Hey guys - I've never fished in Texas but my family and I would like to vacation there some time. How far offshore do you need to head to get into dolphin, bonito, tuna, kingfish, wahoo, etc? We usually fish the Florida Keys and it's close enough for me to use my 19.5 foot center console. Is it small boat territory off the Texas coast or should I be chartering and fishing inshore from my own boat? Thanks.

The tuna are out of reach, TTBMOMK. Dolphin, king, wahoo and snapper are easily within reach depending on where you leave from. The Texas gulf gets deeper quicker, the further south you go. Its easier out of Freeport than Galveston. Freeport has some good spots at 8 miles and then on out to blue water up to about 30 miles.

Beyond that, you have to go to the East Breaks which are 70 miles or so, too far for your boat I'd think.

Thanks. My comfort zone is about 15 miles. 20-25 miles on the nicest of days. Where I fish on the mid-Atlantic coast, that gets me into bonita, small dolphin, false albacore, mackerel, bluefish and football size bluefin. Are the grouper wrecks within reach as well? I would plan my vacation in an area where the fishing was close. Thanks again.

There is nothing close except King mackeral,Spanish Mackeral, small snapper, bonita, maybe a ling or 2

Yep, you can catch grouper around any rig or platform once you reach a water depth of over 80' or so. Of course in Texas, you can't keep any of them. Catch and release only.

I would look south, like Port Mansfield or Port Isabel.

15-20 miles out of Port Mansfield would put you in good Kingfish, Snapper, and possibly Blackfin Tuna territory. Some Grouper may be caught as well, but don't expect to catch many grouper.

If I were looking to have a good time within 15-20 miles, Port Mansfield would be my first choice.

Neb,

Where does the regs say you can't keep a grouper? I have never heard of that. I know you can't keep any Goliath Grouper (jewfish), but gags, blacks, marbled, snowy, etc... should be fine.

BTW- I am just curious if this is something new or if you mean in State Waters?

Ahh, my fault, you're right. It is just the Goliath Grouper.

Here is the complete listing:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/fish/limits_saltwater/

Thanks. Yeah, goliath are protected everywhere. I've only caught one in my life. It was about 40 lbs and they call it a baby or juvenile. If it was a red, black or gag it would have been a trophy. I guess when a fish reaches 800 lbs, 40 lbs is a baby.

We catch lots of snapper bonita and kings about 15 miles out of Mansfield. Your boat should handle it no problem.

25 miles on the nicest of days???? the huge bull doradoes and 40# and up kings can be had at about 65 miles out of sabine pass. the west cameron oil fields are usually really productive plus there's always huge weedlines on the way out...dorado can always be seen at the edges of the weed feeding in early morning hours

So how far is it from Port Mansfield to the jetties? It's been years since I been there. From what I remember it's a pretty good run. Gotten soaked more then once in the cross chop before we even got to the gulf!

That was always a pain at Port Mansfield, Port A was always much easier on the wallet. Now so especially with gas at almost $3 a gallon. Fishing was never as good though and I guess that is what counts.