Waterlands

NWS zone GMZ330 · Western Gulf

Matagorda Bay fishing forecast

Texas · Gulf coast

Score now

81Great
Red drum · 3:00 PM CST
Named spots
51
Species scored
14
Tide stations
6
Open in the tide mapAll Texas bay systems

Overview

Matagorda Bay is NWS marine zone GMZ330 on the Texas Gulf coast, in the Western Gulf species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 51 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 6 NOAA tide stations nearby.

14 species are scored here in this forecast; Red drum, Spotted seatrout and Southern flounder are at peak season now.

At 3:00 PM it scores 81 (great), led by Red drum. The best window for the rest of today is 3 PM-12 AM (ebb tide), peaking at 83 for Spotted seatrout. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Wed, Nov 11 at 4 PM, scoring 84.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 3:04 PM CST.

Best window today

3 PM-12 AM · Ebb tide

Top species: Spotted seatrout

83Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Mon, Nov 2

    83

    7 AM

    Spotted seatrout

  2. Tue, Nov 3

    79

    12 AM

    Red drum

  3. Wed, Nov 4

    81

    4 PM

    Spotted seatrout

  4. Thu, Nov 5

    79

    9 AM

    Spotted seatrout

  5. Fri, Nov 6

    78

    4 PM

    Spotted seatrout

  6. Sat, Nov 7

    79

    4 PM

    Red drum

  7. Sun, Nov 8

    78

    4 PM

    Red drum

  8. Mon, Nov 9

    79

    7 AM

    Spotted seatrout

  9. Tue, Nov 10

    83

    6 PM

    Spotted seatrout

  10. Wed, Nov 11

    84

    4 PM

    Red drum

    Best day

  11. Thu, Nov 12

    84

    4 PM

    Spotted seatrout

  12. Fri, Nov 13

    82

    5 PM

    Spotted seatrout

  13. Sat, Nov 14

    77

    12 AM

    Spotted seatrout

  14. Sun, Nov 15

    81

    6 PM

    Spotted seatrout

Species · 14

Listed for the Western Gulf region. Scores are this hour; season is where the species is in its year.

80Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 4 PM (84)

78Great
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 5 PM (84)

65Great
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 12 more weeks · Best day Sun, Nov 8 at 4 PM (72)

58Good
Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (64)

58Good
Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 25 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 7 AM (65)

58Good
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 12 more weeks · Best day Wed, Nov 11 at 7 AM (68)

54Good
Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 7 AM (60)

35Fair
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Off season, about 16 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Off season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Off season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Off season, about 25 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Off season, about 21 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Off season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (35)

20Poor
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 12 AM (20)

Named spots · 51

Ranked by score this hour. Each spot has its own hourly forecast, tide, current and regulations.

39 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

Matagorda Bay Entrance ChannelNOAA 877376716.2 miPort O'ConnorNOAA 877370116.9 miMatagorda CityNOAA 877314618.1 miPort LavacaNOAA 877325925 miSeadriftNOAA 877303734.8 miSargentNOAA 877298536.5 mi

Regulations

TPWD saltwater regulations Buy a Texas fishing license License types

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Synced with TPWD Nov 2, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.

Statewide

Black drumRetention open

5 per day · 10 in possession · Slot 14 to 30 in, total length. Release black drum over 30 inches, except one fish over 52 inches per person per day.

Season: No closed season on file

A black drum over 52 inches counts toward the daily bag and possession limit. 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.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Drum Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

Gray triggerfishRetention open

20 per day · 40 in possession · Minimum 16 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Have a descending device or venting tool ready for reef fish showing signs of barotrauma. Federal-waters rules may differ. 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.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Triggerfish Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

Greater amberjackRetention open

1 per day · 2 in possession · Minimum 38 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Have a descending device or venting tool ready for reef fish showing signs of barotrauma. TPWD lists no season for state waters. Federal-waters rules, including the federal season, are separate. 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.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Amberjack Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

King mackerelRetention open

3 per day · 6 in possession · Minimum 27 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

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.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Mackerel Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

Red drumRetention open

3 per day · 6 in possession · Slot 20 to 28 in, total length. One red drum over 28 inches per license year with the Red Drum Tag, plus one more with a Bonus Red Drum Tag.

Season: No closed season on file

Tagged red drum over 28 inches do not count toward the daily bag or possession limit. Attach the tag right away, or report a digital tag in the Texas Hunt & Fish app. 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.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Drum Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

Red snapper(private recreational)Retention open

4 per day · 4 in possession · Minimum 15 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Open year-round in state waters. Do not hold more than 4 red snapper while fishing in state waters. Only circle hooks may be used with natural bait. Have a descending device or venting tool ready for reef fish showing signs of barotrauma. TPWD lists this state-waters season for private recreational anglers. Federally permitted charter boats and headboats stay under federal management. Red snapper is the exception to the double-the-bag possession rule: TPWD caps possession at 4, the same as the daily bag.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Snapper Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

SheepsheadRetention open

5 per day · 10 in possession · Minimum 15 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

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.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Sheepshead Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

Southern flounderClosed

No retention · 0 in possession

Season: Nov 1 to Dec 14, 2026

Changes to retention open on Dec 15, 2026

The flounder fishery is closed. The bag limit is 0. The closure covers all flounder species and their hybrids. The 5-fish bag returns on Dec. 15.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Flounder Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

Spanish mackerelRetention open

15 per day · 30 in possession · Minimum 14 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

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.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Mackerel Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

Spotted seatroutRetention open

3 per day · 6 in possession · Slot 15 to 20 in, total length. Release seatrout over 20 inches, except one fish over 28 inches per license year with the Spotted Seatrout Tag, plus one more with a Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag.

Season: No closed season on file

Tagged seatrout over 28 inches do not count toward the daily bag or possession limit. Attach the tag right away, or report a digital tag in the Texas Hunt & Fish app. 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.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Seatrout Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

TarponRetention open

1 per day · 2 in possession · Minimum 85 in, total length

Season: No closed season on file

Release tarpon under 85 inches. 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.

TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Tarpon Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026

Other Texas bay systems