Top Fishing Spots in Port O’Connor, TX You Need to Try

Whether you’re a weekend angler or a seasoned pro, one of the biggest challenges in saltwater fishing is knowing where to go. In Port O’Connor, Texas, the variety of available spots—from protected back bays to open Gulf passes—means there’s always a place to fish, no matter the tide, season, or skill level.

With help from local experts like Captain Wes Bodden, Fishing Guide of Lured Out, anglers can pinpoint the most productive waters and enjoy consistent action all year. This article highlights the top fishing spots in Port O’Connor, what you can expect to catch, and how to fish them effectively.

1. Espiritu Santo Bay
Espiritu Santo Bay is a top destination for redfish and speckled trout thanks to its vast flats, grassy potholes, and tidal movement. Known for its clear water and sight-fishing opportunities, this bay is ideal for wading, poling, or casting from a shallow-draft boat.

What to target:

  • Redfish (tailing on the flats)
  • Speckled trout
  • Occasional flounder along grass edges

Best tactics:

  • Soft plastics on light jig heads
  • Weedless spoons and topwater lures
  • Live shrimp under popping corks

2. Shoalwater Bay
Nestled between Espiritu Santo Bay and the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway), Shoalwater Bay is a calm, protected body of water that’s perfect for small skiffs, kayaks, and wade anglers. The shallow water here often holds redfish and flounder, especially around marsh drains and grassy points.

What to target:

  • Redfish
  • Flounder
  • Black drum

Best tactics:

  • Wade fishing with soft plastics
  • Drifting marsh edges with live bait
  • Throwing gold spoons for redfish

This is also a great place for beginner anglers, thanks to its forgiving currents and easy access.

3. Pass Cavallo
For more adventurous anglers, Pass Cavallo is where the bays meet the Gulf of Mexico—and where bull redfish, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, and even tarpon sometimes prowl. The pass offers deep water, heavy current, and plenty of structure.

What to target:

  • Bull redfish (especially in fall)
  • Spanish mackerel
  • Jack crevalle
  • Tarpon (seasonal)

Best tactics:

  • Cut mullet on fish finder rigs
  • Heavy spoons and jigs for fast-moving predators
  • Drifting with live bait during tide changes

This spot can be dangerous without experience, so hiring a guide is highly recommended when fishing the pass.

4. Big Bayou & Little Mary’s Cut
These tidal channels connect marsh and bay systems, funneling baitfish and shrimp during tide changes. Redfish and flounder often stage along the edges, while trout stack up near bends and deeper holes.

What to target:

  • Redfish
  • Flounder
  • Trout

Best tactics:

  • Drifting or anchoring near current breaks
  • Carolina-rigged live bait or shrimp
  • Paddle tail soft plastics

These are highly productive during moving tides, especially when the water is clear and bait is present.

5. Matagorda Bay Reefs
The outer edges of Matagorda Bay near Port O’Connor are home to numerous shell reefs and drop-offs where trout, redfish, and black drum gather. These deeper areas offer action even in colder or windier weather.

What to target:

  • Speckled trout
  • Redfish
  • Black drum

Best tactics:

  • Drift fishing with plastics or shrimp
  • Anchoring up-current of reef edges
  • Casting suspending twitch baits for big trout

Reefs hold fish nearly year-round, especially in spring and fall when baitfish numbers are high.

6. Powderhorn Lake
This protected lake area lies near the Powderhorn Ranch Wildlife Management Area and is excellent for flats fishing, kayak trips, and fly casting. Its mix of grass, mud, and shell provides ideal habitat for redfish and trout.

What to target:

  • Redfish
  • Trout
  • Occasional sheepshead

Best tactics:

  • Shallow-running lures for redfish
  • Sight-casting to tailing fish on calm days
  • Soft plastics near drop-offs and points

7. Barroom Bay
Barroom Bay is often overlooked, but it holds solid fish, especially during incoming tides and when winds push bait in from Espiritu Santo Bay. It’s a good place for boaters or waders looking for trout, reds, and flounder.

What to target:

  • Trout
  • Redfish
  • Flounder

Best tactics:

  • Topwaters early, plastics later
  • Shrimp on jig heads
  • Slow-rolling bait along the bottom for flounder

8. The Jetties
Just outside of Pass Cavallo, the Port O’Connor jetties provide excellent structure for a wide range of species. Rocks hold bait, and deeper holes attract predatory fish like redfish, drum, and even sharks.

What to target:

  • Bull reds
  • Black drum
  • Sheepshead
  • Sharks (seasonal)

Best tactics:

  • Live or cut bait on bottom rigs
  • Heavier tackle to avoid rock snags
  • Fishing early or during slack tide for safety

9. ICW (Intracoastal Waterway)
The ICW is a highway for fish and boats alike. You’ll find fish ambushing bait along the edges, especially around pilings, drop-offs, and inflow points.

What to target:

  • Trout
  • Flounder
  • Redfish

Best tactics:

  • Bounce jigs along the bottom structure
  • Fish shrimp or mud minnows on Carolina rigs
  • Troll crankbaits or soft swimbaits

10. Local Drains and Back Lakes
Small back lakes and marsh drains surround Port O’Connor, often only accessible by small boats or kayaks. These areas are magnets for flounder and redfish, especially on outgoing tides.

What to target:

  • Flounder
  • Redfish

 

Best tactics:

  • Quietly approach in shallow water
  • Cast toward drain mouths with bait or jig
  • Gigging at night during fall migration

From calm flats to powerful Gulf passes, Port O’Connor is a playground for anglers of every level. With so many productive areas to choose from, it pays to do your homework—or better yet, fish with a local guide.

Captain Wes Bodden of Lured Out knows these waters inside and out. Whether you want to chase trout on the reefs or sight-cast to reds in a back lake, he’ll put you in the right spot with the right setup.