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Inshore migration calendar

Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre migration calendar.

Gulf CoastTexas7 species tracked

The Laguna Madre — one of only a handful of hyper-saline lagoons in the world — produces the largest speckled trout in the United States. Snook reach their northern Gulf range here, and the South Padre tarpon migration is a summer-into-fall event.

Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year over year with water temperature, weather, and bait movement. Cross-reference with NOAA marine forecast and a local source before planning a trip.

What's running now — May

7 active species

Auto-updated based on the current month. The planning section that matters for trips this week.

Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre hotspots

Productive locations
  • Laguna Madre flats
  • Port Mansfield
  • South Padre Island
  • Brazos Santiago Pass
Active this month
  • TarponPeak
  • SnookPeak
  • Red DrumGood
  • Speckled TroutGood
  • Southern FlounderGood
  • Black DrumGood

All species — sorted by current month

  • TarponMegalops atlanticus
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering fish in southernmost waters. Typical water temp: 58–66°FFeb — Possible Same. Typical water temp: 60–68°FMar — Fair Earliest northbound fish. Typical water temp: 66–72°FApr — Good Spring run building. Typical water temp: 72–78°FMay — Peak Peak Gulf tarpon migration — Boca Grande, Homosassa, Panhandle beaches. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJun — Peak Same — biggest fish of the year often hooked. Typical water temp: 82–86°FJul — Good Resident summer fish. Typical water temp: 84–88°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 84–88°FSep — Good Fall migration south building. Typical water temp: 80–84°FOct — Fair Fish departing south. Typical water temp: 72–78°FNov — Possible Last stragglers. Typical water temp: 64–70°FDec — Absent Departed. Typical water temp: 58–64°F
    Best months: May · June

    Peak Gulf tarpon migration — Boca Grande, Homosassa, Panhandle beaches.

    Top lures: Live threadfin herring, Live mullet, Crab patterns (palolo hatch)
    Full Tarpon calendar for Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre
  • SnookCentropomus undecimalis
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Fair Wintering fish in deep canals and creek mouths; very cold-sensitive. Typical water temp: 56–64°FFeb — Fair Same — Gulf season closure typically Dec-Feb. Typical water temp: 58–66°FMar — Good Pre-spawn movement to passes. Typical water temp: 64–72°FApr — Peak Spring spawn — fish at every pass and inlet. Typical water temp: 70–76°FMay — Peak Same — peak pass and bridge fishing. Typical water temp: 74–80°FJun — Fair Gulf summer closure typically May-Aug. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJul — Fair Summer closure continuing on Gulf coast. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Fair Same — closure ends end of August. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Peak Mullet run begins — peak fall snook. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Peak Same. Typical water temp: 74–80°FNov — Good Mullet run continuing. Typical water temp: 68–74°FDec — Fair Cold fronts shutting down bite. Typical water temp: 60–68°F
    Best months: April · May · September · October

    Same — peak pass and bridge fishing.

    Top lures: Live pilchards (whitebait), Live mullet, Topwater plugs
    Full Snook calendar for Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre
  • Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Year-round Gulf resident — winter schools in deep marsh ponds. Typical water temp: 52–62°FFeb — Good Same. Typical water temp: 54–64°FMar — Good Fish spreading back onto flats. Typical water temp: 60–70°FApr — Good Spring fishing strong on flats. Typical water temp: 66–74°FMay — Good Same. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Good Summer flats and marsh pattern. Typical water temp: 80–86°FJul — Good Hot water — fish on cooler edges. Typical water temp: 82–88°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Peak Fall bull red run on Gulf beaches. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Peak Peak fall fishing — bull schools on beaches. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Bull schools dispersing. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Winter resident pattern. Typical water temp: 56–64°F
    Best months: September · October

    Same.

