UTERFlounder fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, flounder peak May and October–November and are around March–December, spawning in November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Marsh drains and shell edges of the Galveston bays; mud minnows on a Carolina rig.
The fall run starts: drains and passes on the outgoing tide after a front.
Flounder in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingFlounder return through Rollover Pass, San Luis Pass and Sabine Pass.
- AprilArrivingEverything wakes up on the shell. Shrimp under a cork over shell reefs; whiting and pompano in the surf.
- MayPeakMarsh drains and shell edges of the Galveston bays; mud minnows on a Carolina rig.
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArrivingBull reds at the jetties; flounder start moving. Cut mullet at the Galveston and Sabine jetties; first fronts move bait out of the marsh.
- OctoberPeakThe fall run starts: drains and passes on the outgoing tide after a front.
- NovemberSpawningStacked at the Galveston jetties and Sabine Pass heading to the Gulf — harvest is closed for the run; check TPWD.
- DecemberLeaving
Where to fish flounder 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 flounder
- Mud minnows (killifish)Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–2/0
- Jig head1/4–1/2 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 54–82°F water, best at 60–75°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch flounder in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is May and October–November, with fish spawning in November (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Flounder are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake March–December. May: Marsh drains and shell edges of the Galveston bays; mud minnows on a Carolina rig.
Where do flounder hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on channel edge, dock / pilings, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for flounder in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: mud minnows (killifish), finger mullet, live shrimp, pinfish. Mud minnows (killifish): Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–2/0, jig head 1/4–1/2 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for flounder 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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