The Bull Redfish Run Is On Along the Texas Coast
If you fish jetties, passes or gulf beaches anywhere from Sabine Pass to South Padre Island, this is the week you've been waiting for. Texas's fall "bull redfish run" — when large, sexually mature red drum stage near passes and jetties to spawn — is in full swing, and it typically holds through October.
What's happening biologically
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's (TPWD) official red drum species account, red drum reach sexual maturity between their third and fourth year, and spawning season runs from mid-August through mid-October in Gulf waters, near the mouths of passes and along shorelines. TPWD notes that during the fall, especially in stormy weather, large adult red drum move to the gulf beaches — likely for spawning — where surf anglers and pier fishermen can reach them. This is the fish and the phenomenon anglers call the "bull redfish run."
Younger red drum spend their first three years in bays and surf zones near passes before moving out to the Gulf as adults, so the fish showing up now at the jetties are the older, larger "bulls" — generally well over the legal slot and headed offshore to spawn.
What's biting right now
Current coastal reports describe bull reds moving into the surf and around jetties in large numbers, with anglers reporting fast multi-fish days on incoming and outgoing tides (slack tide has been the slow stretch). The Texas jetty systems most associated with the run — Sabine Pass, Galveston, Port Aransas and South Padre Island — are the go-to spots, along with open gulf beaches during and after fall fronts. Cut or live mullet and blue crab fished on the bottom are the standard baits for the big fish; shrimp under a popping cork continues to produce smaller reds, trout and pompano in the surf alongside them.
Regulations to know before you go
Texas's red drum rules haven't changed, but they're worth restating heading into peak bull red season, since almost every fish caught during the run will be an oversized fish you can't just keep on your standard bag limit:
Daily bag: 3 red drum Slot limit: 20–28 inches (fish must fall within this range to count against the standard bag) Oversized fish: During a license year, one red drum over 28 inches may be retained with a completed Red Drum Tag, and a second with a Bonus Red Drum Tag (available for $3 at any license retailer). Both tagged fish may be kept in addition to the daily bag and possession limit — they don't count against your 3-fish limit.
Tagging: Anglers with digital licenses report oversized fish through the Texas Hunt & Fish app instead of physically attaching a paper tag; see TPWD's digital tagging instructions for the exact steps. These limits are current for the 2026–27 license year (valid September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027) per TPWD's Outdoor Annual.
Bottom line
Most bull reds caught in the surf and off the jetties this time of year are release fish once you've filled your slot limit and used both tags — but that's part of the appeal. It's a short, predictable window when big, hard-fighting fish concentrate in places anglers can reach on foot, and it's worth planning a trip around if you haven't targeted it before.
Sources
TPWD: Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) species account — official life history and spawning-season information, including the "bull redfish run" description TPWD: Drum Bag & Length Limits — current red drum bag, slot and tagging rules, valid Sept. 1, 2026–Aug. 31, 2027 TPWD: Tagging Red Drum & Spotted Seatrout — physical tagging instructions TPWD: Digital Licenses and Tagging — Texas Hunt & Fish app reporting process for digital tags TPWD: Gulf Coast Weekly Fishing Reports — ongoing coastal bite reports referenced for current conditions