Best of Port O'Connor, TX | Enjoy Gulf Coast
Port O'Connor, called POC by locals, is a working fishing town on the edge of Matagorda Bay in Calhoun County. It is one of the premier charter fishing ports on the Texas mid-coast, with dozens of captains running bay trips for redfish and trout and offshore runs into the Gulf. Birders come for the Texas Coastal Birding Trail access near Matagorda Island, where over 320 species have been recorded.
What to do
Charter fishing capital
Port O'Connor is a serious fishing town on Matagorda Bay, known locally as POC. Dozens of charter captains run bay and offshore trips targeting redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and trophy bull reds. Captain Scott Pierce of Texas Coastal Adventures has over 30 years of experience; Captain Keith Gregory has guided since 1994. A valid Texas fishing license is required.
Birding and Matagorda Island
A Texas Coastal Birding Trail site near Matagorda Island. TPWD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have catalogued over 320 species on the island, including white-tailed hawk, whooping crane, brown pelican, and peregrine falcon. Note: the ferry that once ran between Port O'Connor and Matagorda Island is no longer operational.
Bay and offshore waters
Beyond bay fishing, Port O'Connor offers quick access to Gulf of Mexico offshore waters for snapper, grouper, and tuna. Wade fishing, drift fishing, and flounder gigging are all local specialties. The town's docks are lined with charter options, and fishing is described as consistent 365 days a year.
Wildlife and seasons
Matagorda Island's 56,000-plus acres of barrier island wilderness sit just offshore, and the bird list tops 320 species. Fall migration funnels hawks, falcons, and songbirds down the coast; winter brings whooping cranes, sandhill cranes, and rafts of ducks to the island's marshes. Spring is peak redfish season in the bays, summer opens the offshore bite for kingfish and snapper, and the fall flounder run draws giggers to the shallow flats at night. Alligators are part of the upper-coast wetlands here, so give marsh edges their space.
Getting to Matagorda Island
Matagorda Island is a state natural area and national wildlife refuge reachable only by private boat. There is no public ferry. Anglers and birders typically arrange private boat transport or go with guides who know the island's landing points. Plan for a full day, bring everything you need, and leave no trace.
Good to know
- Port O'Connor Chamber of Commerce: PO Box 701, Port O'Connor, TX 77982, phone 361-983-2898.
- Over 320 bird species have been catalogued on nearby Matagorda Island by TPWD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including whooping cranes.
- Captain Keith Gregory has run guided fishing trips on Matagorda Bay and Espiritu Santo Bay since 1994.
- Inshore gamefish include redfish, speckled trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, tarpon, and cobia.
Visitor tips
- Bring a valid Texas fishing license before your trip; guides generally do not provide licenses. Add a redfish tag if targeting bull reds.
Nearby Destinations
- Seadrift — quiet shrimping village on San Antonio Bay, a sportsman's town with duck hunting and redfish flats.
- Port Lavaca — bayfront county seat with free beaches, the 1858 lighthouse, and working waterfront.
- Rockport-Fulton — art colony and birding capital, with whooping crane boat tours into the refuge.
- Matagorda — small fishing town at the mouth of the Colorado River, gateway to wild beaches.
Research date: 2026-10-12. This is a research draft, not yet verified. How we verify.