South Padre & Port Isabel
This is the bottom of the state and the only stretch of Texas where snook are a realistic target rather than a story. Brazos Santiago Pass runs 42 feet deep between South Padre and Brazos Island with commercial traffic to the Port of Brownsville going through it, and the north jetty is walk-on from Isla Blanca Park. Behind the island lies the hypersaline Lower Laguna Madre; seventeen miles offshore lies the Texas Clipper, the best-documented wreck on the Texas coast. Three different structures here have been called "the causeway", and untangling them is half of understanding the place.
Piers & platforms
Queen Isabella State Fishing Pier (the old causeway)
The best story on this stretch of coast: a highway that became a pier that is becoming a reef. The 1954 causeway was replaced in the early 1970s and the old bridge went to Texas Parks and Wildlife, which ran it as a leased concession on a one-acre park. TSHA lists speckled trout, sand trout, croaker, sheepshead and gafftop catfish among the catch. After decommissioning, the submerged bridge sections accumulated marine growth and became an accidental artificial reef. It is now being removed: the western end has deteriorated into a navigation hazard, and TPWD and the Texas General Land Office are taking out the remaining 3,187-ft structure and repurposing its concrete into a purpose-built artificial reef. Take care with third-party listing sites: several still advertise a Queen Isabella State Fishing Pier with 24-hour access and equipment rentals at 501 E Maxan Street in Port Isabel, but that is Pirate's Landing's address and the aggregators have merged the two. The old state pier's operating status is unconfirmed and probably defunct given the removal project. Do not drive down on the strength of a listing page.
Pirate’s Landing Fishing Pier
A commercial pay pier with a bait shop, snack bar, restrooms and a restaurant; the fee is listed at $9.00. Redfish, speckled trout and flounder are the standard catch. It is described as the longest pier in Texas, and that claim has no number behind it that we can cite: no published length in feet, and no operator statement. Given that Pirate's Landing is built on part of the old causeway alignment the claim is plausible, but the relationship between this pier and the old Queen Isabella structure needs untangling before anyone asserts it as fact.
Jim’s Pier
A long-standing South Padre institution on the Laguna Madre bay side, with a fully stocked bait and tackle shop, equipment rentals and charter services. It is listed as free, which would be unusual for a commercial marina pier and which we have not been able to confirm. Length, history, hours and lighting are likewise unpublished. Redfish, flounder and speckled trout are the listed catch.
Isla Blanca Park jetty access
Not a pier, but the shore-fishing access everyone uses. The jetties at the southern tip of South Padre are free to fish once you are in the park, and they produce kingfish, Spanish mackerel and snook, with access to deep water. Park entrance fees run $11 to $15 with additional parking charges, so the fishing is free and the parking is not. A bait stand sits at the head of the rocks.
Andy Bowie Park
A Cameron County Gulf-beach park with beach access, pavilion and parking. It is a beach-access and surf-fishing site rather than a pier site. We could not reach a current Cameron County Parks page for it and will not publish details we cannot source.
Jetties & passes
Brazos Santiago Pass jetties
The pass lies in the Lower Laguna Madre at the southernmost Gulf coast of Texas. It runs 1.14 miles with a water depth of 42 ft, and the jetties are a quarter of a mile apart. The South Padre Island jetty extends 0.6 miles from the shoreline; the Boca Chica jetty extends roughly 0.3 miles into Brazos Island's continental margin. In feet, that is about 3,170 and about 1,580. Construction dates are not established: Wikipedia attributes the works to a series of Rivers and Harbors Acts between 1878 and 1960 without dating the jetties, and the granite source is undocumented. The north jetty is reached on foot from Isla Blanca Park at 1 Bait Shop Rd: drive south on Padre Boulevard and follow the park roads to the southern end, where a bait stand sits at the head of the rocks. The south jetty is on Boca Chica Beach with no bridge, reachable by boat or by driving Boca Chica Beach when SpaceX has not closed it. Patient anglers here prize snook, sheepshead and the occasional tarpon, with kingfish and Spanish mackerel off the rocks. This is the most reliable snook jetty in Texas. Forty-two feet of water and commercial traffic bound for the Port of Brownsville moving through a quarter-mile gap means serious tidal flow; treat the current as the main hazard.
Reefs, wrecks & structure
Texas Clipper artificial reef · sunk ship
Four lives in one hull. First, USS Queens (AP-103, later APA-103), built at Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard in Maryland, laid down 2 March 1944 and launched 12 September 1944, serving as an attack transport in the last phase of the Second World War. TPWD notes she was the first attack troop transport to reach Iwo Jima. Second, SS Excambion: converted in 1948 to a transatlantic liner and renamed, one of the four "Four Aces" of American Export Lines running New York to Mediterranean ports with passengers and cargo. In 1957 she was found carrying heroin connected to the French Connection. Third, USTS Texas Clipper: acquired in 1965 as a merchant marine training vessel for the Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University Galveston, serving thirty years, which TPWD dates 1965 to 1996. During reefing preparation an eleven-panel mural by Saul Steinberg was found under wallpaper inside the ship, valued at at least six figures. Fourth, the reef. She was transferred to TPWD in 2006, and the 473-ft hull was sunk on 17 November 2007 at 26 degrees 11 minutes 24.695 seconds north, 96 degrees 51 minutes 40.238 seconds west. Depth figures differ and the spread is normal for a wreck on a sloping sand bottom: Wikipedia gives 132 ft, TPWD says the vessel settled to 134 ft on hard sand, and the local dive operator quotes approximately 136 ft. She lies on her port side with her highest point 70 ft below the surface; most diving happens in the 80 to 90 ft range. By the early 2010s roughly 200 species of fish occupied the wreck, and TPWD credits the Clipper with more than $1 million a year from anglers and $1.4 to $2 million from divers.
South Padre Island / Port Isabel nearshore reef artificial reef
The largest Texas nearshore reef site at over 380 acres, approved in 1987, holding reef balls, oil rig legs, a tugboat and a Navy barge. A site code appears in the scientific literature for a South Padre Island Artificial Reef 11.3 km east of Port Isabel, but 11.3 km is 6.1 nm rather than 7, and east is not southeast, so we do not publish the code as being this site. They are probably the same place described sloppily by one of the two sources.
The old Queen Isabella Causeway reef artificial reef
The concrete of the 1954 causeway, removed as a navigation hazard, is being repurposed into a purpose-built 320-acre reef site about ten miles from the SPI jetties, targeted for completion in summer 2025 and aimed partly at year-round state-water red snapper. Whether it was in fact completed, and its official name and site code, we cannot confirm. The old bridge had already been functioning as an accidental reef for years where its submerged sections accumulated marine growth; this makes the accident deliberate.
Port Mansfield Liberty Ship Reef (fished from here) liberty ship reef
Named for Port Mansfield but fished and dived mostly out of Port Isabel and South Padre, because the East Cut shoals and Brazos Santiago does not. Three 440-ft 1940s Liberty ships established in the 1970s by the TPWD Artificial Reef Program, giving 10 to 20 ft of relief, plus four decommissioned oil platform jackets rising to as much as 60 ft of relief across nine positions. The individual ship names are not identified in any source we can read. TPWD publishes a brochure for the site.
The year on this water
Live scores for this region run on the Bite Map; seasons and limits on the season pages — never from memory.
A dash of history
1851–1853 · Port Isabel Lighthouse
Built between 1851 and 1853 and permanently abandoned in 1905 after shipping traffic declined. It had been repaired and relit in 1866, was restored again in 1970 and once more in the 1990s, when the Keeper's Cottage was replicated as a visitor center and museum. A reproduction third-order Fresnel lens, an assembly 13 ft 5 and a quarter inches tall, was installed in November 2022. Mr. and Mrs. Lon C. Hill Jr. and the Port Isabel Realty Company donated the light to the state in 1950. Of the sixteen lighthouses built along the Texas coast it is the only one now open to the public. Tower height and step count are not given by the Texas Historical Commission, so we do not quote them.
