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Saltwater & Coast

Port Aransas Fishing Guide

Texas

An island town with jetties, flats, and passes for inshore and nearshore fishing.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Port Aransas for redfish, speckled trout, tarpon and flounder. The best months overall are Mar to May, Sep to Nov. In October, redfish, speckled trout and flounder are in season, and Clouser Minnow, EP Baitfish and Spoon Fly are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 45 miles; the closest is Island Tackle in Port Aransas, under 1 mi away. Baffin Bay is 50 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Best Months

Mar to May, Sep to Nov

In October

Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder

Methods

Fly fishing, Spin, cast & bait

Season at a Glance

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F
M
A
M
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J
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S
O
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What You'll Catch

Port Aransas Species

Redfish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

Tarpon

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to Jul

Flounder

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
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J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

12 picks for October. ● means in season that month.

  • Clouser Minnow #1/0-8

    Fly

    Streamer · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • EP Baitfish #2/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Spoon Fly #1/0-2

    Fly

    Flats Fly · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Speckled Trout, Redfish · Big trout at dawn.

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Speckled Trout, Redfish

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Sand Fleas Small

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish · Surf.

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Redfish · Surf and passes.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Speckled Trout

Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Tarpon

Fly 9 ft 11 or 12 wt rod, floating or intermediate tarpon line, 60 to 80 lb shock tippet.

Spin / Cast 7.5 ft heavy spinning rod, 6000 to 8000 reel, 50 lb braid with an 80 lb leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Port Aransas

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.

Check Price

Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

Check Price

Fly Lines

RIO Tarpon Fly Line

A tropical line that stays stiff in heat for long casts to rolling tarpon.

Check Price

Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

Check Price

Sunglasses

Costa Polarized Fishing Sunglasses

Polarized lenses cut glare so you can see fish, structure, and flats.

Check Price

Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

Check Price

Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

Check Price

Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

Check Price

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Within 45 Miles

Shops Near Port Aransas

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · Texas · 50 mi

Baffin Bay

A remote bay with rocks and grass that produces some of the largest speckled trout on the coast.

Speckled Trout · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Texas · 79 mi

Matagorda Bay

A large bay system with shell reefs, wade fishing, and redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder