Species guide · Texas
Red drum fishing in Texas
Sciaenops ocellatus, an inshore species also called redfish, reds and puppy drum. Listed for the Western Gulf region. Peak season, about 10 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Laguna Madre From the Port Of Brownsville to the Arroyo Colorado at 77, one of 9 Texas bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Western Gulf
Peak season, about 10 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: Aug to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.
Research notes, Western Gulf region
Year-round in Texas and Louisiana bays. Bull reds gather in the surf and passes to spawn August through November. TPWD notes winter cold events concentrate reds in tidal creeks, rivers and deep channels. Harvest is prohibited in federal waters; state slot limits apply.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 9
Texas bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's red drum score this hour.
Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (77) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 6 PM (82) · 8 named spots
Best window today 7-10 PM (75) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 PM (81) · 54 named spots
Best window today 7-11 PM (74) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 PM (81) · 2 named spots
Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (76) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 6 PM (82) · 97 named spots
Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (71) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 PM (78) · 51 named spots
Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (67) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 PM (76) · 14 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (72) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (80) · 61 named spots
Best window today 7-11 PM (65) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 PM (73) · 5 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (70) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 6 PM (78) · 37 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 52°F to 92°F, best between 65°F and 84°F.
- Water depth
- 1 to 40 ft of water.
- Structure
- Flat, oyster, marsh, grass, channel, pass and surf, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and outgoing tide, with moderate current.A flooding tide lets reds push onto grass flats and into flooded marsh to feed, where they often tail. A falling tide pulls bait out of creeks, so fish creek mouths, drains and oyster bar points. Very low winter tides concentrate fish in potholes and creek channels.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Tends to feed as pressure falls ahead of weather.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 3 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Redfish feed on shallow grass flats, oyster bars and marsh edges, often in 1 to 4 feet of water, and drop into channels, deep holes and tidal creeks when the water turns very hot or cold. Work a live shrimp under a popping cork or a soft plastic along the grass line on a rising tide, then fish creek mouths and drains as the tide falls. Bull reds over 30 inches school in the surf, passes and jetties in late summer and fall, where cut mullet or a live crab on the bottom is the standard approach.
- Methods
- sight casting, popping cork, bottom fishing, surf fishing, fly fishing, wade fishing
- Lures
- gold spoon, soft plastic paddle tail, soft plastic shrimp, jighead and grub, topwater plug, shallow-running plug, crab or shrimp fly
- Bait
- live shrimp, finger mullet, mud minnow, blue crab, cut mullet, pinfish, Atlantic croaker
Regulations
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Synced with TPWD Sep 18, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
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