1853–1881 · Lights and lifesavers at the pass
An initial nautical beacon went up on South Padre Island in 1853, a 30-ft wooden structure. In 1879 a screw-pile lighthouse was built in the intertidal zone, described as a notable landmark sight for sixty years. Congress passed the Life Saving Service Act in 1878, and in 1881 Station Brazos was built and operated by the U.S. Life-Saving Service at the pass. The Texas Historical Commission placed a marker on the site in 1996.
1928–1961 · The fishery Texas lost
Snook were abundant here before the 1940s. Commercial landings hit 230,000 lb in 1928 and then dropped to token levels, with no landings reported after 1961. TPW Magazine attributes the collapse to heavy pesticide use and dammed rivers disrupting habitat, and notes commercial harvest ran until the early 1960s. Snook are sequential hermaphrodites, changing sex from male to female typically at 30 to 34 inches, and Texas holds at least two species: common snook, which is legally harvestable, and the smaller fat snook. Gill net sampling in the Lower Laguna Madre showed increased catch rates during 1990 to 2004 against earlier decades, though recreational landings remain minimal, and the range has since expanded north with warming water and mangrove expansion, from the Matagorda Bay system toward Louisiana. The Brownsville Ship Channel is described by TPW Magazine as the center of Texas snook abundance. Greg Stunz of Texas A&M Corpus Christi calls snook a rare event species, rarely studied because of historical scarcity, which is changing now. For size and bag rules, check the season page.
1954–1974 · The first Queen Isabella Causeway
The original Queen Isabella Causeway opened in 1954, a vital artery linking Port Isabel and South Padre Island for two decades. By 1974 traffic demanded a replacement. The State Highway Department built the new bridge in the early 1970s and transferred the old one to Texas Parks and Wildlife, which ran it as a leased concession: a one-acre park centered on a fishing pier on State Highway 100 at the south end of South Padre Island, in Cameron County.
15 September 2001 · The causeway collapse
At around 2:00 a.m. a tugboat pushing four loaded barges struck a support column of the 1974 bridge and two 85-ft sections dropped into the water. Eight people died. Five vehicles went over the edge; three people survived. Investigators blamed an unusually strong current, a high tide and the tug captain's poor seamanship. The causeway is two and a half miles long and connects Port Isabel to South Padre Island. It was repaired and reopened within two months, renamed the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway, and fitted with emergency barriers. It drew limited national attention because it happened four days after 9/11.
2007 · The Texas Clipper goes down
On 17 November 2007 TPWD sank the 473-ft former troop transport, liner and training ship about 17 nautical miles off South Padre Island. Conversion cost over $4 million, remediation removed 1,680 cubic yards of asbestos and over 76,000 lb of PCB-containing materials, and TPWD called the result possibly the cleanest ship ever deliberately sunk for this purpose. TPWD projected roughly $30 million a year to local economies over at least fifty years. Her four lives are in the reefs section below.
Three things called "the causeway"
Worth sorting out because local directions depend on it. First, the 1954 causeway, which became the Queen Isabella State Fishing Pier and is now being demolished into an artificial reef. Second, the 1974 bridge, which collapsed in 2001 and is now the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway. Third, the reef being built from the first one's concrete. Aggregator sites routinely merge the old state pier with Pirate's Landing, which is a separate commercial pier at a separate address.
The record book, locally
The headline number for the whole Texas coast came out of this water. Bud Rowland caught a spotted seatrout of 15 pounds 6 ounces, 37 and a quarter inches, on 23 May 2002 in the Lower Laguna Madre. TPWD described it as a new line class world record and eventual Texas state record. Rowland released the fish after weighing it on the water, which initially complicated certification because the 2002 rules required fish to be brought ashore and weighed on certified scales; Texas subsequently changed the rule to allow certifiable handheld scales. It is 15 lb 6 oz, which is 15.375 lb, not the "15.6 lb" that circulates. The lure is widely reported but TPWD's release does not name it, so neither do we. And it came from the Lower Laguna Madre, not Baffin Bay, whatever most fishing copy says. On snook, two state record figures circulate and disagree: 57.2 lb, set in 1937 off Padre Island, is TPWD's own number and is the one to use; a secondary compilation gives 57.50 lb and credits Louis Rawalt, the Padre Island beachcomber and naturalist, but TPWD's page does not name an angler. Two more records with a South Padre address come from that same secondary compilation and have not been cross-checked against TPWD: a 470 lb lemon shark taken by Jim Blackburn in 1987 and a 124 lb wahoo taken by Terry Crider in 1987.
Lower Laguna Madre
Weight Records · Rod & Reel · All-Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barracuda, Great | 1.08 | 16.00 | Dec 22, 2002 | Joey Albin | |
| Catfish, Blue | 10.10 | 28.00 | May 26, 1997 | Harvey Bruns | mullet |
| Catfish, Hardhead | 2.01 | — | Jul 14, 2021 | Daniel Cizler | |
| Dolphin | 4.00 | 27.00 | Jun 28, 2007 | Walter Humann | Fly Rod, tan & white clouser |
| Drum, Black | 19.50 | 32.50 | Dec 4, 2001 | Stephen Puzio | Fly Rod, |
| Drum, Red | 33.60 | 46.00 | Aug 19, 2006 | Carlos Hernandez | sardine |
| Flounder, Other | 4.30 | 20.75 | Aug 22, 2000 | Skipper Ray | Fly Rod, |
| Flounder, Southern | 5.65 | 22.13 | Jun 2, 2012 | Chris Daniels | queen cocatto |
| Gar, Alligator | 39.63 | 55.25 | Jun 22, 2007 | Quinn Turner | mullet |
