability; May to August is the best time. |
| Sharks | Summer is the best; year-round availability depends on species. |
Best Times to Fish in Texas (Species Breakdown)
Largemouth bass: In spring, head to Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Lake Fork, Toledo Bend, or any of the best great bass lakes for some of the best largemouth fishing in the world. Early morning will boost your results. Bass are available year-round but spring and fall tend to offer the best fishing.
Speckled trout: December in Baffin Bay is world-class sea trout fishing late afternoon is the best time to go after a speck. Late fall through early spring is best for speckled trout in Texas waters.
Redfish: September along the Gulf Beaches offer the best opportunity to hook up with a big red. Night fishing is a well-known tactic for reds. Redfish are available year-round but late summer through early winter offers the best fishing.
Flounder: October in the intercoastal waterways of the Gulf is prime flounder territory. Late evening and shore casting produce the best results.
Black drum: January along the piers and bridges drums are waiting to be had Night fishing has proven effective in catching drum. December through March is the best time for Texas black drum fishing.
Sheepshead: This can be found most of the year populating the flats, bridges, and piers. March and April are the best choices. when stalking sheepshead for catching sheepshead. Plan to get up early that’s when these fish are most active.
Sharks: Late July and August sharks are most abundant and plentiful. Targeting sharks at night is a gamechanger. Head to Galveston Bay for the best action.
Jack crevalle: The best angling for crevalle in Texas waters is from May to August. the tail end of the outgoing tide is the best time to nab a jack head for the inlets and passes inlets.
Spanish mackerel: In Galveston, Spanish Mackerel can be found in abundance at the end of the summer and throughout the winter.
King mackerel: Fishing for King Mackerel (Kingfish) in Texas varies throughout the year. The months of April to October are the busiest. January to March and November to December are the low seasons.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish for redfish in Texas, check out this helpful guide.
Recommended Texas Fishing Guides/Charters
These Texas-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 |
| Tracking Texas Trophies (Sulphur Springs) | Freshwater |
| Hill Country Bass Coach (Leander) | Freshwater |
| Lake Fork Guide Service (Alba) | Freshwater |
| Olivia J Charters (Freeport) | Saltwater |
| Line Check Charters (Galveston) | Saltwater |
| Galveston Offshore (Galveston) | Saltwater |
| Reel Fishing Fever (Galveston) | Saltwater |
| SeaPlay Sportfishing – SeaPlay VI (Galveston) | Saltwater |
| Grace Fishing Charter (Galveston) | Saltwater |
| Steven’s Guide Service (Port Aransas) | Saltwater |
| Cpt Chappy’s Saltwater Fishing Adventures (Matagorda) | Saltwater |
Monthly Breakdown of Best Fishing in Texas
The answer is mostly determined by the time of year, the time of day, and your location. Below I have provided a monthly guide of my recommendations for the best Texas fishing on a monthly basis.
January
Saltwater Jetties, Piers, and Bridges (Black Drum)
Target drum along piers, bridges, and other man-made structures. January is a great time to catch these fish and drum fishing is the best fishing you can have in Texas waters in January.
February
Toledo Bend Reservoir (Crappie)
This body of water is the best crappie fishing in the state. Sunset fishing is phenomenal here. February is a great time also to catch bass.
March
Lake Fork (Largemouth Bass)
For big-water bass, this body of water reigns supreme evenings and early morning are optimal. March is one of the best times to catch the biggest bass in Lake Fork.
April
Sam Rayburn Reservoir (Largemouth Bass)
Many argue that Sam Rayburn has always been the elite bass fishing destination in Texas. Lake Fork gets more attention, but many anglers argue SR is the better fishery. April is the best time to catch bass transitioning from early spring into the spawn.
May
Lake Texoma (Striped Bass)
This is one of America’s best lake for striped bass. Late afternoon to early evening is your best bet for striped bass. May is the best month for consistent action.
June
Texas Gulf Coast (Red Snapper)
Book charters early and target early mornings throughout the month of June.
July
Cooper Lake (Striped Bass)
This lake is a world-class striped bass destination, especially in July.
August
Lady Bird Lake (Largemouth Bass)
This 500-acre body of water is packed with bass throughout the summer. Sunset is prime time for bass here as the cooling waters bring the bass action alive.
