UTERBonnethead shark fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, bonnethead shark peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Bonnetheads in the bays.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Bonnethead shark in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeak
- JunePeakBonnetheads in the bays.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish bonnethead shark 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.
What to use for bonnethead shark
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 68–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch bonnethead shark in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is May–September. Bonnethead shark are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake April–October. June: Bonnetheads in the bays.
Where do bonnethead shark hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on grass flat, channel edge, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for bonnethead shark in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: live shrimp, blue crabs, finger mullet. Live shrimp: Under a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for bonnethead shark 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
Fish Scouter scores bonnethead shark for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about bonnethead shark · The Upper Texas Coast, the whole year