| Houndfish | 2.69 | 37.50 | Jul 9, 2005 | David Sweeney | bally hoo |
| Jack, Crevalle | 20.31 | 40.00 | Jul 11, 2014 | Marco A. Ramirez | gulp |
| Kingfish, Southern | 0.91 | 12.75 | Mar 11, 2008 | David Camarillo Jr. | dead piggy perch |
| Ladyfish | 4.81 | 28.50 | Oct 4, 2012 | William Tichy | gulp shrimp |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 5.75 | 29.50 | Oct 22, 2010 | Julia Mayberry | plastic jig |
| Midshipman, Atlantic | 3.50 | 44.00 | Nov 1, 1999 | Katheryn Wilson | |
| Mojarras | 0.88 | 12.25 | Aug 1, 1981 | Natalie Woods | |
| Mullet, Striped | 7.19 | 24.88 | Jun 19, 1999 | Michael Domanski | |
| Needlefish, Atlantic | 1.25 | 29.75 | Jun 1, 2015 | Hayden Mathews | live shrimp |
| Permit | 4.03 | 20.75 | Nov 27, 2024 | Kris Best | Live Shrimp |
| Pompano, Florida | 6.41 | 24.63 | Jun 18, 2006 | Juan Carrillo III | live shrimp |
| Ray, Smooth Butterfly | 15.42 | 28.50 | Jul 3, 2004 | Tom Aubrey | |
| Seatrout, Sand | 0.70 | 12.50 | Sep 20, 2025 | Ernst Toepfer V | spec rig |
| Seatrout, Spotted | 15.60 | 37.25 | May 23, 2002 | Carl Rowland | Fly Rod, |
| Shark, Blacktip | 104.36 | 70.00 | Aug 8, 1996 | Joshua Whitlock | |
| Sheepshead | 15.25 | 26.50 | Oct 17, 2002 | Wayne Gilstrap | live shrimp |
| Sleeper, Bigmouth | 1.88 | 16.75 | Aug 18, 1996 | Ben Cowan | |
| Snapper, Gray | 7.25 | 24.00 | Aug 15, 2008 | Coy Turner | mullet |
| Snook, common | 12.00 | 37.00 | Sep 21, 2013 | Christopher M. Holley | Fly Rod, black rabbit zonker |
| Stargazer, Southern | 1.39 | 11.75 | Sep 26, 1992 | Eula Pope | |
| Stingray, Southern | 176.00 | 90.25 | Aug 8, 2004 | John Barrera | mullet |
| Tripletail | 29.88 | 31.50 | Jul 24, 2019 | Ricardo A. Hernandez | shrimp |
Weight Records · Fly Fishing · All-Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Hardhead | 1.69 | 16.75 | Oct 17, 2014 | Barry Osborn | chum fly |
| Dolphin | 4.00 | 27.00 | Jun 28, 2007 | Walter Humann | tan & white clouser |
| Drum, Black | 19.50 | 32.50 | Dec 4, 2001 | Stephen Puzio | |
| Drum, Red | 6.56 | 26.00 | Nov 25, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Eric's crab fly |
| Flounder, Other | 4.30 | 20.75 | Aug 22, 2000 | Skipper Ray | |
| Flounder, Southern | 2.05 | 18.00 | Aug 12, 1999 | Charles Miller | clouser |
| Jack, Crevalle | 7.50 | — | Nov 26, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Eg mullet |
| Ladyfish | 4.20 | 26.88 | Oct 18, 2003 | Skipper Ray | clouser minnow |
| Seatrout, Spotted | 15.60 | 37.25 | May 23, 2002 | Carl Rowland | |
| Sheepshead | 6.10 | 22.25 | May 23, 2005 | Dan Coley | Coley rattling shrimp |
| Snapper, Gray | 2.63 | 18.50 | Nov 26, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Eg mullet |
| Snook, common | 12.00 | 37.00 | Sep 21, 2013 | Christopher M. Holley | black rabbit zonker |
| Tripletail | 9.94 | 24.00 | Aug 6, 2001 | Bruce Miller | bruce's charlie |
Weight Records · Bow Fishing · All-Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flounder, Southern | 5.50 | 23.38 | Sep 26, 2020 | Eric Gonzales | |
| Snapper, Gray | 5.63 | 22.38 | Jun 14, 2020 | Eric Gonzales |
Weight Records · Rod & Reel · Junior Angler
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Hardhead | 1.92 | 17.25 | Nov 13, 2005 | David Kassai | mullet |
| Drum, Black | 6.80 | 24.13 | Sep 20, 2025 | Wyatt Arend | dead shrimp |
| Drum, Red | 27.70 | 43.31 | Nov 27, 2024 | Antonio Montoya | Mullet |
| Gar, Alligator | 39.63 | 55.25 | Jun 22, 2007 | Quinn Turner | mullet |
| Jack, Crevalle | 7.50 | — | Nov 26, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Fly Rod, Eg mullet |
| Kingfish, Southern | 0.91 | 12.75 | Mar 11, 2008 | David Camarillo Jr. | dead piggy perch |
| Ladyfish | 1.81 | 21.88 | Nov 26, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Fly Rod, Eg mullet |
| Needlefish, Atlantic | 1.25 | 29.75 | Jun 1, 2015 | Hayden Mathews | live shrimp |
| Pompano, Florida | 6.41 | 24.63 | Jun 18, 2006 | Juan Carrillo III | live shrimp |
| Seatrout, Sand | 0.70 | 12.50 | Sep 20, 2025 | Ernst Toepfer V | spec rig |
| Seatrout, Spotted | 5.25 | 26.00 | Mar 7, 2010 | David Camarillo Jr. | live shrimp |
| Snapper, Gray | 2.63 | 18.50 | Nov 26, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Fly Rod, Eg mullet |
| Snook, common | 6.50 | 29.00 | Nov 25, 2005 | Nick Rizopoulos | Fly Rod, Eg Mullet |
| Stingray, Southern | 176.00 | 90.25 | Aug 8, 2004 | John Barrera | mullet |
Weight Records · Fly Fishing · Junior Angler
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drum, Red | 6.56 | 26.00 | Nov 25, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Eric's crab fly |
| Jack, Crevalle | 7.50 | — | Nov 26, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Eg mullet |
| Ladyfish | 1.81 | 21.88 | Nov 26, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Eg mullet |
| Seatrout, Spotted | 3.38 | 22.50 | Nov 23, 2005 | Nick Rizopoulos | Eg Mullet |
| Snapper, Gray | 2.63 | 18.50 | Nov 26, 2004 | Nick Rizopoulos | Eg mullet |
| Snook, common | 6.50 | 29.00 | Nov 25, 2005 | Nick Rizopoulos | Eg Mullet |
Catch and Release Records (by length) · Rod & Reel · All Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drum, Black | 30.75 | May 5, 2013 | Marcus Molina | gulp shrimp | |
| Drum, Red | 36.25 | Aug 15, 2015 | Marcus Molina | Rapala Storm | |
| Ladyfish | 24.25 | Aug 24, 2013 | Stephen Ambriz Jr. | DOA shrimp |
Catch and Release Records (by length) · Rod & Reel · Junior Angler
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drum, Black | 30.75 | May 5, 2013 | Marcus Molina | gulp shrimp | |
| Drum, Red | 36.25 | Aug 15, 2015 | Marcus Molina | Rapala Storm | |
| Ladyfish | 23.75 | Dec 20, 2013 | Kenneth Biegalski |
Brownsville Ship Channel
Weight Records · Rod & Reel · All-Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladyfish | 7.00 | 29.50 | Aug 25, 2020 | Ralph Brookshire | zaraspook one knocker |
Catch and Release Records (by length) · Rod & Reel · All Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladyfish | 29.50 | Aug 25, 2020 | Ralph Brookshire | zaraspook one knocker |
