UPDATEDAUTO-REFRESH 5 MIN
Spanish mackerelRetention openSpecies here · tap to switch
Best score today · 11 PM · Spanish mackerel
- Now
- 3911 AM CDT
- Best window
- 11 PM-12 AMFlood tide
- Tide now
- Low1.7 ft
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Fort Point scores 75+
Checked every morning against the 14-day forecast. Free by push and email.
14-day forecast
Best days to fish
24-hour conditions · rolling from now
Conditions · 11 AM · now
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS
34Tide: Low slackCurrent: 0.5 kn ebbWind & pressure
ECMWF
91Wind: 10 kt NEPressure: RisingWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
48Water temp: 90°F, hotLight: Bright sunSolunar: Major periodSeas: 0.8 ftSeason & habitat · Spanish mackerel
Species seasonality
48Season: ShoulderHabitat: Poor fitDepth: In rangeRegulations: Retention open
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
Texas state waters (shore to 9 nautical miles, bays included)
Spanish mackerel
Retention open- Daily limit
- 15 per day
- Possession
- 30 in possession
- Size
- Minimum 14 in, total length
- Season
- No closed season on file
- Annual quota
- Not published
- Other
- The possession limit is double the daily bag and does not count fish stored at your residence. While fishing, you may not hold more than the daily bag.
From TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Mackerel Bag & Length Limits, read Sep 13
Other species here
- Black drum Retention open (5 per day)
- Cobia Retention open (1 per day)
- Gag grouper Retention open (2 per day)
- Gray triggerfish Retention open (20 per day)
- Greater amberjack Retention open (1 per day)
- King mackerel Retention open (3 per day)
- Red drum Retention open (3 per day)
- Red snapper Retention open (4 per day)
- Sailfish Retention open
- Sheepshead Retention open (5 per day)
- Snook Retention open (1 per day)
- Southern flounder Retention open (5 per day)
- Spotted seatrout Retention open (3 per day)
- Striped bass Retention open (5 per day)
- Tarpon Retention open (1 per day)
Source: TPWD · synced today
Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed
When Spanish mackerel is best here
Shoulder season for Spanish mackerel · 5 more weeks at shoulder
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- Not here
- This week
Spot profile
Fort Point
- Depth
- 5-60 ftNearest water
- Structure
- Point · Inner · Semi-exposedPoint · drop-off
- Season
- Shoulder seasonSpanish mackerel
NOAA NCEI DEM, sampled Sep 13 on a 3.4 m grid. Depths are feet below NAVD 88, not chart datum (MLLW), so they can differ from a chart by a few feet. Not for navigation.
About this spot
Fishing Fort Point
Fort Point is a cape in Galveston Bay, Texas. Depth in the nearest water is 5-60 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads point, inner water and semi-exposed.
Waterlands scores 15 species here; the best right now are gray triggerfish, red snapper and Atlantic tarpon. It is peak season now for Atlantic tarpon, crevalle jack, Atlantic croaker and red drum, and shoulder season for gray triggerfish, red snapper, greater amberjack and king mackerel. Gray triggerfish peak from May through August. Red snapper peak from May through August. Atlantic tarpon peak from July through September.
Tackle & technique
- Spanish mackerel
- Spanish mackerel school along beaches and around inlets, jetties, piers and bridge-tunnel structures, and along tide rips in 5 to 40 feet of water once the water climbs above about 68 degrees F. Troll small spoons or cast metal jigs and retrieve fast, or look for birds diving on bait and cast into the school. FWC calls for a 30 to 60 pound monofilament leader because their teeth cut light line.
- Gray triggerfish
- Gray triggerfish hover a few feet over reefs, wrecks and ledges, usually in 60 to 200 feet, and often show up while snapper fishing. Use small, strong circle hooks with small pieces of squid or cut bait on a short bottom rig, because they nibble and strip big baits. Keep the bait just off the bottom and reel steadily at the first solid pull.
- Red snapper
- Red snapper school over rigs, wrecks, artificial reefs and natural ledges, mostly in 60 to 250 feet. Anchor or drift over the structure, chum, and drop cut or live cigar minnows, sardines or squid on circle hooks, using as little weight as the current allows. Federal rules require circle hooks with natural bait in the Gulf and a descending device or venting tool on board.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Bolivar Roads63
Channel · 1.3 mi
Top: Atlantic tarponPeak season- Atlantic tarpon 63
- Atlantic croaker 60
- Red drum 58
10 kt NEH 12:53 PM · 1.6 ftL 8:20 PM · 0.5 ft
- Inner Bar Channel59
Channel · 0.9 mi
Top: Atlantic tarponPeak season- Atlantic tarpon 59
- Atlantic croaker 58
- Crevalle jack 55
10 kt NEH 1:35 PM · 1.8 ftL 9:01 PM · 0.6 ft
- Bolivar Roads Channel58
Channel · 0.8 mi
Top: Atlantic tarponPeak season- Atlantic tarpon 58
- Atlantic croaker 57
- Crevalle jack 54
10 kt NEH 1:35 PM · 1.8 ftL 9:01 PM · 0.6 ft
- Texas City Channel58
Channel · 1.8 mi
Top: Atlantic tarponPeak season- Atlantic tarpon 58
- Atlantic croaker 57
- Crevalle jack 54
10 kt NEH 1:35 PM · 1.8 ftL 9:01 PM · 0.6 ft
Scores and forecasts are for planning only and can be wrong. Conditions on the water change fast; check the marine forecast before you go. Regulations change during the season, so confirm limits and closures with TPWD before you keep a fish.