Nueces County, TX · Gulf of Mexico
Port Aransas (Mustang Island)
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.
Live · updated
Top picks today
Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout & Black Drum — tied at the top (23/100)
3 species tied for best of 3 tracked at Port Aransas (Mustang Island).
Rip Current Statement issued June 5 at 1:14PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Today's Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:48 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 11:59 AM | High | 1.0 ft |
Species at Port Aransas (Mustang Island)
3 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 3 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Red Drum Skip the Red Drum trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- 84°F water — inside red drum's active range
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — red drum prefers incoming tide
- 11.5 ft seas — heavy seas — small boats unsafe, surf blown out
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Sciaenops ocellatus — Also called channel bass, redfish, or (as juveniles) puppy drum. Summer and fall target around the lower Bay shoals and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Big "bull reds" cruise the surf in fall.
Prefers. Water 65–85°F (ideal 75°F) · incoming tide · depth 3–20 ft.
- Min size
- 20"
- Max size
- 28"
- Daily creel
- 3
20–28" slot, 3/person/day. One oversized red drum over 28" per license year with a Red Drum Tag.
Source: Texas regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#1 Spotted Seatrout Skip the Spotted Seatrout trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- 84°F water — inside spotted seatrout's active range
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide
- 11.5 ft seas — heavy seas — small boats unsafe, surf blown out
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Cynoscion nebulosus — Popularly called "speckled trout" or "specks." Summer-fall target in the lower Bay grass beds and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Topwater walkers at dawn and soft plastics on jigheads are standard.
Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 72°F) · incoming tide · depth 3–15 ft.
- Min size
- 15"
- Max size
- 20"
- Daily creel
- 3
15–20" slot, 3/person/day. One trout over 28" per year with a Spotted Seatrout Tag.
Source: Texas regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#1 Black Drum Skip the Black Drum trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- 84°F water — inside black drum's active range
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — black drum prefers incoming tide
- 11.5 ft seas — heavy seas — small boats unsafe, surf blown out
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Pogonias cromis — The red drum’s heavier, bottom-grubbing cousin — a deep-bodied sciaenid that roots crabs and shellfish off mud and oyster bottom across the Gulf and South Atlantic. "Puppy drum" in the slot are excellent eating; the giant bull black drum that mass to spawn around passes and jetties in late winter and spring can top 80 lb. A staple of Louisiana and Texas inshore fishing alongside redfish and speckled trout.
Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · incoming tide · depth 2–40 ft.
- Min size
- 14"
- Max size
- 30"
- Daily creel
- 5
Texas: 14–30" slot, 5/person/day; one over 52" allowed and counts toward the bag.
Source: Texas regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
Location Info
Water Body
Gulf of Mexico
Region
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Texas
Coordinates
Notes
Texas: redfish 20–28" slot, 3/day; seatrout 15–20" slot, 3/day. The jetties and the flats both produce year-round.
Local reports & rules for Port Aransas (Mustang Island): Texas Parks & Wildlife fishing report → · fish-consumption advisory →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
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.