Right now: 63 for southern flounder, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours
Southern flounder, 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.
632 am
59
59
595 am
59
59
638 am
56
59
5911 am
59
63
632 pm
59
59
595 pm
59
59
598 pm
59
14
1411 pm
14Tue
18
182 am
18
14
145 am
14
14
148 am
18
14
1411 am
14
14
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out
Right now
Water
76°F
Southern flounder range 58–82°
Wind
8 mph
From the east
Light
Dark
Sunrise 7:35 am
Sky
Mostly Cloudy
6% chance of rain
Air
76°F
NWS hourly forecast
Barometer
Steady
Measured, last 3 hours
Moon
100% lit
Full
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.
Southern flounder prefers outgoing tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside southern flounder's active range. Holds 1–20 ft down.
Keep
15" minimum · 5 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15" minimum, 5/person/day. Closed Nov 1–Dec 14 (bag 0).
Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside spotted seatrout's active range. Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. 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.
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.
Five miles of open Gulf beach between Port Aransas and Packery Channel. Bull red drum and black drum run the surf in fall and spring, speckled trout wade the guts in summer, and southern flounder move toward the passes in fall, when Texas closes flounder from Nov 1 to Dec 14.
Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.
2 am
5 am
8 am
11 am
2 pm
5 pm
8 pm
Tue
5 am
8 am
11 am
Port Aransas Beach13 mi · TexasBest now until 10 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
63Marginal
Port Aransas (Mustang Island)14 mi · TexasBest now until 10 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
55Marginal
Questions people ask
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Mustang Island State Park?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Mustang Island State Park you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Mustang Island State Park?
Mustang Island State Park is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Southern Flounder, Sheepshead, and 1 more. 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 Mustang Island State Park?
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 Mustang Island State Park 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 Mustang Island State Park have?
Mustang Island State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Mustang Island State Park?
state agency regulations apply at Mustang Island State Park. 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 Mustang Island State Park tidal water?
Yes. Mustang Island State Park sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.
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