It’s a fishing day

Port Aransas (Mustang Island) fishing conditions · Texas

Now until 4 pmRed drum

The bite peaks at 69. Water is 77°, close to the 75° red drum like best. Wind builds to 25 mph out of the east-northeast by tomorrow at 2:00 pm.

Rip Current Statement until Monday 6 amFlood Watch until Monday 12 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 69 for red drum, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Red drum, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 693 pm
  2. 61
  3. 61
  4. 616 pm
  5. 47
  6. 47
  7. 479 pm
  8. 47
  9. 47
  10. 47Sun
  11. 47
  12. 32
  13. 323 am
  14. 32
  15. 32
  16. 326 am
  17. 29
  18. 29
  19. 299 am
  20. 29
  21. 29
  22. 012 pm
  23. 0
  24. 0
  25. 93 pm
  26. 9
  27. 9
  28. 126 pm
  29. 9
  30. 32
  31. 329 pm
  32. 32
  33. 32
  34. 32Mon
  35. 29
  36. 32
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
77°F

Red drum range 65–85°

Wind
15 mph

From the east-northeast

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:40 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

3% chance of rain

Air
77°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Texas regulations for these waters.

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

69MarginalNow until 4 pm

Water

77°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Right in red drum's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 28" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 20–28" slot, 3/person/day. One oversized red drum over 28" per license year with a Red Drum Tag.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Texas

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Dec, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes an incoming tide. More on red drum

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

57MarginalNow until 4 pm

Water

77°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside spotted seatrout's active range. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 20" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15–20" slot, 3/person/day. One trout over 28" per year with a Spotted Seatrout Tag.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Texas

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Dec, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes an incoming tide. More on spotted seatrout

Black Drum

Black drum

Pogonias cromis

57MarginalNow until 4 pm

Water

77°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside black drum's active range. Holds 2–40 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 30" maximum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Texas: 14–30" slot, 5 a person a day; 1 over 52" may be kept and counts toward the bag.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Texas

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Sep–May. Likes an incoming tide. More on black drum

The water

  • Water temperature77°F
  • Barometer30.02 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:40 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:44 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 4:10 pm–5:10 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:20 pm–12:20 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Texas Parks & Wildlife publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The heart of the Texas Coastal Bend — redfish, spotted seatrout, and black drum across the Mustang Island flats and the Lydia Ann Channel, with bull reds and tarpon at the Aransas Pass jetties in late summer. Waded, drifted, and surf-fished. Live tide and water temperature from Port Aransas.

Texas: redfish 20–28" slot, 3/day; seatrout 15–20" slot, 3/day. The jetties and the flats both produce year-round.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Port Aransas Beach1 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pmRip Current StatementFlood Watch
77Worth the trip
Mustang Island State Park14 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pmRip Current StatementFlood Watch
69Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Port Aransas (Mustang Island)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Port Aransas (Mustang Island) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Port Aransas (Mustang Island)?

Port Aransas (Mustang Island) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Black Drum. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Port Aransas (Mustang Island)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Port Aransas (Mustang Island) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Port Aransas (Mustang Island) have?

Port Aransas (Mustang Island) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Texas: redfish 20–28" slot, 3/day; seatrout 15–20" slot, 3/day. The jetties and the flats both produce year-round.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Port Aransas (Mustang Island)?

state agency regulations apply at Port Aransas (Mustang Island). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Port Aransas (Mustang Island) tidal water?

Yes. Port Aransas (Mustang Island) sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.