Gulf of America
Weight Records · Rod & Reel · All-Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slimeheads, Darwin’s Slimehead | 5.28 | 20.00 | Oct 26, 2024 | James Smith | Squid |
| Amberjack, Greater | 133.00 | 68.00 | Aug 4, 2019 | Tricia Conner | |
| Angelfish, Blue | 5.64 | 18.75 | May 19, 1993 | Kirk Zuch | |
| Angelfish, French | 8.70 | 18.50 | Sep 11, 1994 | Dennis Daye | |
| Aulopus, Yellowfin | 1.31 | 16.00 | Aug 7, 2009 | Richard La Bouliere | squid |
| Barracuda, Great | 52.81 | 63.43 | Sep 4, 1993 | Kim Calzada | |
| Bass, Longtail | 4.30 | 22.50 | Aug 2, 2008 | Mike Bednar | mackerel |
| Beardfish | 8.90 | 25.00 | Sep 17, 2009 | Steve Roberts | cut bait |
| Bigeye | 3.63 | 19.40 | Sep 8, 2023 | Jim Bellevue | Squid |
| Bigeye, Longfinned | 5.20 | 21.75 | Apr 25, 2024 | Dexter Nguyen | Slow Fall Jig |
| Bigeye, Short | 1.28 | 11.50 | Dec 12, 2022 | Silas Ott | 400g slow pitch jig |
| Bluefish | 16.62 | 36.63 | Jan 11, 1987 | Alex Koumonduros | |
| Boarfish, Deepbody | 0.63 | 7.91 | Aug 14, 2009 | John Hanson | squid |
| Bonefish | 3.75 | 23.25 | Nov 19, 1977 | C. W. Morris | |
| Bonito, Atlantic | 27.00 | — | Jul 1, 1969 | Eddie Groth | |
| Bonnethead | 24.30 | 50.12 | Aug 18, 2004 | Pamela Joseph | |
| Brotula, Bearded | 17.01 | 37.00 | Jul 13, 2012 | Richard C. Greer | live bait |
| Burrfish, Striped | 1.62 | 12.00 | Mar 11, 2014 | Trent Lake | shrimp |
| Catfish, Gafftopsail | 13.33 | 34.00 | Dec 13, 1981 | Herman Koehne Jr | |
| Catfish, Hardhead | 3.31 | 19.00 | Sep 18, 1997 | William Cuneo | |
| Chub, Bermuda | 8.97 | 23.50 | Jun 20, 2007 | John Godfrey | squid/mix |
| Chub, Yellow | 8.97 | 24.00 | Jun 26, 1994 | Christopher McSwain | |
| Cobia | 108.44 | 71.00 | May 9, 1998 | Michael Albanese | |
| Coney | 4.70 | 21.25 | Aug 2, 2008 | Robert Fouse | |
| Conger, Yellow | 21.00 | 71.00 | Jun 17, 1996 | Bradley Poulsen | |
| Cornetfish, Red | 3.60 | 54.75 | Feb 16, 2026 | Brad Sutton | Saltiga SK Jig |
| Cottonwick | 2.30 | 16.00 | Mar 22, 1998 | Travis McNeil | |
| Creole-fish | 1.56 | 14.00 | Mar 21, 2004 | Robby Gillis | |
| Croaker, Atlantic | 4.42 | 21.00 | Sep 4, 2011 | Christopher Zamarripa | squid |
| Cubbyu | 1.00 | 11.13 | Apr 16, 1987 | Steve Qualia | |
| Cutlassfish, Atlantic | 3.69 | 45.50 | Mar 25, 2020 | Ty Slocum | piggy perch |
| Cutlassfishes, Channel Scabbardfish | 12.00 | 78.00 | Jun 15, 2024 | Dexter Nguyen | Slow Pitch Jig |
| Doctorfish | 1.26 | 11.62 | Apr 14, 1997 | Jerry McCullin | |
| Dogfish, Cuban | 4.63 | 30.50 | Aug 20, 2011 | Trevin Eckersley | squid |
| Dogfish, Smooth | 26.50 | 50.88 | Mar 2, 1998 | George Flores | |
| Dogfish, Spiny | 21.00 | 50.75 | Oct 26, 1986 | Vicki Kusey | |
| Dolphin | 65.70 | 67.00 | Jun 21, 2008 | Ryan Foster | moldcraft/balyhoo |
| Dolphin, Pompano | 4.10 | 25.88 | Aug 3, 1990 | Tommy Gueldner | |
| Driftfish, Black | 25.37 | 35.37 | Jul 10, 2010 | Darrell Bezecny | squid |
| Drum, Black | 81.00 | 51.18 | Jun 19, 1988 | Wally Escobar Jr. | |
| Drum, Red | 59.50 | 54.25 | Jan 30, 2000 | Artie Longron | |
| Durgon, Black | 3.69 | 16.75 | Dec 20, 2017 | Jonathan McIntyre | shrimp |
| Eel, Shrimp | 0.69 | 24.50 | Aug 3, 1990 | Megan Gower | |
| Eel, Snapper | 16.80 | 67.00 | Aug 28, 2004 | Taylor Walker | dead mullet |
| Escolar | 41.01 | 49.50 | Oct 12, 2024 | Nicholas Ramirez | Diamond Jig w/ Treble Hoo |
| Escolar, Roudi | 5.38 | 32.00 | Jul 22, 2007 | Eric Ozolins | squid |
| Filefish, Scrawled | 4.66 | 23.00 | May 2, 2010 | Jason Harries | squid |
| Filefish, Unicorn | 5.00 | 21.63 | Sep 25, 1987 | Eugene Foreman Jr. | |
| Flag, Spanish | 0.71 | 10.50 | Sep 17, 2020 | David Boswell | Squid |
| Flounder, Southern | 8.88 | 26.00 | Nov 28, 1993 | Roy Howell | |
| Flyingfishes, Margined | 0.79 | 14.50 | Jun 21, 1986 | Adolf Schulz | |
| Gag | 69.40 | 51.00 | Oct 5, 2003 | Tommy Angel | Live Blue Runner |
| Goatfish, Spotted | 1.13 | 10.50 | May 18, 2015 | Reuben Sherman | |
| Graysby | 2.31 | 14.75 | Mar 2, 1998 | George Flores | |
| Grouper, Black | 124.00 | 63.00 | Jan 11, 2003 | Tim Oestreich II | |
| Grouper, Comb | 10.88 | 31.00 | Sep 11, 2019 | W. Walter Craig | beeliner |
| Grouper, Marbled | 47.50 | — | Dec 11, 2020 | Erik Peterson | Squid |
| Grouper, Misty | 5.69 | 22.00 | Aug 28, 2009 | Mike Luchak | jig |
| Grouper, Red | 25.00 | 33.25 | Oct 14, 2020 | Brian Johnson | Squid |
| Grouper, Snowy | 55.45 | 44.37 | Oct 21, 2025 | Joshua Bailey Phillips | squid |
| Grouper, Tiger | 19.50 | — | Jun 20, 2022 | Leonard M Daniel | Blue Runner |
| Grouper, Warsaw | 302.70 | 75.00 | Oct 18, 2006 | Raul Reyes | |
| Grouper, Yellowedge | 49.00 | — | Sep 13, 2024 | Reagan Humphries | Squid |
| Grouper, Yellowfin | 47.00 | 39.25 | Oct 1, 2021 | Dylan Becherer | Blue Runner |
| Grouper, Yellowmouth | 24.50 | 39.75 | Mar 31, 2004 | Diane Howe | squid |
| Grunt, Barred | 1.40 | 13.75 | Jul 29, 2022 | Hunter Ellsworth Hembrough | Shrimp |
| Grunt, White | 3.75 | 18.00 | Jul 5, 1997 | Dan Schmidt | |
| Guaguanche | 5.00 | 31.88 | Oct 28, 2023 | Matthew Matheny | Cut Bait/Blue Runner |
| Guitarfish, Atlantic | 4.44 | 31.50 | May 25, 1998 | Byron Noles Jr. | |
| Hake, Carolina | 1.60 | 16.00 | Jan 31, 1996 | Tony Langston | |
| Hake, Gulf | 6.70 | 28.50 | Dec 4, 2010 | Michael Anzalone | |
| Hammerhead, Great | 1,033.00 | 173.25 | Jul 9, 2017 | Timothy W. McClellen | |
| Hammerhead, Scalloped | 300.50 | — | Oct 4, 2021 | Derrick Bonner | Skipjack |
| Hammerhead, Smalleye | 151.00 | 95.00 | Oct 26, 1986 | Louis Kusey III | |
| Herring, Skipjack | 3.34 | 26.50 | Oct 11, 2001 | Frank Budd | Fly Rod, clouser |
| Hind, Red | 9.34 | — | Aug 4, 2024 | Dominique Outten | Sardine |
| Hind, Rock | 5.03 | 19.00 | Jul 18, 2019 | Mark Herdade | sardine |
| Hind, Speckled | 43.90 | 39.38 | Oct 1, 2016 | Joseph Stephenson | bonita |
| Hogfish, Spanish | 2.25 | 15.88 | Mar 25, 2000 | Casey Cundieff | |
| Hogfish, Spotfin | 1.07 | 12.50 | Jun 24, 1999 | Jim Vuichard | |
| Houndfish | 4.50 | 37.40 | Nov 15, 2013 | Gary Long | Maguroni Lure |
