Species guide · Texas
Atlantic tarpon fishing in Texas
Megalops atlanticus, an inshore species also called silver king, poon and sabalo. Listed for the Western Gulf region. Off season, about 4 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Baffin Bay and Upper Laguna Madre at 35, one of 9 Texas bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Off seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Western Gulf
Off season, about 4 more weeks- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Off season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Jul to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Jun to Oct.
Research notes, Western Gulf region
Texas beachfront and jetty fishing runs June to October with August and September best; Grand Isle, Louisiana holds its tarpon rodeo in late July. Texas bay gillnet surveys show tarpon presence peaking in fall, and tagged fish west of the Mississippi Delta head south to south Texas and Mexico for winter.
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 atlantic tarpon score this hour.
Best window today 2 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 14 named spots
Best window today 2 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 61 named spots
Best window today 2 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 37 named spots
Best window today 2 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 97 named spots
Best window today 2 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 5 named spots
Best window today 2 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 2 named spots
Best window today 2 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 8 named spots
Best window today 2 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 51 named spots
Best window today 2 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 12 AM (35) · 54 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 70°F to 95°F, best between 75°F and 88°F.
- Water depth
- 2 to 60 ft of water.
- Structure
- Pass, channel, bridge, beach, inlet, mangrove and flat, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers outgoing tide and incoming tide, with moderate current.Pass and bridge fishing is best on strong outgoing tides, especially around new and full moons when crabs flush out of the bays. Beach and flats fish are sight cast on moving water with enough light to see them. Tide matters less for fish rolling along open beaches.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Prefers steady pressure.
- Wind and sea limits
- 15 kt of wind and 3 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Tarpon roll along beaches, in passes and channels, and under bridges from late spring through fall, and in South Florida some fish stay through winter in warm canals and backcountry rivers. Live crabs, mullet or pinfish drifted through a pass on the outgoing tide, or a fly or soft plastic cast ahead of a rolling string of fish, are the main approaches. Use a long heavy leader, bow to the jumps, and keep big fish in the water for release.
- Methods
- sight casting, live bait drifting, fly fishing, anchoring in passes, bridge fishing at night, trolling
- Lures
- soft plastic swimbait, jig, trolled spoon, suspending plug, tarpon fly (toad, streamer)
- Bait
- live pass crab, live mullet, pinfish, threadfin herring, pilchard, cut mullet
Regulations
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Synced with TPWD Oct 31, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
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