King mackerel fishing out of Freeport follows two windows on the Brazosport calendar: April nearshore, and July and August offshore. The George Vancouver Liberty Ship Reef (BA-336) sits in 60 ft, 9 nautical miles from the Freeport jetties. This guide covers when kingfish show, where boats run, which named structure to work, and who fishes for kings from this port.
When Kings Are Off Freeport
The Brazosport calendar sets the timing, so read the grounds below against its two windows. For the wider picture, see how kings move through the Gulf (see also the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide).
| Window | Where the calendar puts kings | Grounds to read against it |
|---|---|---|
| April | Nearshore | Freeport jetties, BA-336 at 9 nm |
| July and August | Offshore | Platform clusters and ledges at 60-120 ft, East Bank, Buccaneer Field |
April nearshore
The Brazosport calendar lists kings nearshore in April, so the fishing stays on the closer water: the jetties and BA-336 at 9 nm.
July and August offshore
The calendar moves kings offshore in July and August. The grounds to look at are the platform clusters and ledges at 60-120 ft, then East Bank and Buccaneer Field.
Tournament weekend
The Texas Champions King Mackerel Tournament is usually held the second Friday and Saturday of July, with the weigh-in at Surfside Marina. That falls inside the offshore window, so teams are fishing the same water the calendar points to.
Where Boats Run
King mackerel fishing out of Freeport is a nearshore Gulf fishery. Surfside Beach Charters lists kingfish on its state-water trips, which gives a sense of how much of the fishery runs in state water. Surfside Marina is the tournament weigh-in and the summer focal point.
Plan the run in nautical miles, using BA-336 at 9 nm as the anchor for the near grounds. Check the official marine forecast before you go.
Grounds and Structure That Hold Kings
Work from the jetties outward, matching each step to the calendar:
- Freeport jetties (Surfside Jetty, Freeport South Jetty): the rock jetties at the entrance.
- George Vancouver Liberty Ship Artificial Reef (BA-336): artificial reef, 60 ft, 9 nm from the jetties.
- Freeport Liberty Ship (Liberty Shipwreck) reef: reef, 100 ft.
- Nearshore platform clusters and natural ledges: 60-120 ft.
- East Bank reef system: reef system.
- Buccaneer Field: offshore field.
- Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: reached on overnight charters.
The named reefs and structure appear in the app’s chart layers. Those layers are not for navigation.
Freeport jetties
The Surfside Jetty and the Freeport South Jetty are where every run starts. They are also the reference point for BA-336’s 9 nm.
Liberty Ship reefs
BA-336 is listed at 60 ft, 9 nm from the jetties, and the Freeport Liberty Ship reef at 100 ft. Both sit at the April nearshore end of the calendar.
Platform clusters and natural ledges
The 60-120 ft band is the step out between the nearshore reefs and the farther grounds, and it leads into the July and August window.
East Bank and Buccaneer Field
East Bank and Buccaneer Field are the offshore grounds for July and August. Tournament teams head there in July.
Flower Garden Banks
The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is reachable from Freeport on overnight charters.
How Kings Are Fished Here
King mackerel fishing out of Freeport ranges from short state-water trips to overnight runs. The local formats:
- State-water kingfish trips: the Surfside Beach Charters format.
- 4-hour trips: run on a 31 ft boat.
- 33 ft Contender trips: run by Texas Deep Sea Fishing Charters.
- Overnight runs: out to the Flower Garden Banks.
- Tournament weekend runs: to the offshore grounds in July.
For general technique, tackle and biology, see the king mackerel methods and rigging guide.
Who Fishes for Kings Out of Freeport
- Texas Deep Sea Fishing Charters lists king mackerel. The fleet includes a 33 ft Contender and a 31 ft boat for 4-hour trips.
- Surfside Beach Charters lists kingfish on its state-water trips. Captain Kevin Martin runs it.
- Tournament teams fish the Texas Champions King Mackerel Tournament and weigh in at Surfside Marina.
Many of the same boats also target the other offshore gamefish on this coast.
If you run your own boat, the grounds list gives the order to work them. If you are weighing a charter instead, start with the listings above.
FAQ: King Mackerel Out of Freeport
When are king mackerel off Freeport?
The Brazosport calendar lists kings in April nearshore and in July and August offshore.
How far is BA-336 from the Freeport jetties?
The George Vancouver Liberty Ship Artificial Reef (BA-336) is 9 nautical miles from the Freeport jetties, in 60 ft.
What depth is the Freeport Liberty Ship reef?
It is listed at 100 ft.
When is the Texas Champions King Mackerel Tournament?
It is usually the second Friday and Saturday of July. The weigh-in is at Surfside Marina.
Which Freeport charters list kingfish?
Texas Deep Sea Fishing Charters runs a 33 ft Contender and a 31 ft boat for 4-hour trips. Surfside Beach Charters, with Captain Kevin Martin, lists kingfish on state-water trips.
Can you reach the Flower Garden Banks from Freeport?
Yes, on overnight charters.