| Jack, Almaco | 50.30 | 49.00 | Jul 5, 1996 | Billy Winkler | |
| Jack, Black | 23.50 | 36.25 | Aug 3, 2020 | Amy Rey Hill | Spanish Sardine |
| Jack, Cottonmouth | 1.25 | 12.50 | Jul 14, 1984 | Frank Fuller | |
| Jack, Crevalle | 50.25 | 52.25 | Jun 26, 1976 | Francis Lyon | |
| Jack, Horse-eye | 32.00 | 43.13 | Sep 8, 2012 | Terry Lee Ramsey | blue runner |
| Jack, Yellow | 15.98 | 35.75 | Jun 6, 2009 | Greg Cummings | diamond jig |
| John Dory, American | 7.00 | — | Jan 5, 2021 | Zachary B Schneider | Piggy Perch |
| Kingfish, Gulf | 2.38 | 19.50 | Mar 18, 1995 | James Mulhern | |
| Kingfish, Southern | 3.62 | 22.00 | Mar 7, 1992 | Gilbert Perez | |
| Ladyfish | 5.73 | 28.50 | Oct 3, 2016 | Christopher Cremeen | cut croaker |
| Lancetfish, Longnose | 8.20 | 53.75 | Sep 28, 2016 | Michael Davis | squid |
| Lionfish | 2.13 | — | May 4, 2025 | Jason Dewald | perch |
| Lizardfish, Inshore | 1.85 | 20.00 | Oct 20, 1991 | Winnie Poff | |
| Lookdown | 4.20 | 21.00 | Mar 31, 2012 | Fayez Nahhas | |
| Mackerel, King | 79.00 | 58.50 | Aug 20, 2006 | Mervin Leppo | ribbon fish |
| Mackerel, Snake | 2.10 | 40.50 | Sep 20, 2025 | Paul Pribyl | Butterfly Flat Fall Jig |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 8.74 | 34.50 | Aug 15, 1976 | Bobby Tarter | |
| Mako, Longfin | 664.00 | 128.50 | May 4, 1986 | Donald Ewing | |
| Mako, Shortfin | 707.50 | 128.00 | Jan 27, 2002 | Jeff Shindle | |
| Margate, Black | 12.80 | 27.00 | Jun 24, 2000 | Charles Botello | squid |
| Marlin, Blue | 972.70 | 132.25 | Jul 11, 2014 | Richard Richardson Jr. | live bait |
| Marlin, White | 111.50 | 93.00 | Aug 5, 1979 | Geo Taggart | |
| Midshipman, Atlantic | 3.50 | 48.50 | May 24, 2000 | Robert Redgrave | |
| Moonfish, Atlantic | 1.20 | 14.50 | Oct 20, 2015 | Robert Bennett | mirrodine 27 |
| Moray, Blackedged | 3.10 | 39.00 | May 30, 1999 | Ronnie Vaughn | |
| Moray, Blacktail | 2.42 | 36.00 | Mar 24, 1998 | George Flores | |
| Moray, Green | 7.70 | 48.00 | Aug 1, 1998 | George Flores | |
| Moray, Spotted | 8.50 | 50.00 | Mar 5, 1994 | Louis Kusey III | |
| Needlefish, Atlantic | 0.90 | 28.75 | Aug 3, 1990 | Koy L. Kelley | |
| Needlefish, Flat | 2.75 | 38.94 | Jul 3, 1994 | Robin Dunn | |
| Oilfish | 61.38 | 60.75 | Mar 18, 1995 | Keith Johnson | |
| Palometa | 1.50 | 15.81 | Jun 12, 2006 | Henry Flores Jr. | squid |
| Perch, Sand | 0.59 | 10.67 | Dec 31, 1993 | Robert Lathrop | |
| Permit | 1.50 | 14.75 | Aug 30, 1993 | Jared Guinn | |
| Pinfish | 2.88 | 17.75 | Jul 1, 2012 | Lucky Rabago | |
| Pinfish, Spottail | 1.51 | 12.50 | Feb 25, 2016 | Jeff Kaiser | deadshrimp |
| pomfret, Bigscale | 23.12 | 33.50 | Jul 23, 2017 | Brian S. Cooper | |
| Pompano, African | 43.10 | 52.00 | Feb 1, 2003 | Hank Cram | |
| Pompano, Florida | 6.25 | 23.25 | Jan 1, 1989 | Wilbert Hettinger | |
| Pompano, Irish | 1.00 | 12.88 | Sep 6, 2004 | Johnny French | Fishbites Fishn Strip |
| Porgy, Jolthead | 1.62 | 13.63 | Aug 9, 2008 | Derek York | squid |
| Porgy, Knobbed | 5.80 | 19.75 | Feb 21, 2000 | Stanley Sweet | |
| Porgy, Red | 8.18 | 25.23 | Jul 4, 2009 | Johnny White | cigar minnow |
| Porgy, Saucereye | 3.75 | 17.87 | Jun 9, 2023 | Lucas Suelflow | Squid |
| Porgy, Whitebone | 4.48 | 18.75 | Mar 12, 1996 | Stan Oftelie | |
| Puddingwife | 4.29 | 19.50 | Sep 6, 1996 | Adolf Schulz | |
| Puffer, Smooth | 10.75 | 30.00 | Apr 8, 2001 | Daniel Nassiff | |
| Ray, Cownose | 50.50 | 52.00 | May 27, 1986 | Freeman Gage Jr. | |
| Ray, Lesser Electric | 0.88 | 13.00 | Oct 12, 1998 | Byron Noles Jr. | cut mullet |
| Remora | 4.00 | 28.25 | Oct 29, 2017 | Barry Osborn | Fly Rod, clouser |
| Rosefish, Blackbelly | 3.90 | — | Feb 13, 2026 | Landon Dodd | squid |
| Runner, Blue | 9.57 | 28.38 | Oct 3, 2001 | Patrick L. Lemire | |
| Runner, Rainbow | 28.10 | 47.94 | Apr 7, 2004 | Keith Banks | |
| Sailfish | 95.00 | 97.50 | Jul 12, 1972 | Morton Cohn | |
| Sawfish, Largetooth | 736.00 | — | Jan 1, 1939 | Gus Pangarakis | |
| Scamp | 28.20 | 40.00 | Jan 6, 2019 | Brice Sanchez | mendaden shad |
| Scorpionfish, Highfin | 1.00 | 12.25 | Jun 7, 2015 | Aaron Adams | squid |
| Scorpionfish, Spinycheek | 5.00 | 22.00 | Mar 1, 2026 | Stephen Herrmann | slow pitch jig |
| Scorpionfish, Spotted | 3.25 | 16.50 | May 5, 2012 | Allen Lain Schulle | cur bait |
| Sea Bass, Rock | 0.50 | 13.63 | Apr 2, 2011 | Kenny Flake | squid |
| Searobin, Blackwing | 0.58 | 10.75 | Jan 16, 1995 | Robert Pope | |
| Seatrout, Sand | 1.30 | 15.00 | Oct 13, 2023 | Dorliza Copa | Fish Bites |
| Seatrout, Silver | 6.91 | 24.00 | Feb 28, 1992 | Gerry L. Tompkins | |
| Seatrout, Spotted | 13.13 | 31.50 | May 25, 1969 | Lanny Myers | |
| Shark, Atlantic Sharpnose | 18.50 | 43.00 | Mar 28, 2015 | Davey Wright | whiting |
| Shark, Bigeye Sixgill | 8.36 | 40.00 | Apr 17, 1996 | Christopher Gonzales Jr. | |
| Shark, Blacknose | 45.00 | 57.00 | Apr 29, 1993 | Charles Gillispie | |
| Shark, Blacktip | 190.00 | 97.00 | May 31, 2003 | Davey Wright | whole bonita |
| Shark, Bull | 508.00 | 141.20 | Jul 3, 1994 | Jimmy Hart | |
| Shark, Dusky | 530.00 | 129.00 | Mar 1, 1975 | Raymond Hein | |
| Shark, Finetooth | 100.50 | 80.25 | Jun 3, 1979 | Richard Hensley | |
| Shark, Lemon | 470.00 | 122.00 | Aug 28, 1987 | Jim Blackburn | |
| Shark, Oceanic Whitetip | 200.00 | 95.75 | Jul 25, 2014 | Blake Oestreich | bonita |
| Shark, Sandbar | 226.00 | 92.00 | Mar 21, 1975 | James Wilson | |
| Shark, Silky | 556.00 | 140.00 | Jul 23, 1973 | Wolfgang Bushang | |
| Shark, Spinner | 212.60 | 89.75 | Apr 29, 2000 | Howell Kines | |
| Shark, Thresher | 333.00 | 158.50 | May 2, 2002 | Robert Robinson | bonita |
| Shark, Tiger | 1,129.00 | 162.00 | May 24, 1992 | Chap Cain III | |
| Sharksucker | 4.50 | 30.50 | Aug 8, 2004 | Mariechen Spivey | perch |
| Sheepshead | 7.38 | 21.00 | Mar 18, 2005 | Gary Beall | Spoon w/shrimp |
| Snake Eel, King | 52.00 | 86.50 | Feb 11, 1997 | Patrick L. Lemire | |
| Snapper, Black | 11.10 | 26.50 | Jul 27, 1987 | Adolf Schulz | |
