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Fishing Copano Bay: what the data says
41,350-acre bay near Rockport. The water tops out around 11 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings (depths referenced to low tide), so the channels, holes and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Red Drum (Redfish) fishing at Copano Bay
Start shallow in spring: red drum (redfish) sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. They move out to 2 to 11 ft in summer and finish the year down in 2 to 11 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Creek inflow: a inflow / creek mouth around 6 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A weedless gold spoon or a paddletail swimbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Gold weedless spoon, Paddletail on 1/4 oz jighead |
| Summer | 2 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Weedless gold spoon, Paddletail swimbait |
| Fall | 2 to 11 ft | dawn & midday | 1/2 oz spoon (schools), Big paddletail |
| Winter | 2 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | Scented soft plastic on 1/8 oz head, Slow-rolled paddletail |
Spotted Seatrout fishing at Copano Bay
Spring spotted seatrout on Copano Bay hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 3 to 11 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 11 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for spotted seatrout in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a popping cork + shrimp or a 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Suspending twitchbait |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn | Popping cork + shrimp, 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | dawn | Popping cork rig, Soft plastic jerkbait |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday & dusk | Suspending twitchbait (long pauses), Scented plastic crawled on bottom |
Southern Flounder fishing at Copano Bay
Spring southern flounder on Copano Bay hold shallow, usually 1 to 11 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 11 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 11 ft. The spot to know is Old creek channel, a creek channel in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for southern flounder in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a jighead + gulp swimming mullet or a bucktail tipped with shrimp gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 11 ft | dawn | 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (white/chartreuse), Bucktail + Gulp shrimp |
| Summer | 2 to 11 ft | dawn | Jighead + Gulp swimming mullet, Bucktail tipped with shrimp |
| Fall | 2 to 11 ft | midday | 3/8 oz bucktail + Gulp (passes), Big paddletail on the jetty edge |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Slow jig + scented grub in the holes |
Sheepshead fishing at Copano Bay
In spring, sheepshead run shallow here, mostly 2 to 11 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 11 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 11 ft. Gravel shoal is the standout, a gravel shoal at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring sheepshead. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A small jig + crab piece covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 11 ft | midday & dawn | 1/4 oz jighead + fiddler, Sheepshead jig + shrimp piece |
| Summer | 2 to 11 ft | dawn | Small jig + crab piece |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Jighead + shrimp, Small crab jig |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday | Heavier jig + crab (deep pilings) |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 10 ft
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 10 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 6 ft
- Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 6 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 6 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 3 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 3 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 2 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 2 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 2 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 2 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Copano Bay?
Copano Bay is about 11 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys (charted soundings referenced to low tide), so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Copano Bay?
Anglers target red drum (redfish), spotted seatrout, southern flounder, sheepshead on Copano Bay.
Where is the best fishing spot on Copano Bay?
Creek inflow is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for red drum (redfish) in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Copano Bay?
For red drum (redfish), the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Aransas Bay · Espiritu Santo Bay · Lavaca Bay · Matagorda Bay · Choke Canyon Reservoir · East Matagorda Bay
See how Copano Bay stacks up: best red drum (redfish) lakes in Texas · best spotted seatrout lakes in Texas · best southern flounder lakes in Texas
Browse all Texas fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.