The Coastal Bend, from Baffin Bay up to Port O'Connor, is some of the most forgiving saltwater in the country for a new angler. The bays are shallow, the water is warm most of the year, and redfish, speckled trout and black drum will all eat a live shrimp under a cork. Here's how to get started without wasting a day.
1. Get the right license
Anyone 17 or older needs a Texas fishing license with a saltwater endorsement. Texas residents can buy the Saltwater Package for $35, and non-residents pay $63. If you're only fishing one day, the One-Day All-Water license costs $11 for residents and $16 for non-residents. Kids under 17 fish free.
Buy online from Texas Parks and Wildlife or at most bait shops and big-box stores. Keep it on your phone in the Texas Hunt & Fish app.
2. A simple setup that catches fish
- Rod and reel: a 7-foot medium-light spinning rod with a 2500 to 3000 size reel and 15 to 20 lb braid.
- Leader: 2 to 3 feet of 20 lb fluorocarbon tied to the braid.
- Popping cork rig: a popping cork, 2 to 3 feet of leader below it, and a size 1/0 kahle or circle hook.
- Bait: a quart of live shrimp from the bait stand. In warm months, live croaker or mullet catch bigger fish.
- Extras: needle-nose pliers, a measuring board or tape, a stringer or cooler with ice, sunscreen and polarized sunglasses.
Hook the shrimp just under the horn on its head, cast near grass edges, shell or drop-offs, and give the cork a sharp pop every 10 to 15 seconds. When the cork goes under, reel down and lift.
3. Easy places to start
You don't need a boat. These spots have parking and shoreline or pier access:
- Port Aransas: the jetties and Roberts Point Park along the ship channel.
- Corpus Christi: the JFK Causeway flats and Indian Point Park in Portland.
- Rockport: Goose Island State Park's pier and the Copano Bay causeway area.
- Seadrift: Bayfront Park and Swan Point on San Antonio Bay.
Every area page on Baycast lists its launch ramps and access points with directions.
4. Pick the right day and time
Wind decides most Coastal Bend fishing days. Under 15 knots, most water is fishable. Over 20 knots, the bays get muddy and rough. Check the live wind and the marine forecast on your area's conditions page before you leave home.
Fish early. The first two hours after sunrise and the hour around a tide change are usually best. Baycast's bite windows highlight the times when both line up.
5. Know what you can keep
| Fish | Daily bag | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Red drum (redfish) | 3 | 20 to 28 in |
| Spotted seatrout | 3 | 15 to 20 in |
| Black drum | 5 | 14 to 30 in |
| Southern flounder | 5 (0 from Nov 1 to Dec 14) | 15 in minimum |
These are Texas limits for September 2026 through August 2027. See our regulations summary for the details and tag rules.
6. Stay safe
- Shuffle your feet when wading to warn off stingrays.
- Get off the water when you hear thunder. Summer storms build fast over the bays.
- Wear a life jacket on any boat. Texas law requires kids under 13 to wear one while a boat under 26 feet is underway.
- Bring twice the water you think you need. It gets hot on the flats by 10 AM.