For your next fishing adventure, think Texas offshore fishing. Yes, Texas inshore fishing is amazing. But the offshore fishing is productive, too, and needs to be experienced! Tick this off your bucket list today!

What to Catch

Offshore fishing in Texas will produce a multitude of species. Between 20–40 miles offshore, you can go after Red Snapper, King Mackerel, Cobia (locally called Ling), Spanish Mackerel, Amberjack, Bluefish, Shark, Sailfish, and Mahi Mahi. Hardcore anglers can charter a longer trip to head into deep blue waters to target White and Blue Marlin.

Where to Go 

You can head out of many of the ports along the Texas coastline. Offshore trips will usually take you around 20 to 40 miles out, and take around 10 hours. There are plenty of reefs and wrecks to keep you busy, such as Adam Rock, 29 Fathom Bank, and Stetson Bank. Past the 60-mile mark you’ll get into deep sea fishing, with trips lasting 12 hours or longer. Here, you’ll start finding the pelagic predators, as well as trophy-sized fish when bottom fishing. The top spots below follow the coast down from the north to the south.

North Texas – Offshore Oil Rigs

There are thousands of oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. These provide structures for bait fish, which attract the predator fish. From most ports, such as Galveston and Freeport. you’ll be able to reach the rigs in a couple of hours. Top targets include Snapper, Amberjack, and Cobia here. If you choose to deep sea fish, there are plenty of oil rigs further out to target.

Central Texas – Port O’Connor to Corpus Christi

North of Port O’Connor is Matagorda Bay. The Bay has calm waters, so is great for families. You’ll find plenty of big Redfish here. Head to Jetty Park to target Grouper and Red Snapper.

Although Port O’Connor may be famous for the fishing in Matagorda Bay, you can head further offshore from here to target Mahi Mahi, Yellowfin Tuna, and Amberjack. There are plenty of rigs less than 9 miles away (still within state waters) allowing you to catch Red Snapper year round. Even closer is a shipwreck, found 7 miles from shore, due east of the jetty.

Slightly south of Port O’Connor, Corpus Christi is the perfect place to begin your fishing trip. Between 20 to 40 miles from shore you can begin targeting Spanish Mackerel, False Albacore, King Mackerel, and Red Snapper.  Closer to shore you can fish in one of the recently created reef sites. These 160-acre reef sites can also be found at Freeport, Matagorda, Port Aransas, and Port Isabel.

South Texas – South Padre Island and Port Mansfield

In the south of Texas, by the Mexican border, is South Padre Island. Although nearshore fishing off here is fantastic, head offshore from the island for Jack Crevalle, Amberjack. Mahi Mahi, Red Snapper, and more.

Parallel to South Padre Island is Port Mansfield. Head out past the Mansfield jetties for reef and wreck fishing. From the jetties, this is just a 9-mile run-out. Red Snapper is bountiful here. For the biggest catch, fish during the winter.

Out of state waters, about 12 miles from the beach, is a productive group of rocks, called the North Rocks. You’ll find plenty of Snapper at the living coral formation, as well as Cobia, Bonito, Kingfish, and Mackerel.

How to Fish

• Offshore fishing is awesome in the Gulf of Mexico, but always have light tackle on standby for those slower days – this way, you’ll always head back to shore with fish.

• Follow the shrimping boats – the bycatch that’s released creates a huge chum line that game fish take advantage of. Get your lines in the water near the anchored shrimp boat for the best chance to hook fish.

• For Yellowfin Tuna, trolling with dead bait, such as ballyhoo, is very effective. Fishing at night is more productive than day time fishing, as the bait fish are attracted to the lights off of the oil rigs. And where the bait fish go, the Tuna follow.

When to Go

Although you can fish year-round in these famous waters, the best time to fish begins from May until October. The summers here are fantastic for almost all the pelagic species – they come closer to shore from July to August, so you don’t need to travel so far to find them.

The season for Red Snapper is open year-round in state waters. Even in winter you can head out and catch this delicious fish.

Texas offshore fishing is great for the hardcore anglers, who’ll head out further and fish for longer. The fishing opportunities are huge! First-time anglers will love fishing the oil rigs for the sheer abundance of fish. There’s something for everyone, so book your trip today!