September
Texas Gulf Coastline (Redfish)
The Texas shoreline offers a redfish run that is truly amazing. Mornings serve well to catch reds but late afternoons until dusk can be great. September is the prime redfish month in Texas.
October
Intracoastal Waterway (Flounder)
Arguably the best fishing you can find in Texas in the month of October is flounder fishing. They will bite all day long but mornings tend to offer the most consistent fishing.
November
Gulf Coast Beaches (Pompano)
Anglers targeting pompano will find miles of good fishing locations beginning south of Corpus Christi on the beaches of Padre Island. Surfcasting is the best in the month of November for pompano.
December
Baffin Bay (Speckled Trout)
This remote bay is regarded as the best site in Texas to catch a huge monster trout. December is one of the best times of year to catch these trout here.
Best Times to Fish Texas
The seasons play a big role in what species to target. Just as important is the Time of day. For the best success, the following times are preferred when going after a Texas trophy
- Early Morning. Dawn until 3 hours after sunrise.
- Late Morning to Afternoon. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (give or take an hour based on daylight savings time)
- Afternoon to Dusk. 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Full Moon and no moon nights tend to be the best.
Having your alarm set will not help if the fish your after are out of season. The following are rules of thumb for Texas Fishing Seasons:
- Fishing is usually good in the winter, especially in the early months. Trout, reds, and a variety of panfish are still there are great winter species.
- Spring is, in my opinion, the worst of the fishing seasons. The wind is to blame and constantly changing temperatures brought on by the continuous frontal systems
- Summer is the start of more consistent fishing, and autumn is a close second. mid-July to Labor Day is ideal.
- Inshore fishermen like fall. The fishing is at its best in October and November, the weather is still nice in the Lone Star State.
Best Fishing Spots in Texas
It’s nearly impossible to choose the top fishing areas in Texas, both because there are so many and because different locations cater to different tastes. Let’s have a look at some of the best fishing spots in the area although there are plenty more I simply cannot cover in this article.
Best Freshwater Locations
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
For competitive anglers, this is the ideal location. On Sam Rayburn, there are several Bassmaster events that take place. The star of the show is Largemouth Bass, with Catfish and Crappie close behind.
Lake Fork
Looking for your next largemouth bass PB? Lake Fork is where you’ll find it. Trophy Largemouth bass abound in this body of water, and the best way to catch them is from a boat, where you’ll have better access to some of the best and most remote water on the lake.
Best Saltwater Locations
Port Aransas
Port Aransas: Go fishing from Port Aransas and visit one of the nearby bays for some excellent inshore and near-shore fishing. Offshore deep sea game is just a short boat ride into the Gulf.
This area is well known for red snapper, amberjack, mahi-mahi, and tuna. all regulars on the Texas fishing menu.
Corpus Christi and Rockport
Corpus Christi and Rockport, the area surrounding Corpus Christi comprise a series of huge, sheltered bays surrounded by miles of barrier islands.
The inshore activity centered on Corpus Christi and Rockport, with convenient access to redfish, black drum, specks, and flounder. We know this area for red snapper, Amberjack, Mahi Mahi, and Tuna. all regulars on the Texas fishing menu.
Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay, where do you begin when talking about Galveston? Inshore, you can catch trout, flounder, and redfish; near-shore, you can catch Cobia, Snapper, and King Mackerel. Offshore, you can catch a variety of pelagic species.
Best Season to Book a Charter in Texas
The ideal times to catch redfish are in the spring and summer, while the fall is when the biggest fish will be caught. The best time to catch kingfish in Texas coastal waters is from April to October. The months of May to August are the best general season to plan your trip.
You can beat the rush and save some money booking your charter in late fall. For offshore plan the trip as early as possible. Early morning deep-sea sports fishing is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to bring in a veritable giant.
When is the Best Time to Fish Texas? When Ever You Get Here!
Everything is large in Texas, including its 3000+ mile coastline, which draws anglers from all over the world to come and fish this great state.
The fishing culture in Texas is so diverse that it’s been rated one of the greatest in the country. The legendary Southern hospitality will entice you, but the amazing angling action will keep you hooked for life.
Explore everything Texas has to offer in terms of fishing, whether it’s inshore adventures, lake excursions, or offshore expeditions that are as exciting and tough as they come. After that, you’ll never be the same, and you’ll always want more! So plan a trip and come see all the Lone Star has to offer chances are before long Texas will have you hooked.
