Tamaulipas Mexico · Mexico

Tampico Gulf Mexico fishing forecast

95 Good of 100

Tampico Gulf Mexico is a saltwater fishing spot in Tamaulipas Mexico, Mexico. Anglers here target Tarpon, Common Snook, Red Drum. The most productive months are typically April, May, June, July, August, September, October.

Quick answer

Best monthsApril, May, June, July

Top speciesTarpon, Common Snook, Red Drum

Score now95/100

Local rulesMexico

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Today’s verdict

Ranks #16 of 409 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+25.0Chlorophyll+18.0Waves+9.0

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

18:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

minor 10:03

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	28.0 °C
Wind	7 km/h from SSW, gusting 12 km/h
Wave height	0.7 m at 5 s
Current	0.04 m/s toward SSE
Pressure	1018 hPa
Depth	2 m
Cloud cover	18%
Chlorophyll	1.78 mg/m³
Salinity	35.0 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	12 m
UV index	0
Wind sea	0.0 m at 0 s
Ground swell	0.7 m at 5 s from ENE
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)	0.04 → 0.00 m/s

The water here is 2.5 °C warmer than the October average of 25.6 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 60.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Tampico Gulf Mexico

Tampico Gulf Mexico currently scores 95 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 28.0 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +25.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Chlorophyll +18.0: plankton density — the base of the food chain
Waves +9.0: swell energy stirring the water column
Wind +8.0: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Chlorophyll front +5.0: a plankton edge — classic feeding line
Current +4.4: moving water concentrates bait

What’s biting now

The model expects today: spotted-bay-bass, pacific-bluefin-tuna, california-corbina, kelp-bass, california-sheephead, barred-sand-bass, white-seabass, pacific-barracuda

Bite windows

Moon

Waxing Gibbous · 90% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for Tampico Gulf Mexico:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-09-25, 97/100

30 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

About this spot

Water type

Sea

Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · offshore ground

What you can catch

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus
Common Snook

Centropomus undecimalis
Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

Best months by species at Tampico Gulf Mexico

TarponMegalops atlanticus
Common SnookCentropomus undecimalis
Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (CONAPESCA) — Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (SADER)

Mexico

Species	Bag limit	Min size	Open season
TarponOfficial source	2/day	—	—
Tarpon ("sábalo") is limited to 2 per angler per day and is one of the nine species reserved for sport fishing within 50 nautical miles of shore. Counts toward the 10/day overall limit. Catch-and-release is encouraged.

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal sport-fishing permit (permiso de pesca deportivo-recreativa) required for everyone aboard a vessel fishing in Mexican waters, regardless of age or whether they personally fish. Fishing from shore or a pier does NOT require a permit. Permit terms: daily ~$127 MXN, weekly ~$318 MXN, monthly ~$476 MXN, annual ~$635 MXN. Buy from CONAPESCA online or authorised vendors., non-residents Same federal permit applies to visiting anglers and is sold online by CONAPESCA and by state tourism portals (e.g. Baja California). Charter/panga operators usually arrange permits for clients — confirm before departure. Underwater (spearfishing) requires an individual permit.

FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only and are not a legal source. Mexican sport-fishing rules are set federally by CONAPESCA (NOM-017-PESC) but daily limits, reserved species and protected natural areas (ANPs, e.g. Cabo Pulmo, Revillagigedo, Banco Chinchorro) carry extra restrictions, and rules change. The overall limit is 10 organisms per angler per day, maximum 5 of one species. Always carry a valid permit when fishing from a vessel and verify current rules with CONAPESCA before fishing.