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Fishing Nueces River: what the data says
Crystal Hill Country water below Camp Wood. The river tops out around 7 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Largemouth Bass fishing at Nueces River
Spring largemouth bass on Nueces River hold shallow, usually 1 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Nueces River
Spring smallmouth bass on Nueces River hold shallow, usually 2 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 7.5), a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Nueces River
Spring channel catfish on Nueces River hold shallow, usually 2 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 7 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday |
Bluegill fishing at Nueces River
Start shallow in spring: bluegill sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish settle into 2 to 7 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 33.0), a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates good for bluegill in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Common Carp fishing at Nueces River
Spring common carp on Nueces River hold shallow, usually 1 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for fall common carp. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 1 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday |
Longnose Gar fishing at Nueces River
Spring longnose gar on Nueces River hold shallow, usually 1 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 5 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in midday and the evening. A rope lure or a small white spinner covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft | midday | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 7 ft | midday & dusk | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.3): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 9.7): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.5): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.7): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.6): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.1): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.9): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 22.1): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 24.9): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.8): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 29.0): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 31.1): creek channel, around 5 ft
Common questions
How deep is Nueces River?
Nueces River is about 7 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Nueces River?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, longnose gar on Nueces River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Nueces River?
Riffle & run (mile 7.5) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Nueces River?
For largemouth bass, 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
Frio River · South Llano River · Devils River · Amistad Reservoir · Llano River · Canyon Lake
See how Nueces River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Texas · best smallmouth bass lakes in Texas · best bluegill lakes in Texas · best channel catfish lakes in Texas
Browse all Texas fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.