UTERBlackfin tuna fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, blackfin tuna peak October–April and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. February: Blackfin on the rigs.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Blackfin tuna in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryPeak
- FebruaryPeakBlackfin on the rigs.
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeak
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish blackfin tuna 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 blackfin tuna hold on.
What to use for blackfin tuna
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 70–86°F water, best at 74–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch blackfin tuna in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is October–April. Blackfin tuna are here year-round. February: Blackfin on the rigs.
Where do blackfin tuna 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 blackfin tuna in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), goggle-eyes. Pilchards (whitebait): Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for blackfin tuna 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 blackfin tuna · The Upper Texas Coast, the whole year