UTERGreater amberjack fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, greater amberjack peak May–September and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: AJs on the platforms; check the open dates.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Greater amberjack in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayPeak
- JunePeakAJs on the platforms; check the open dates.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish greater amberjack near Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston
Galveston Bay's East, West, Trinity and Christmas bays, Matagorda's East and West bays and Sabine Lake — shell reefs, mud flats, marsh drains and bayous behind barrier islands — with jetties at Galveston, Freeport and Sabine Pass, and a ring of oil and gas platforms just offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 319 wreck, 8 artificial reef spots in the The Upper Texas Coast map area — the kinds greater amberjack hold on.
What to use for greater amberjack
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 64–84°F water, best at 68–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch greater amberjack in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is May–September. Greater amberjack are here year-round. June: AJs on the platforms; check the open dates.
Where do greater amberjack hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on wreck, artificial reef — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for greater amberjack in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), pinfish, cigar minnows, goggle-eyes. Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for greater amberjack in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and change — read the current rule at https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about greater amberjack · The Upper Texas Coast, the whole year