UTERBull shark fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, bull shark peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Bulls at the Galveston jetties and the surf.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Bull shark in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeak
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakBulls at the Galveston jetties and the surf.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish bull 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.
Fish Scouter charts 319 wreck spots in the The Upper Texas Coast map area — the kinds bull shark hold on.
What to use for bull shark
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish 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.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Cut ladyfishA whole ladyfish or a head on a 9/0 circle hook and wire for sharks; chunks on the bottom for redfish and drum. The best shark bait in Florida.
- Bonito (cut)Whole on cable for tiger and bull sharks; fillets and chunks on the bottom for grouper and snapper; strips trolled for wahoo.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–16/0
- Braid65–150 lb
Feeds in 66–92°F water, best at 72–88°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch bull shark in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is May–September. Bull shark are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake April–October. July: Bulls at the Galveston jetties and the surf.
Where do bull shark hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on pass / inlet, channel edge, bridge, beach / surf, wreck — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for bull shark in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), finger mullet, menhaden (pogies), cut ladyfish. Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for bull 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.
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