Nueces River Fishing Map & Spots (TX)

Hatch outlook

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

Next on this water

Spring crawfish emergence · forageFeb 15 – May 15 · in ~6 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Nueces River

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Nueces River on the board.

Fishing Nueces River: what the data says

Crystal Hill Country water below Camp Wood. The river tops out around 7 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.

On the chart, Nueces River draws 2,044 acres inside 81.8 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 12.9) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Tip to tip the water measures near 29.7 mi with a 3.7-mi widest point. The water lies in Uvalde County. For a second option, Frio River lies 17 mi east.

Largemouth Bass fishing at Nueces River

Spring puts largemouth bass in skinny water — 1 to 7 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. Fall largemouth bass concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a prime-rated creek channel around 5 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 7 ft	dawn & dusk	open water	Spinnerbait, Chatterbait
Summer	2 to 7 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 33.0) (4 ft)	Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait
Fall	2 to 7 ft	midday & dawn	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	2 to 7 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Nueces River

In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 7 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 7 ft, and they winter in 2 to 7 ft. Riffle & run (mile 7.5) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 7 ft	dawn & dusk	Riffle & run (mile 7.5) (3 ft)	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	2 to 7 ft	dawn & dusk	Riffle & run (mile 7.5) (3 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	2 to 7 ft	midday & dawn	Riffle & run (mile 7.5) (3 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	2 to 7 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 33.0) (4 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Channel Catfish fishing at Nueces River

Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 2 to 7 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. Summer channel catfish concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a prime-rated creek channel around 5 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	2 to 7 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)
Summer	2 to 7 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)
Fall	2 to 7 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)
Winter	2 to 7 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)

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. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig until the fish tell you otherwise.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 6 ft	midday & dusk	open water	1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings)
Summer	2 to 7 ft	dawn & dusk	open water	Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig
Fall	2 to 7 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 33.0) (4 ft)	Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped
Winter	2 to 7 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 33.0) (4 ft)	Tiny spoon

Common Carp fishing at Nueces River

Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 1 to 7 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 1 to 7 ft covers summer, 2 to 7 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in the 5 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	1 to 7 ft	midday & dawn	open water
Summer	1 to 7 ft	dawn & dusk	open water
Fall	2 to 7 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)
Winter	2 to 7 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)

Longnose Gar fishing at Nueces River

The spring pattern is a shallow one: longnose gar in 1 to 7 ft. The depth story barely changes: 1 to 7 ft through summer, 2 to 7 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in the 5 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for midday and the evening. Summer baits: a rope lure or a small white spinner gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 7 ft	midday	open water	Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow)
Summer	1 to 7 ft	midday & dusk	open water	Rope lure, Small white spinner
Fall	2 to 7 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)	Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy)
Winter	2 to 7 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (5 ft)

Notable structure

Nueces River carries 19 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), about 5 ft down.

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

Public access & boat ramps

Nueces — ramp
Nueces — ramp
Nueces — ramp
Nueces — ramp
Nueces — ramp
Nueces River — ramp
Nueces River — ramp
Nueces River — ramp
…plus 7 more mapped sites.

Access data: Texas Parks & Wildlife — Public Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.

Nueces River fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Texas waters are set by the Texas Parks & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Nueces River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Texas fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Nueces River?

Nueces River is about 7 ft (2 m) deep 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, channel catfish, bluegill, 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. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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.

What are the fishing regulations for Nueces River?

Fishing on Nueces River is regulated by the Texas Parks & Wildlife. Check the official Texas regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Frio River 17 mi · Nimitz Lake 62 mi · Medina Lake 63 mi · Devils River 64 mi · South Llano River 67 mi · Amistad Reservoir 76 mi · Llano River 94 mi · Victor Braunig Lake 99 mi · Calaveras Lake 102 mi · Canyon Lake 106 mi · Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) 112 mi · Lake Dunlap 116 mi

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 see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.