| Snapper, blackfin | 13.61 | 26.13 | Jul 21, 2025 | Todd Pace | Sardine |
| Snapper, Cubera | 88.00 | 47.75 | Jul 28, 2018 | Garrison Moczygemba | bermuda chub |
| Snapper, Dog | 27.24 | 34.02 | Sep 26, 2020 | Greg Lawrence | Bonita |
| Snapper, Gray | 18.67 | 28.50 | May 31, 1998 | Steve Pumilia | |
| Snapper, Lane | 8.20 | 25.00 | Aug 17, 2004 | Rickey Ramirez | live pinfish |
| Snapper, Mutton | 18.00 | 32.00 | Nov 9, 2004 | Roy O'Brian | cut bait |
| Snapper, Queen | 19.40 | 40.00 | Aug 25, 2021 | James Christopher Dean | Jig |
| Snapper, Red | 38.75 | 40.00 | Jun 1, 2014 | Joseph L. Beaver | squid |
| Snapper, Silk | 10.01 | 28.00 | Jul 6, 2019 | Tyler A. Young | squid |
| Snapper, Vermilion | 6.84 | 25.25 | Aug 30, 2022 | Fan Hou Chun | |
| Snapper, Yellowtail | 9.87 | 29.50 | Oct 10, 1992 | Steve Kinzel | |
| Snook, common | 57.50 | — | Jan 1, 1937 | Louis Rawalt | |
| Spadefish, Atlantic | 12.94 | 22.50 | Aug 17, 2002 | Edgar Artecona | |
| Spearfish, Longbill | 60.00 | 86.50 | Aug 10, 1990 | Kari Ann Alberthal | |
| Squirrelfish | 1.56 | 15.25 | Nov 16, 2016 | Seth Holbert | squid |
| Stargazer, Southern | 3.30 | 15.75 | Jan 29, 1993 | Julian Sanchez | |
| Stingray, Roughtail | 241.00 | 84.00 | Sep 2, 1991 | Rick A. Jansky | |
| Stingray, Southern | 239.00 | 100.00 | Oct 10, 1992 | Davey Wright | |
| Swordfish | 493.00 | 145.75 | Jun 4, 2013 | Brian K. Barclay | squid |
| Tarpon | 229.00 | 90.00 | Aug 20, 2017 | Michael Shane LaRue II | coon pop |
| Tiger, Sand | 520.00 | 119.00 | Apr 4, 1976 | Joey Vermuelem | |
| Tilefish | 41.80 | 44.00 | Sep 24, 2022 | Ashton Cade | |
| Tilefish, Blueline | 8.63 | 27.50 | Aug 19, 2011 | Trevin Eckersley | squid tipped jig |
| Tilefish, Goldface | 4.85 | 23.50 | Apr 19, 2021 | David Shane Rankin | Squid |
| Tilefish, Sand | 2.81 | 24.00 | May 31, 2016 | Steve Andognini | cut squid |
| Toadfish, Gulf | 3.00 | 15.88 | Jun 17, 1989 | Gay Landry | |
| Tomtate | 3.26 | 19.00 | Oct 27, 2019 | Donald Czaplinski Jr. | squid |
| Triggerfish, Gray | 12.46 | 27.50 | Jun 19, 1996 | Jason Waligura | |
| Triggerfish, Ocean | 11.20 | 25.50 | Jun 12, 2011 | Billy Sheridan | |
| Triggerfish, Queen | 10.49 | 24.50 | Jul 15, 1989 | Bruce F. Goates | |
| Tripletail | 33.80 | 33.25 | Jun 7, 2023 | Trajan Mumford | Gulp! Shrimp |
| Trunkfish, Smooth | 0.76 | 9.00 | Mar 22, 1998 | Alan Miller | squid |
| Tuna, Bigeye | 172.00 | — | Nov 17, 2023 | Jacob Goodroe | Trolling Lure/Ballyhoo |
| Tuna, Blackfin | 38.89 | 41.75 | Jun 23, 1988 | John Alvarez Jr | |
| Tuna, Bluefin | 884.00 | — | Apr 10, 2025 | David L. Esslinger | Live Blackfin |
| Tuna, Skipjack | 28.25 | 33.88 | Jun 20, 1981 | Jimmy Welder | |
| Tuna, Yellowfin | 216.20 | 80.00 | Oct 11, 1998 | Jim Dickson | |
| Tunny, Little | 15.44 | 32.50 | Jul 14, 2013 | Robert Wilson | zukers |
| Wahoo | 124.00 | 73.50 | Jul 5, 1987 | Terry Crider | |
| Wenchman | 4.40 | 20.00 | Sep 9, 2023 | Patrick Zurovetz | Squid |
Weight Records · Fly Fishing · All-Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amberjack, Greater | 16.00 | 36.00 | May 2, 2015 | Nick Rizopoulos | sea habit |
| Barracuda, Great | 26.20 | 52.75 | Oct 29, 2006 | Dave Speer | blue/white ep baitfish |
| Bluefish | 3.00 | 19.25 | Dec 6, 2004 | Cory Martenson | Corey's inverted rooster |
| Catfish, Gafftopsail | 3.39 | 21.75 | Oct 10, 2023 | Barry Osborn | Shrimp Fly |
| Catfish, Hardhead | 0.81 | 13.50 | Jul 30, 2019 | Zane Fisher Bailey | popper |
| Chub, Bermuda | 5.20 | — | Jul 17, 2025 | Barry Osborn | Carp Slayer |
| Cobia | 53.44 | 56.00 | Jun 27, 2005 | Robert Sloan | Bone Head |
| Dolphin | 11.56 | 39.50 | Aug 29, 2000 | Jeffery Pierce | Jeff's mackerel fly |
| Drum, Black | 4.31 | 20.50 | May 17, 2020 | Zane Fisher Bailey | clouser minnow |
| Drum, Red | 33.00 | 46.00 | Jun 29, 2006 | Ed Henkel | streamer |
| Flounder, Southern | 6.06 | 23.50 | Nov 10, 2005 | Robert Campbell | Scott 9' Phillips Header |
| Herring, Skipjack | 3.34 | 26.50 | Oct 11, 2001 | Frank Budd | clouser |
| Jack, Almaco | 3.25 | 19.50 | Jan 1, 2014 | Barry Osborn | clouser |
| Jack, Crevalle | 30.00 | 40.00 | Sep 17, 2009 | Ronald Cruse | clouser |
| Jack, Horse-eye | 8.70 | 29.13 | Jun 17, 2001 | Robert Sloan | |
| Kingfish, Gulf | 0.88 | 12.50 | Nov 10, 2001 | Thomas Sheehan | clooser deep minnow |
| Ladyfish | 0.75 | 15.50 | Aug 14, 2004 | Anthony Chapa | CBF automatic |
| Mackerel, King | 30.40 | 51.00 | Nov 13, 2016 | Barry Osborn | baby dolphin lure |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 6.60 | 30.88 | Jul 29, 2007 | Christopher Golla | Smartt christmas minnow |
| Pinfish | 0.70 | 10.00 | Nov 30, 2002 | Cory Martenson | clouser |
| Pompano, African | 8.60 | 30.00 | Aug 28, 2006 | Stan Nabozny | white chum fly |
| Pompano, Florida | 3.91 | 21.00 | Jul 3, 2000 | Gary Shelton | pink rattling clouser |
| Remora | 4.00 | 28.25 | Oct 29, 2017 | Barry Osborn | clouser |
| Runner, Blue | 5.50 | 24.25 | Aug 7, 2003 | Whitner Dietrich | chum fly |
| Runner, Rainbow | 0.54 | 12.63 | Aug 17, 2001 | Kenneth Thyssen | |
| Seatrout, Sand | 0.75 | 12.88 | Jul 8, 2000 | Kenneth Thyssen | crystal minnow |
| Seatrout, Spotted | 5.30 | 26.20 | Nov 8, 2008 | Jeff 'Birdsnest' Herman | Chrome Clouser |
| Shark, Atlantic Sharpnose | 9.50 | 38.00 | Aug 17, 2006 | Brandon Shuler | blue deceiver |
| Shark, Blacktip | 46.00 | — | Sep 2, 2022 | Travis Kirtland | Rabbit |
| Shark, Silky | 8.60 | 34.00 | Aug 21, 1999 | Robert Sloan | streamer |
| Sheepshead | 5.27 | 20.50 | Sep 2, 2000 | Gary Shelton Jr. | clouser |
| Snapper, Gray | 10.13 | 26.00 | Aug 11, 2001 | Casey Cox | Casey's half & half |
| Snapper, Red | 18.65 | 32.75 | Jun 26, 2022 | Jeff Livin | Squid Fly |
| Snapper, Vermilion | 3.00 | 19.75 | Nov 13, 2016 | Barry Osborn | big eye clauser |
| Spadefish, Atlantic | 4.50 | — | May 26, 2023 | Christopher Saunders | |
| Triggerfish, Gray | 2.30 | 17.50 | Oct 17, 2014 | Barry Osborn | |
| Tripletail | 19.88 | 28.00 | Jun 4, 2020 | Stephen W. Griffith | streamer |
| Tuna, Blackfin | 24.20 | 36.50 | Aug 8, 2004 | Robert Sloan | streamer |
