Port O’Connor boats reach the Gulf through the jetties, and blue marlin fishing out of the port comes down to trolling, a long local season and one July tournament. The species itself is covered in our blue marlin guide. This page gives the season window, the run out, two named reefs with depths, how the fish are worked and who fishes for them.
When Blue Marlin Are Around Port O’Connor
The wider picture is in our guide to blue marlin across the Gulf (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide). The local timing comes from two sources: a working charter and a tournament.
| Source | Window | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Charter trips | April to December | Blue-water trolling for blue marlin |
| Lone Star Shootout | Usually July | Weighed blue marlin, held out of POC |
April to December
Capt. Bill Cannan runs blue-water trolling trips for blue marlin from April to December. That is a booking window for trips and says nothing about how many fish are around in a given month.
July and the Lone Star Shootout
The Lone Star Shootout is held out of POC, usually in July, and weighs blue marlin. July falls inside Cannan’s April to December window.
Running Out of Port O’Connor
Port O’Connor boats use the north and south jetties and the flat out to Bird Island as the Gulf entrance. That entrance is the first leg of any blue marlin run out of the port.
The Jetties and the Flat to Bird Island
The route out has few landmarks and a lot of open water. Before leaving the dock, read the official marine forecast and plan around wind speed, wave height and period.
Leaving and Returning in Tournament Week
Tournament boats leave from the Little Jetties and must return to POC to weigh fish, so the run back is part of the plan from the start.
Grounds and Structure Off Port O’Connor
Two named reefs and the jetty entrance provide the structure to work from. The table runs from shallow to deep.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Port O’Connor jetties (north and south) | none | Gulf entrance for POC boats, with the flat out to Bird Island |
| Keeping it Wild Reef | 66-70 | Port O’Connor nearshore reef site |
| Matagorda Island 712 (MI 712) reef | 130 | Named deeper structure |
Both reefs can be saved as waypoints. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Keeping it Wild Reef
Keeping it Wild Reef is a Port O’Connor nearshore reef site in 66-70 ft of water.
MI 712 Reef
Matagorda Island 712, shortened to MI 712, is a reef in 130 ft of water.
How Blue Marlin Are Fished Here and Who Fishes Them
Trolling is the local method. The people fishing it are a charter captain and the tournament teams.
Trolling
Cannan lists trolling for his blue-water trips.
Capt. Bill Cannan
Capt. Bill Cannan’s charter site lists blue-water trolling trips for blue marlin from April to December. He fishes a 36′ Yellowfin "BIDNEZ" with triple Yamaha F250s. Anyone who wants to see the water with a local captain before running their own boat could start with him. There are also more billfish captains to look at.
Lone Star Shootout Teams
Teams leave from the Little Jetties and weigh at POC. Weighed blue marlin must meet a 106-inch minimum. Check the tournament’s scoring rules before entering.
FAQ: Blue Marlin Fishing Out of Port O’Connor
When is blue marlin season out of Port O’Connor?
April to December. That is the window Capt. Bill Cannan lists for his blue-water trolling trips for blue marlin.
What is the Lone Star Shootout minimum for blue marlin?
106 inches for weighed blue marlin. The tournament is usually held in July.
Where do Lone Star Shootout boats leave from?
The Little Jetties. Boats must return to POC to weigh fish.
How deep is the MI 712 reef?
130 ft. Keeping it Wild Reef is shallower, at 66-70 ft.
Is there a local charter for blue marlin out of Port O’Connor?
Yes. Capt. Bill Cannan fishes a 36′ Yellowfin "BIDNEZ" with triple Yamaha F250s and lists blue-water trolling trips for blue marlin from April to December.
How are blue marlin fished out of Port O’Connor?
Trolling. It is the method Cannan lists for his blue-water trips.
