Port O'Connor

Perched between Matagorda Bay to the north and Espiritu Santo Bay to the south lies the small town of Port O’Connor. Several hurricanes leveled the town in the past century, but its industrious denizens would always rebuild and start again. The Texan can-do attitude is especially present in the angling scene, making Port O’Connor fishing a real treat in this part of the Gulf.

Fishing and hunting are the two main pastimes around here. Sure the town itself is small, but the local fishing grounds are anything but. Matagorda Island with its sizeable Redfish population is just a couple of miles away, a quintessential Texas inshore fishing experience. On the other hand, more ambitious anglers are free to head straight into the Gulf of Mexico and try their luck.

The inshore waters of Port O’Connor easily lend themselves to various types of fishing. For example, a lot of local anglers are fans of kayak fishing because of the narrow waterways near Matagorda Island. Of course, there’s no shortage of fishing charters sporting proper big boats that can take a whole family on the water for a day to remember.

As with other popular locales in the Lone Star State, expect lots of Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, and Black Drum in the inshore waters. Matagorda Bay is especially well-regarded for its population of big Trout and serene fishing environment. There’s hardly any pollution here, which would explain why so many fish flock here every year.

One thing anglers love about fishing deeper waters in Texas is that Red Snapper season stays open year-round. Port O’Connor is no exception in this case. Thanks to this, fishing within 9 miles in state waters will get you a long way if you’re after a delicious catch. And when the federal season opens, things get even better!

While great in its own right, Red Snapper is far from the only fish to target offshore. Popular Gulf mainstays like Yellowfin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Mahi Mahi, and Amberjack will keep you on your toes during a visit to the deep blue.

• The local bays make Port O’Connor a perfect place to be drifting or wading for Specks. Soft plastic lures and shrimp are your best bet when bay fishing.
   
• You can fish for Flounder with a regular rod and reel combo, but why miss out on the sheer fun that is gigging in the evening?
   
• Yellowfin Tuna will often come closer to the surface after sunset. This means stocking up on floaters and fishing in the evening is a perfectly valid tactic.

Looking to hook that one species you’ve always dreamed of? Check out our Port O’Connor fishing calendar and book a trip when you’ll have the best shot at the catch of a lifetime!

Port O’Connor fishing charters usually don’t provide you with a fishing license, which means you’ll have to buy one before the trip. Be sure to also get a Redfish tag if you’re looking to keep Bull Reds, of which there’s quite a few. You can opt for a single-day license or one for consecutive days if you’re in it for the long haul.

The price of an inshore fishing charter usually runs at around $400 for a half day trip and $500–$600 for a full day. Offshore trips are much more diverse, with every captain trying to have the most unique and exciting packages. You can expect multi-day trips to the Gulf to run at around $2,000 per day.

State Highway 185 is the only one leading to Port O’Connor, which makes sense considering its remote location. If you’re coming from San Antonio you should take the US 87 to Victoria, where you can then switch to SH 185. Anglers from Houston would do best to take the US 35 and make the switch to SH 185 at Port Lavaca. You could say Port O’Connor is quite fittingly placed at the very frontier, patiently waiting to shower you with amazing fishing.