UTERAtlantic croaker fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, Atlantic croaker peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Croaker in the Galveston bays; the trout bait of summer.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Atlantic croaker in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeakCroaker in the Galveston bays; the trout bait of summer.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Atlantic croaker 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 Atlantic croaker
- 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.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 58–86°F water, best at 66–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Atlantic croaker in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is May–September. Atlantic croaker are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake April–October. May: Croaker in the Galveston bays; the trout bait of summer.
Where do Atlantic croaker hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on channel edge, bridge, dock / pilings, pass / inlet — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for Atlantic croaker in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: live shrimp, bloodworms. 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 Atlantic croaker 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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