    Top lures: Live mullet under popping cork, Cut mullet on bottom, Gold spoons
    Full Red Drum calendar for Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre
  • Speckled TroutCynoscion nebulosus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Year-round resident. Trophy trout in deep ponds and channels in winter. Typical water temp: 50–60°FFeb — Good Same — slow but quality fishing. Typical water temp: 54–62°FMar — Good Spring movement back to flats. Typical water temp: 60–68°FApr — Good Strong spring fishing. Typical water temp: 64–72°FMay — Good Summer pattern beginning. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Good Same. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJul — Good Topwater dawn/dusk. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Good Hot water — early/late. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Good Cool nights reactivate flats. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Good Excellent fall fishing. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Same. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Wintering pattern. Typical water temp: 54–62°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Summer pattern beginning.

    Top lures: Soft plastic paddletails on jigheads, MirrOlure suspending plugs, Live shrimp under popping cork
    Full Speckled Trout calendar for Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre
  • Southern FlounderParalichthys lethostigma
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering offshore. Typical water temp: 52–60°FFeb — Fair Spring movement begins. Typical water temp: 58–64°FMar — Good Spring inshore. Typical water temp: 62–70°FApr — Good Strong spring fishing. Typical water temp: 68–76°FMay — Good Same. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Good Summer pattern. Typical water temp: 80–84°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Good Fall fishing strong. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Peak Fall flounder run — fish staging at passes. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Run continuing — closure likely in TX (verify). Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Possible Most fish offshore. Typical water temp: 54–62°F
    Best months: October

    Same.

    Top lures: Live finger mullet, Live mud minnows, Gulp! shrimp on jighead
    Full Southern Flounder calendar for Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre
  • Black DrumPogonias cromis
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Pre-spawn concentrations forming. Typical water temp: 54–62°FFeb — Peak Spring black drum spawn — fish in passes. Typical water temp: 58–66°FMar — Peak Peak Gulf spawn. Typical water temp: 62–70°FApr — Good Spawn winding down. Typical water temp: 68–76°FMay — Good Resident pattern. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Fair Summer fish on structure. Typical water temp: 80–84°FJul — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Good Fall feeding. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Good Same. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Pre-spawn movement. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Pre-spawn concentration. Typical water temp: 56–62°F
    Best months: February · March

    Resident pattern.

    Top lures: Whole blue crab on bottom, Live shrimp, Cut clam
    Full Black Drum calendar for Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre
  • SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Pre-spawn concentrations at passes and jetties. Typical water temp: 54–62°FFeb — Good Peak Gulf spawn. Typical water temp: 58–66°FMar — Good Spawning continuing. Typical water temp: 62–70°FApr — Good Fish dispersing. Typical water temp: 68–76°FMay — Good Strong inshore fishery on docks and structure. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Fair Resident summer pattern. Typical water temp: 80–84°FJul — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Good Fall feeding. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Good Strong fall fishing. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Pre-spawn movement. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Pre-spawn concentration. Typical water temp: 56–62°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Strong inshore fishery on docks and structure.

    Top lures: Live fiddler crabs, Peeled shrimp, Barnacles
    Full Sheepshead calendar for Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre

Month-by-month — top 5 species

Quick reference for trip planning across the year. Each cell shows the typical migration status for that month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Red Drum
Speckled Trout
Black Drum
Southern Flounder
Snook
PeakGoodFairPossibleAbsent

Regional notes — top species

Tarpon in Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre

Spring Gulf tarpon migration pushes north from the Keys through the Big Bend May–July. Boca Grande, Homosassa, and the Panhandle beaches are flagship locations. Fall departure south September–October.

Snook in Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre

Year-round on the Gulf coast but very cold-sensitive — 2010 freeze killed millions of fish. Spring spawn at passes April–May; closed seasons typically Dec–Feb and May–Aug on the Gulf coast (verify with FWC).

Red Drum in Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre

Year-round resident. Highest density of redfish in North America in Louisiana marsh. Fall bull red run on Gulf beaches September–November.

Marine forecast

NOAA Zone GMZ435

Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts that drive whether fish are feeding inshore or holding offshore.

State agencies

Bag limits, slot rules, and seasonal closures live with the agencies — verify before keeping fish.

Real-time migration alerts for Texas Lower Coast & Laguna Madre.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data, water temperature readings, and your saved species list together — and alerts you when arrivals reach your home water.

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