Texas is famed for it's deep sea fishing and is one of the prime migratory routes for a variety of species.  Some of the sport fishing species available just a few miles offshore from the Texas Gulf Coast are Shark, Mahi, Grouper, Tarpon, Tuna, Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel, Permit, Amberjack, Cobia, Dolphin, Barracuda, and Red Snapper.

You can fish the reefs, oil rigs, wrecks, Gulf Stream and even trail the commercial shrimp boats during season. Behind these boats many VERY LARGE species of sport fish stay all season long.

Texas Deep Sea Fishing Tips

- The best fishing is during the warm months of the year.

- King fish normally start showing good in May until late July with another run coming through in the fall normally in Oct.

- Yellowfin tuna show up in early spring and during this period be ready for some great action in blue marlin, dolphin and wahoo.

- Best time for big tarpon is fall and spring, when they follow schools of mullet during their migrations.

- Trolling the Texas Gulf has produced record Marlin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Swordfish and Dolphin. Trolling ribbonfish in a zigzag pattern around structure or shrimp boat cull is always a good choice. 

- Drift fishing these waters has produced some enormous shark catches.

- Make sure to hire boats and captains that are fully licensed and insured and have boats that meet all USCG requirements. Nothing beats experience, so confirm the experience of your captain.

- Don't go the "party boat" route. Spend the extra money and hire a private charter. 

- The Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast is well known for "calm sea conditions" and an abundance of reefs, rocks, and ledges which attract and hold sport fish year around.