Texas Fishing Seasons: Fall

Texas Fall Fishing

Fall is one of the best times to go fishing in Texas because as the temperatures drop, the fish heat up. The second wave of freshwater action takes over inland fisheries, while anglers on the coast are tailing giant bull redfish. Off the coast, dominant fish are trading places, giving anglers a shot at more species than usual. The fall bite in Texas is always red hot and has the potential to be the trip of a lifetime.

Freshwater

Largemouth bass get sluggish in the summer heat, but with the first sign of cooler temperatures, their appetite comes back strong. Striper are another top species in Texas freshwater lakes and rivers, with a strong bite into the winter. Striped bass are no slouch and can grow well over three feet long, putting up a formidable fight.

Catfish are one of the most popular freshwater fish in the state, and fall happens to be their peak bite. If catching a giant fish is the goal, then chasing blue catfish in any of the Texas lakes is your best bet. Bottom fishing from the bank or a boat is relaxing, and the perfect way to spend a fall day. If you add in the chance to catch a triple digit catfish, it’s truly world class fishing.

Inshore

As the shallow flats begin to cool off, the sea trout finally start to move out, while the giant bull redfish move in ahead of their spawn. Sight casting to tailing redfish on the Texas Coast is truly fishing at its finest. The big fish and challenging circumstances make catching reds in the fall obsessive for many anglers.

Trout and redfish are two of the most popular fish on the Texas Coast with aggressive strikes almost year round, but nothing beats the fall bite inshore. With incredible chances to catch redfish and flounder in the shallows or black drum and speckled trout a little deeper in the bays, a fall fishing trip to Texas has it all.

Nearshore

Nearshore waters are incredibly productive as well, with amberjack and snapper fishing still firing on all cylinders. Depending on when red snapper season closes, the fall snapper bite in Texas state waters is great. Amberjack has its second season in the fall after their summer spawn and will still fight just as hard. Both of these nearshore fish are strong fighters but make for a delicious meal.

Offshore

When the weather changes, the offshore bite begins to shift. Kingfish continue their summer feeding frenzy into the fall but their speed makes them tough to catch. That being said, the peak offshore bite in the fall is for blackfin tuna (or “footballs” as they’re sometimes called). These smaller tuna are all muscle and can still peel line with ease. Yellowfin tuna start to roll in again during the fall months, and as temperatures continue to go down, they come pouring into Texas waters. Towards the end of fall, wahoo starts to show up. Often called “Texas Torpedoes”, wahoo are one of the best game fish you can catch.

Fall Fishing in Texas

While rapid weather changes are usually considered bad for fishing, Texas is the exception with bites pilling up in every body of water. No matter what type of fishing you want to do this fall, Texas has a strong bite that will keep you coming back every year. If you want to get in on the action, check out our Texas fishing trips and get on the books for this fall.