| Tuna, Yellowfin | 39.12 | — | Jun 18, 2022 | Christopher Saunders | Baitfish Pattern |
| Tunny, Little | 13.90 | 29.50 | Aug 1, 2006 | Brandon Shuler | Darren's Green Back |
Weight Records · Bow Fishing · All-Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chub, Bermuda | 3.98 | 19.50 | Jul 19, 2020 | Barry Osborn |
Weight Records · Rod & Reel · Junior Angler
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amberjack, Greater | 97.00 | 63.25 | Apr 9, 2014 | Amber Walker | bonita |
| Barracuda, Great | 40.01 | 56.00 | Aug 24, 2005 | Don Haluzan | live almaco jack |
| Bass, Longtail | 2.63 | 19.13 | Jul 2, 2013 | Connor Cochrane | squid |
| Bigeye | 1.64 | — | Oct 25, 2021 | Stetson Matthews | Blue Runner |
| Bluefish | 2.42 | 18.75 | May 30, 2009 | Brody McBee | shrimp tail jig |
| Bonito, Atlantic | 13.15 | 27.25 | Jul 8, 2011 | Kendall Owens | spanish sardine |
| Bonnethead | 19.90 | 46.00 | Jun 12, 2013 | Emilie E. Moticha | sardine |
| Catfish, Gafftopsail | 5.31 | 26.50 | Jul 19, 2013 | David E. Benton II | shrimp |
| Catfish, Hardhead | 0.94 | 14.00 | Aug 19, 2004 | Forrest Walker | mullet |
| Chub, Bermuda | 6.75 | 22.50 | Mar 21, 2008 | Garrett Oswald | spanish sardine |
| Cobia | 77.94 | 66.00 | Jun 7, 2018 | Grant W. Gale | gulp |
| Cottonwick | 2.00 | 15.63 | Aug 26, 2016 | Chase M. Starling | cigar minnow |
| Croaker, Atlantic | 4.42 | 21.00 | Sep 4, 2011 | Christopher Zamarripa | squid |
| Cutlassfish, Atlantic | 3.69 | 45.50 | Mar 25, 2020 | Ty Slocum | piggy perch |
| Dolphin | 45.00 | 50.50 | Jun 9, 2006 | Estee Combs | mullet |
| Drum, Black | 9.81 | 26.50 | Aug 27, 2005 | Thomas Shelton | live shrimp |
| Drum, Red | 32.00 | 45.00 | Aug 15, 2013 | Nick Appling | |
| Eel, Snapper | 16.80 | 67.00 | Aug 28, 2004 | Taylor Walker | dead mullet |
| Eel, Snapper | 16.80 | 67.00 | Aug 28, 2004 | Taylor Walker | dead mullet |
| Gag | 28.80 | 41.00 | Jun 1, 2008 | Evan Pfeffer | |
| Goatfish, Spotted | 1.13 | 10.50 | May 18, 2015 | Reuben Sherman | |
| Grouper, Black | 76.55 | 57.00 | May 28, 2023 | Dace D'Onofrio | Squid/Fish Bites |
| Grouper, Comb | 8.60 | 28.00 | Sep 5, 2015 | Connor Dippelsmann | |
| Grouper, Tiger | 14.81 | — | Feb 9, 2026 | Alexander John Zamora | jig |
| Grouper, Warsaw | 132.30 | 60.00 | Jun 11, 2011 | Christopher Cremeen | mullet |
| Grouper, Yellowfin | 4.20 | 19.00 | Sep 6, 2015 | Nathan Orsak | Diamond Jig |
| Grouper, Yellowmouth | 11.80 | 30.00 | Sep 6, 2015 | Chase M. Starling | squid |
| Hind, Red | 3.18 | 19.50 | Jul 29, 2020 | Randy Spencer | Squid |
| Hind, Rock | 2.25 | 15.13 | Nov 19, 2009 | Cody Eckhardt | jig |
| Hogfish, Spanish | 1.65 | 16.00 | Jul 25, 2017 | Dalton J. Houser | shrimp |
| Jack, Almaco | 30.50 | — | Oct 2, 2022 | Robert London | |
| Jack, Horse-eye | 18.00 | 35.50 | May 28, 2018 | Mitchell Moczygemba | |
| Kingfish, Gulf | 2.10 | 17.00 | Mar 22, 2019 | Keegan Spencer | shrimp |
| Ladyfish | 5.56 | 30.00 | Oct 18, 2008 | Jake Hornberger | |
| Mackerel, King | 56.80 | 63.00 | Jul 11, 2014 | Seamus M. Caskey | blue runner |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 4.50 | 27.50 | Oct 26, 2008 | Justin Golla | live mullet |
| Mako, Shortfin | 190.00 | 96.00 | Mar 16, 2020 | Kinley Oestreich | bonito |
| Marlin, White | 62.25 | — | Aug 23, 2025 | Savannah Doxey | Ballyhoo |
| Pompano, African | 23.00 | 43.75 | Jul 17, 2010 | Tori Frels | live bait |
| Pompano, Florida | 4.63 | 21.50 | Dec 31, 2007 | Justin Golla | shrimp & fish bites |
| Porgy, Knobbed | 1.52 | 13.50 | Mar 5, 2006 | Matthew Colin Decuir | squid |
| Porgy, Red | 6.86 | 24.25 | Feb 20, 2022 | Andrew Ibarra | Squid |
| Porgy, Whitebone | 0.81 | 10.50 | Sep 2, 2007 | Aaron Hardin | |
| Ray, Cownose | 25.09 | 28.75 | Aug 23, 2008 | Brody McBee | cut bait |
| Remora | 2.31 | 28.00 | Jun 9, 2015 | Connor Cochrane | Fly Rod, single hook |
| Runner, Blue | 5.80 | 25.00 | May 25, 2018 | Justin Williams | squid |
| Runner, Rainbow | 13.30 | — | Aug 10, 2021 | Justin Williams | Black Fin Tuna Chunk |
| Scamp | 16.50 | — | Sep 7, 2021 | Justin Williams | Squid |
| Scorpionfish, Spinycheek | 1.46 | 13.34 | Mar 5, 2006 | Matthew Colin Decuir | megabait jig |
| Shark, Atlantic Sharpnose | 18.50 | 43.00 | Mar 28, 2015 | Davey Wright | whiting |
| Shark, Blacknose | 18.12 | — | May 24, 2025 | Morgan Bethanie Butler | ladyfish |
| Shark, Blacktip | 117.80 | 81.00 | Jul 9, 2004 | Mariechen Spivey | perch |
| Shark, Bull | 227.50 | 94.00 | Jan 25, 2019 | Johnny L. Garner | |
| Shark, Sandbar | 100.00 | 87.00 | Jul 31, 2004 | Alex Neely | Ruby Lip Grunt |
| Shark, Spinner | 155.00 | 82.00 | Mar 25, 2019 | Boone Dirk | jack crevelle |
| Shark, Tiger | 717.00 | 144.00 | Jun 10, 2017 | Payton K. Bailey | jack head |
| Sharksucker | 4.50 | 30.50 | Aug 8, 2004 | Mariechen Spivey | perch |
| Sheepshead | 3.11 | 19.75 | Mar 2, 2019 | Alistair Spencer | shrimp |
| Snapper, Cubera | 88.00 | 47.75 | Jul 28, 2018 | Garrison Moczygemba | bermuda chub |
| Snapper, Dog | 7.31 | 24.50 | Aug 8, 2004 | Mariechen Spivey | perch |
| Snapper, Gray | 12.56 | 27.63 | Jul 12, 2015 | Eric W. Sikes | croaker |
| Snapper, Lane | 4.40 | 22.00 | Jun 13, 2022 | Cash Morrison | Squid |
| Snapper, Queen | 2.81 | 21.75 | Jul 2, 2013 | Connor Cochrane | squid |
| Snapper, Red | 25.80 | 38.38 | Jun 12, 2011 | James Schmidt | squid/jig |
| Snapper, Vermilion | 4.46 | 22.50 | Jul 22, 2020 | Blane Morris | Squid |
| Soapfish, Whitespotted | 0.15 | 6.70 | Mar 8, 2020 | Justin Williams | squid |
| Spadefish, Atlantic | 7.06 | 20.75 | Jun 25, 2020 | Callan Gaither | Live Shrimp |
| Squirrelfish | 1.16 | 14.90 | Mar 2, 2013 | Audie Wilburn | squid |
| Stargazer, Southern | 1.70 | 12.00 | May 24, 2006 | Rickey T. Collard | |
| Swordfish | 252.00 | — | Jul 23, 2020 | Stone Bolton | |
| Tilefish | 21.20 | 36.30 | Jul 11, 2013 | Tanner White | piggy perch |
| Triggerfish, Gray | 3.22 | 19.00 | Mar 5, 2006 | Matthew Colin Decuir | squid |
| Triggerfish, Ocean | 4.17 | 17.50 | Aug 12, 2007 | Richard Samora | squid |
