Best Fishing Spots on the Upper Texas Coast
Who doesn’t love a little quiet time in nature with a fishing pole in hand and baited with your favorite lure or bait? The Upper Texas Gulf Coast offers great fishing spots for anglers to enjoy. So, if you’re looking for the best fishing spots on the Upper Texas Coast, we’ve got you covered.
Texas Parks and Wildlife requires almost everyone over 17 to have a fishing license, and in public waters except in Texas State Parks, details and purchase options can be found here.
Jefferson County Fishing Spots
Let’s start with Jefferson County with the Big Thicket National Preserve, operated by the National Park Service. This park spreads across six counties, including Jefferson County. Kayak launch areas are popular spots for fishing along with the bay side. Plus, staff recommends Collier’s Ferry Park in Beaumont and Lower Neches Valley Authority’s Saltwater Barrier. During the summer, the Preserve offers two free family fishing days on Saturday, June 3 and Saturday, Aug. 26. While the Preserve doesn’t provide kayaks or canoes, there are nearby rentals. Check their calendar for details on the family fishing days. Texas Parks requires a fishing license to fish at this park.
Look for Sea Rim State Park in Sabine Pass in Jefferson County. It has 5.2 miles of Gulf shoreline and 4,000 marshlands. Visitors are welcome to fish in the surf or marsh areas. No Texas Fishing License is required.
Another great stop is Sabine Lake, a 90,000-acre saltwater estuary on the Texas-Louisiana border. The lake, some 14 miles long and 7 miles wide, is formed by the convergence of the Neches and Sabine rivers. The lake borders Texas’ Jefferson and Orange Counties and Louisiana’s Cameron Parish, and Port Arthur, Texas. Texas Parks requires a fishing license to fish at this park.
“Who doesn’t love a little quiet time in nature with a fishing pole in hand and baited with your favorite lure or bait? The Upper Texas Gulf Coast offers great fishing spots for anglers to enjoy.”
Galveston County Fishing Spots
Next up in Galveston County, aim for the Galveston Island State Park on the island’s west end. The State recently completed a $10.6 million redevelopment project at the park, including new campsites and three kayak launch locations. You can fish on the bay side or the beach side. In addition, the park offers canoe and kayak launches and a fish-cleaning station. You are not required to have a Texas Fishing License.
Another popular spot for fishing is Seawolf Park on Pelican Island, also in Galveston. The fishing pier at Seawolf Park is one of the most popular spots for fishermen on the island. The fishing pier is open to anglers 24 hours a day with a wristband. A fishing pass gives access to fish anywhere at the park. The park offers bathroom facilities, but anglers should bring their food and beverages. Seawolf Park is also home to the Galveston Naval Museum. Texas Parks requires a fishing license to fish at this park.
Brazoria County Fishing Spots
In Brazoria County, look for the Bastrop Bayou Public Fishing Area and the Salt Lake Public Fishing Area in Freeport. The parks are part of the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. The Bastrop Bayou Fishing Area offers a 200-foot pier, paved parking, and lights for night fishing. The Salt Lake Public Fishing Area is located near the Discover Center in the Big Slough Public Use Area. Texas Parks requires a fishing license to fish at this park.
In Brazoria County, you’ll fish at “one of the best-kept secrets on the Gulf Coast,” Quintana Beach County Park. This park is on Quintana Island. The small park offers a lighted fishing pier, an expansive boardwalk, covered pavilions, a full-service RV park, and quaint cabins available for rent. Texas Parks requires a fishing license to fish at this park.
Matagorda County Fishing Spots
In Matagorda County, you’ll want to fish at the Matagorda Bay Nature Park, operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). The park offers kayak rentals for paddling in the river, a boat launch, waterfront campsites, full RV hookups, and bungalow and airstream rentals. Texas Parks requires a fishing license to fish at this park.
For Matagorda County, there is Riverside Park in Bay City. The Park is on the Colorado River and is south of LCRA Dam. The city completed a $1.2 million renovation to the park and reopened in July 2020. Texas Parks requires a fishing license to fish at this park.
This list offers a sampling of things to do on the Upper Texas Coast. For more ideas, click Things to Do and search by category and download/bookmark our Trip Plans.
About Lone Star Coastal Alliance
The Lone Star Coastal Alliance is a 501(c)3 created to preserve and promote the upper Texas Gulf Coast region in a manner that enhances coastal resilience while fostering economic development focused on conservation and tourism, elevating the unique natural, cultural, and historical assets of the region and benefitting quality of life within the communities.
