When cobia are off Port Aransas
Cobia fishing out of Port Aransas peaks May through September, according to the Coastal Charters TX fishing calendar. Every distance on this page is measured from the Port Aransas jetties. Spring fish sit close to the beach, and summer fish sit far out.
Spring
The Port Aransas species table lists ling from April, and the calendar peak opens in May. If you want the shorter runs, plan around the front edge of the season.
Summer
All three sources cover June through September, so that overlap is the safest window if you are picking travel dates.
How the sources differ
| Source | Window | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Port Aransas fishing calendar | May through September | Peak |
| Gulf cobia season overview (see also the Gulf of Mexico region guide) | June through September | Peak |
| Port Aransas species table, "Ling (Cobia)" | April through October | Listing window |
The third row measures something different from the first two: a listing window shows when the species appears on charter menus, while a peak shows when fishing is best.
How far boats run
Summer boats run to color breaks 30 to 50 miles out, per the calendar. Spring boats stay well inside that.
- Spring: between the jetties and the first rigs
- Summer: color breaks 30 to 50 miles out
- Reference point: the Port Aransas jetties
Spring: jetties to the first rigs
Spring fish sit between the jetties and the first rigs. Run that stretch slowly and read the water. The nearshore grounds in the next section fall in this zone.
Summer: color breaks 30 to 50 miles out
That range lies past the mid-range reefs in the table below and reaches the deepest named ground. Boats run to find the right water rather than a single mark.
Grounds and structure that hold cobia
The named grounds run from 60 ft at 6 nautical miles to 274 ft at 46 nautical miles from the jetties.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Distance from the jetties |
|---|---|---|
| Port Aransas Reef | 60 | 6 nautical miles southeast |
| Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef (MU-802) | 110 | 18 nautical miles southeast |
| 828 Reef (MU-828 jacket reefs) | 165 | 27 nautical miles |
| A-16 Reef | 272 | 36 nautical miles |
| A-85 Reef | 274 | 46 nautical miles |
| TPWD nearshore reef (160 acres) | 70 | State waters between Packery Channel and Port Aransas |
| Lonestar Reef | State waters near Port Aransas | |
| Boatman’s Reef | State waters near Port Aransas |
Reef positions are available as layers in the app. Chart layers are not for navigation.
State waters nearshore
The TPWD nearshore reef covers 160 acres in 70 ft, between Packery Channel and Port Aransas. Lonestar Reef and Boatman’s Reef sit in state waters near Port Aransas. Port Aransas Reef is the closest numbered ground, at 60 ft and 6 nautical miles southeast. This group fits the spring pattern between the jetties and the first rigs.
Mid-range reefs
MU-802 sits in 110 ft, 18 nautical miles southeast. The 828 Reef jacket reefs sit in 165 ft, 27 nautical miles out. Both fall inside the 5 to 20 mile half-day band or near its outer edge.
Deep reefs
A-16 sits in 272 ft, 36 nautical miles out, and A-85 in 274 ft, 46 nautical miles out. Both fall within the 30 to 50 mile summer color-break range.
How cobia are fished from this port
Half-day trips run 5 to 20 miles out, per the Port Aransas tourism summary of charter menus. General tackle and technique are covered in our cobia fishing guide.
The half-day pattern
Mapped onto the table, that 5 to 20 mile band takes in Port Aransas Reef at 6 nautical miles and MU-802 at 18 nautical miles. The summer color breaks at 30 to 50 miles fall outside it, so a half-day plan and a summer color-break plan are separate trips.
Who fishes them
Coastal Charters TX lists cobia and runs the boats Bellagio and Standaman. Ling are a regular target on the charter menus here. For the broader offshore picture, see the coastal offshore gamefish guides.
FAQ: cobia fishing out of Port Aransas
When is cobia season off Port Aransas?
Peak is May through September per the calendar and June through September per the Gulf overview. The species table lists ling April through October.
How far is the closest numbered reef?
Port Aransas Reef sits in 60 ft, 6 nautical miles southeast of the jetties.
What is the deepest named ground?
A-85 Reef, in 274 ft at 46 nautical miles.
How far do summer boats run?
To color breaks 30 to 50 miles out, per the calendar.
Do the rules differ by ground?
Yes. The state-waters reefs fall under TPWD. The farther grounds lie outside state waters, so check both state and federal rules before fishing.
