Redfish (Red Drum) Fishing in Texas
Check regulations
Check regulations
Year-round
Overview
Texas coastal flats hold quality redfish from Port Arthur to Brownsville.
Wade fishing is a Texas tradition—casting lures while wading shin-deep flats.
Upper Laguna Madre has the clearest water and best sight-fishing on the Texas coast.
Redfish have a slot limit in Texas (20-28 inches)—handle overslot fish carefully for release.
Best Waters in Texas
- Upper Laguna Madre — Ultra-clear shallow lagoon between Corpus Christi and South Padre with sight-fishing for tailing redfish.
- Lower Laguna Madre — Southern Texas lagoon with crystal water and quality redfish on sand and grass flats.
- Galveston Bay — Largest bay on the Texas coast with outstanding redfish around reefs, marshes, and jetties.
- Port O'Connor/Matagorda Bay — Mid-coast bay system with excellent wade fishing for redfish on shell and grass.
- Rockport/Aransas Bay — Central coast area with healthy redfish populations on oyster reefs and grass flats.
Local Techniques & Baits
Techniques
- Wade fishing
- Sight casting
- Popping cork fishing
- Topwater
- Kayak fishing
Baits & Lures
- Bass Assassin Sea Shad
- MirrOlure She Dog topwater
- Gulp Shrimp
- Gold spoon
- Live shrimp under popping cork
Seasonal Guide for Texas
SpringSpring Fishing
Warming flats draw redfish shallow. Topwater fishing on calm mornings is outstanding.
SummerSummer Fishing
Fish early morning before heat. Wade fishing on shell reefs and grass flats with soft plastics and topwaters.
FallFall Fishing
Best season. Bull reds run along the surf and jetties. Inshore slot fish are active and aggressive.
WinterWinter Fishing
Cold fronts push redfish into deeper bayous and channels. Slow soft plastics on the bottom produce.
Regulations
Regulations change frequently. Always verify current regulations with Texas Fish & Wildlife. Information shown was last updated 2025-01-01.
Specific regulations for redfish (red drum) in Texas are not listed in our database. Please check the official Texas regulations for current rules.