When red snapper are around Port O’Connor
Second To None Charters lists seasonal state snapper trips from November to April. Capt. Bill Cannan says bottom trips for red snapper run all year. Which one applies on a given day depends on where you fish; the Regulations section below covers that. Region-wide coverage is in the wider Gulf of Mexico guide.
Red snapper fishing out of Port O’Connor ranges from a reef about 6 miles off the jetties to structure up to 60 miles out. The north and south jetties are the Gulf entrance, and Keeping it Wild Reef and MI 712 are the two named grounds that bracket the run. This guide covers when the fish are around, how far boats run, the grounds and their depths, how locals fish them, and who runs trips. The Port O’Connor port guide covers the run out and where to read conditions, and the red snapper guide covers the fish and the wider Gulf picture.
How far boats run
8-hour trips run 15-25 miles offshore, and 10-hour trips run up to 60 miles. Texas Fins and Feathers runs about 40 miles on its 8-hour offshore trip.
| Trip length | Distance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 8 hours | 15-25 mi | Typical charter pattern |
| 8 hours | About 40 mi | Texas Fins and Feathers |
| 10 hours | Up to 60 mi | Typical charter pattern |
Keeping it Wild Reef sits about 6 miles from the jetties, well inside the shortest charter run.
Fuel is the main planning number. A 60-mile run is 120 miles round trip before any time on the spot, and a 40-mile run is 80 miles round trip.
Grounds and structure off Port O’Connor
Moving outward, the sequence is the jetties, the flat to Bird Island, Keeping it Wild Reef, MI 712, and then rigs, wrecks, rocks and ridges.
| Ground | Depth |
|---|---|
| Keeping it Wild Reef | 66-70 ft |
| Matagorda Island 712 (MI 712) | 130 ft |
Jetties and the Bird Island flat
The Port O’Connor jetties, north and south, and the flat out to Bird Island are the Gulf entrance for POC boats.
Keeping it Wild Reef
Keeping it Wild Reef is the nearshore reef site for Port O’Connor, about 6 miles out from the POC jetties in 66-70 ft. Details on the build are in the Keeping it Wild reef project write-up.
MI 712
Matagorda Island 712 (MI 712) is a reef in 130 ft, roughly twice the depth of Keeping it Wild Reef. The Texas Parks and Wildlife release covers the site.
Rigs, wrecks and rocks
Stops on the 8- and 10-hour runs include oil rigs, sunken ships, natural rocks and ridges.
How red snapper are fished here
POC Offshore says snapper are normally caught on live or cut bait on or near the bottom, per its POC Offshore trip details. The method is the same at the 6-mile reef and at a rig 60 miles out.
Who fishes red snapper out of Port O’Connor
These operators list red snapper out of Port O’Connor. For how booking a captain works, see the reef fish charters and guides page.
POC Offshore Adventures
Runs a 31′ Twin Vee catamaran, listed at fishingpoc.com. It is the source of the bait method above.
Texas Fins and Feathers
Capt. Robert Peel, listed at texas-fins-and-feathers.com. The 8-hour trip runs about 40 miles.
Captain Bill Cannan
Capt. Bill Cannan fishes the 36′ Yellowfin BIDNEZ with triple Yamaha F250s, listed at billcannan.com. He says bottom trips for red snapper run all year.
Port O’Connor Coastal Outfitters
Capt. Mark Ueding, 34′ Fountain, listed at portoconnorcoastaloutfitters.com.
Tight Lines Guide Service
Capt. Jonathan Dugi, listed at tightlines.fishing.
Second To None Charters
Capt. Josh, with other guides available for large groups, listed at secondtononecharters.com. Lists seasonal state snapper trips from November to April.
FAQ: red snapper fishing out of Port O’Connor
How far is the closest reef from Port O’Connor?
Keeping it Wild Reef is about 6 miles out from the POC jetties, in 66-70 ft.
How deep is MI 712?
Matagorda Island 712 (MI 712) is in 130 ft.
Can you fish red snapper out of Port O’Connor all year?
Second To None Charters lists seasonal state snapper trips from November to April. Capt. Bill Cannan says bottom trips for red snapper run all year. See the Regulations section above for which rules apply where you fish.
How far do 8-hour and 10-hour trips run?
8-hour trips run 15-25 miles, with Texas Fins and Feathers at about 40 miles. 10-hour trips run up to 60 miles.
What bait do locals use for snapper?
POC Offshore says snapper are normally caught on live or cut bait on or near the bottom.
