Offshore fishing
in Texas.
3 departure ports. Run distances to named structure, month-by-month bite windows for 7 species, and the rigs that land fish.
Explore seasonal bite windows by port →Three ports. Different offshore starts.
South Padre Island has the RGV Reef about 13 miles from the jetties. Port Aransas lists Bakers and Hospital Rock around 35 miles out; Galveston’s Stetson Bank is about 80 miles from shore. The state spans very different run lengths, so choose a port before reading the statewide month grid as a plan.
All three port calendars list summer blue marlin windows, but their other peaks diverge: South Padre lists winter wahoo, Port Aransas spring-to-summer yellowfin, and Galveston summer yellowfin. Each port guide gives the local calendar and the named structure behind it.
Build a Gulf trolling spread →Distances and month windows come from the sourced port guides below.
Texas Offshore Ports
All 25 ports →Galveston
Houston's launch pad to marlin water and the Flower Gardens
- Blue MarlinJun–Sep
- SailfishJun–Sep
- Yellowfin TunaJun–Aug
- MahiJun–Aug
Port Aransas
Rock, rigs and deepwater platforms out past 100 miles
- Blue MarlinJul–Oct
- SailfishJul–Sep
- MahiJun–Sep
- Yellowfin TunaApr–Jul
South Padre Island
The bottom of Texas: snook at the jetties, marlin at the drop
- Blue MarlinMay–Sep
- SailfishJun–Aug
- MahiApr–Aug
- WahooNov–Jan
What bites, month by month
Combined from 3Texas port calendars. A mark means at least one listed port has that window. Open its port guide for the local months.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Marlin | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 3/3 | ||||
| Sailfish | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 3/3 | |||||
| Mahi | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 3/3 | ||||
| Wahoo | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | ● | ● | 3/3 |
| Redfish | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 3/3 |
| Yellowfin Tuna | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | 2/3 | |||
| Snook | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | 1/3 |
● Peak at a listed port ◐ Shoulder at a listed port — No window listed
Season guides for Texas
Deeper dives into each species window: port comparisons, peak months, and the rig that gets it done.
Regulations
State and federal regulations for Texas offshore fishing. Requirements change; verify before you depart.
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Saltwater Fishing Regulations (Outdoor Annual) ↗
- NOAA Fisheries: Fishing Regulations and Seasonal Closures in the Gulf of America (federal reef fish) ↗
- NOAA Fisheries: Atlantic HMS Angling Permit (tunas, billfish, swordfish, sharks) ↗
- Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: Regulations ↗
FAQ: Offshore Fishing in Texas
What fish can you catch offshore in Texas?
Texas offshore fishing covers Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Mahi, Wahoo, Redfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Snook. Peak season varies by species and port.
How many offshore fishing ports are there in Texas?
OffshoreHookup covers 3 offshore departure ports in Texas: Galveston, Port Aransas, South Padre Island.
Which Texas offshore port has the best fishing?
It depends on species and season. Galveston is known for Blue Marlin and Sailfish; Port Aransas is known for Blue Marlin and Sailfish; South Padre Island is known for Blue Marlin and Sailfish.