| Tripletail | 22.10 | 30.25 | Aug 2, 2008 | Carson Chambers | shrimp |
| Tuna, Blackfin | 29.35 | 33.00 | Aug 6, 2005 | Taylor Walker | lure |
| Tuna, Skipjack | 21.02 | 32.00 | Jul 24, 2022 | Blake Braun | Ballyhoo |
| Tuna, Yellowfin | 149.90 | 62.50 | May 29, 2020 | Chase Perthuis | ballyhoo |
| Tunny, Little | 11.97 | 31.00 | Jul 21, 2007 | John Michael Decuir | sardine |
| Wahoo | 89.90 | 77.00 | Jul 7, 2007 | Luke Rabon | yo-zuri deep dive crankba |
Weight Records · Fly Fishing · Junior Angler
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Hardhead | 0.81 | 13.50 | Jul 30, 2019 | Zane Fisher Bailey | popper |
| Dolphin | 5.70 | 31.00 | Aug 5, 2005 | Kyle Lesak | tube fly |
| Drum, Black | 4.31 | 20.50 | May 17, 2020 | Zane Fisher Bailey | clouser minnow |
| Ladyfish | 0.75 | 15.50 | Aug 14, 2004 | Anthony Chapa | CBF automatic |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 2.00 | 20.50 | Sep 2, 2006 | Nick Rizopoulos | clouser minnow |
| Remora | 2.31 | 28.00 | Jun 9, 2015 | Connor Cochrane | single hook |
| Snapper, Gray | 9.06 | 25.25 | Aug 15, 2019 | Zane Fisher Bailey | feather fly |
Catch and Release Records (by length) · Rod & Reel · All Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amberjack, Greater | 42.50 | Jul 19, 2020 | Barry Osborn | ||
| Catfish, Gafftopsail | 23.25 | Jun 22, 2013 | Zachary Seltz | cut mullet | |
| Cobia | 51.25 | Jul 18, 2025 | Barry Osborn | jig | |
| Croaker, Atlantic | 15.00 | Oct 29, 2022 | Ashley Meadows | Dead Shrimp | |
| Drum, Black | 40.00 | Jan 17, 2016 | Michael Fillmore Jr. | shrimp | |
| Jack, Crevalle | 41.50 | Oct 15, 2010 | Barry Osborn | gold spoon | |
| Ladyfish | 24.25 | Aug 24, 2022 | Alessander Russian | Live Bait | |
| Mackerel, King | 44.50 | Feb 16, 2019 | Barry Osborn | sardine | |
| Mackerel, Spanish | 29.75 | Jul 25, 2015 | Julian Choi | ||
| Seatrout, Spotted | 26.00 | Aug 18, 2022 | Alessander Russian | Spoon | |
| Sheepshead | 18.50 | Jun 4, 2013 | Alexander Butler | Fly Rod, imitation crab | |
| Snapper, Red | 32.50 | Sep 23, 2024 | Jim Bellevue | Sardines | |
| Tarpon | 91.00 | Sep 19, 2018 | Michael R. Kubecka | cobia killer lure | |
| Tunny, Little | 28.25 | Aug 4, 2019 | Barry Osborn | Fly Rod, shrimp fly |
Catch and Release Records (by length) · Fly Fishing · All Ages
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobia | 40.25 | Oct 30, 2017 | Barry Osborn | clouser | |
| Jack, Crevalle | 40.00 | Sep 17, 2009 | Ronald Cruse | clouser | |
| Mackerel, King | 41.50 | Nov 24, 2018 | Barry Osborn | Osborn dolphin | |
| Sheepshead | 18.50 | Jun 4, 2013 | Alexander Butler | imitation crab | |
| Snapper, Red | 27.50 | Oct 18, 2023 | Keith Payne | Hairerika Fly | |
| Tunny, Little | 28.25 | Aug 4, 2019 | Barry Osborn | shrimp fly |
Catch and Release Records (by length) · Rod & Reel · Junior Angler
| Species | lb | in | Date | Angler | Bait / method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Gafftopsail | 22.00 | Jun 26, 2016 | Steven Lee Riddles III | mullet | |
| Drum, Black | 40.00 | Jan 17, 2016 | Michael Fillmore Jr. | shrimp |
State records live on the Record Book. TPWD tracks water-body records only for the bays it names — the Gulf table covers surf, jetty and offshore fish alike.
Hazards on this water
Portuguese man o' war are the region's signature beach hazard. South Padre gets them in numbers, they injure people badly enough to prompt formal warnings, and a mass stranding of thousands was recorded in early March 2012. Box jellyfish matter here too: three species are native to Texas waters. Chiropsalmus quadrumanus, the four-handed box jelly, known locally as sea wasp or hot jelly, with mauve tentacle bundles from each corner, appears seasonally August through October and delivers a very irritating sting; Tamoya haplonema has four milky-yellow tentacles and a sting described as painful but not lethal; Tripedalia cystophora, the mangrove box jelly, is silver-dollar sized and harmless to mildly itchy. Sting severity depends on contact area, location, species and individual reaction. Treatment for box jellies is vinegar to disable unfired nematocysts, then removal of tentacles with tools rather than bare hands; urine, ammonia and alcohol have no scientific evidence behind them. Note that TPWD's own field notes on the common bay jellyfish give a different remedy, unseasoned meat tenderizer mixed into a paste, and the two sources disagree. At Brazos Santiago the current is the danger: 42 ft of water and commercial traffic bound for the Port of Brownsville squeezing through a quarter-mile gap. Boca Chica is a planning problem as much as a safety one. SpaceX is FAA-licensed to close Boca Chica beach up to 500 hours a year for operations plus 300 hours a year for anomalies. Under SB 2188 (2025), weekday closure authority moves to the city of Starbase while Cameron County retains authority Friday through Sunday, with no increase in total permissible hours. Closures require 48 hours' notice, and state law already bars closures on certain holidays and adjacent days. A companion bill, SB 2230, makes unauthorized presence in hazard zones a Class B misdemeanor, rising to Class A for repeat violations. The legality of the closures has reached the Texas Supreme Court, and launches can close boat ramps as well as beaches. Always check closure notices before planning a Boca Chica or south-jetty trip. The Rio Grande mouth at Boca Chica State Park is fished, but access, river-mouth conditions and international boundary considerations there are complicated and we have no sourced guidance to give. Stingrays on the Laguna Madre flats are the standing local concern, flagged here without a citation.
Coast-wide stingers, first aid and the flag system: Jellyfish, Stingers & Things That Hurt.
Elsewhere on the coast
Every figure on this page carries a source above it. Where a length, date or fee has no published figure we say so rather than guess. Corrections: support@ironjetty.com.