The 7 Best Saltwater Fish to Catch in Texas This Summer

Quick Take

• One of the most sought-after game fish on this list can weigh up to 280 pounds, yet you'd never want to eat it. Meet the massive tarpon →
• Not every fish here requires an expensive offshore charter, though getting the wrong one wrong could still mean an empty cooler. Try surf fishing redfish →
• Texas summer heat is actually your biggest fishing advantage, and there is a biological reason why the timing matters.
• One fish on this list inspired its own local Texas dish, one you've probably never ordered but really should. Discover the flounder dish →

Summer saltwater fishing in Texas offers opportunities across the Gulf Coast, where hot weather triggers frenzied fish feeding as rising water temperatures speed up their cold-blooded metabolism, increasing their energy needs. Both surf fishing along the beaches and deep-sea excursions that run past the breakers are popular ways to snag an impressive specimen or a tasty treat. Continue reading to discover the best saltwater fish to catch in Texas this summer.

Spanish Mackerel

Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) are a type of ray-finned saltwater species commonly referred to as seer fish. They’re a migratory species, and summer is the perfect time to catch them in Texas.

You can surf fish for Spanish mackerel. For the best results, use medium spinning gear. Since mackerel feed on estuarine species, some of the best live baits include live bait fish and live shrimp. You can also use sardines and still get a lot of bites.

Once you catch a few, you’ll be in for a real treat. They’re one of the best-tasting finfish worldwide and work with all sorts of recipes. You can fry, bake, grill, smoke, or poach mackerel. It makes incredible barbecue, too, if you marinate it a bit. Mackerel is also commonly used in Asian and South Pacific cuisines.

Southern Flounder

Southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) are flat, uniquely asymmetrical ambush predators with both eyes on their upper left side and a mottled brown skin.

In Texas, summer Southern flounder catches average 15 to 20 inches in length and weigh two to five pounds. Docks, jetties, and marsh drains are great places to cast a line. Southern flounder is widely considered a culinary delicacy with sweet, firm white meat.

Redfish

Opportunities abound when surf fishing for redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus), also called red drum, puppy drum, and channel bass, along the Texas coast. Their copper-bronze bodies are adorned with a signature black spot near the tail.

Redfish average 20 to 28 inches in length and weigh four to eight pounds, although larger specimens have been recorded that exceed 35 inches in length and weigh up to 25 pounds.

Smaller-sized redfish are considered a coastal culinary delicacy, consisting of a mild, sweet flavor and firm, flaky white meat..

Atlantic Tarpon

Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), also called silver king, features a sleek, streamlined body covered in brilliant silver scales, dark greenish or bluish backs, a protruding lower jaw, and an upward-pointing mouth. Mature tarpon typically measure 4 to 8 feet long and weigh between 60 and 280 pounds. During the summer, warm waters draw these premier sport fish into shallow Texas bays, coastal passes, and nearshore beachfronts.

Anglers generally do not need to go offshore, as tarpon can be caught from the surf. Despite their popularity as hard-fighting game fish, tarpon are not a culinary delicacy. Their flesh is considered unpalatable. Texas maintains strict regulations and high-protection standards for the species, allowing anglers to keep one tarpon per day with a minimum length of 85 inches, though most tarpon fishing is catch-and-release due to the large size requirement.

Blackfin Tuna

Blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus) cannot be caught from shore. You’ll need to charter a boat if you want to try your luck with these schooling pelagics. They are torpedo-shaped, with a dark bluish-black back, a silvery belly, and a faint golden or iridescent stripe along their sides. An average blackfin tuna measures between 20 and 30 inches long and weighs 10 to 25 pounds.

The peak season for catching blackfin tuna in Texas is from July through fall. Some of the best spots include South Padre Island, Freeport, and Port Aransas. You’ll have to go about 60 miles offshore to find this tuna. There is no established statewide bag or size limit for blackfin tuna in Texas, but always check for any local or federal regulations before fishing.

Blackfin tuna are delicious, especially when fresh. In Texas, tuna nachos often refer to blackfin tuna nachos, which are a local favorite.

Mahi Mahi

Mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), also called dorado, dolphin, or dolphin fish, is a large, deep-sea species. These colorful fish are an iridescent mix of electric blue and green backs with golden-yellow sides. An average mahi mahi is between three and six feet long and weighs an average of 15 to 30 pounds.

In the summertime, gulf anglers typically run 20 to 50 miles offshore to target mahi mahi around floating debris or weed lines. Mahi mahi are incredible, hard-charging fighters that are prized by sport fishermen for their tenacity.

Mahi mahi is celebrated as a culinary delicacy, known for its lean, sweet, white flesh and firm, meaty texture.

Red Snapper

Fishing for red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a popular pastime in the Gulf of Mexico. Red snapper have a vibrant, deep rosy-red body, a sloped triangular profile, sharp canine teeth, and striking red eyes. Typical catches average 22 inches in length and weigh between 4 and 10 pounds, though some recorded specimens have weighed up to 50 pounds.

While Texas state waters (up to 9 nautical miles offshore) permit year-round harvest, summer limits are enforced in federal waters, beyond 9 nautical miles out to sea. Red snapper is a culinary treat, renowned for its lean, moist texture and mild, sweet flavor profile.