UTERJack crevalle fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, jack crevalle peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Jacks on the Galveston jetties and the surf.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Jack crevalle in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeakJacks on the Galveston jetties and the surf.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeakBull jacks on the mullet at the passes.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish jack crevalle 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 jack crevalle
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leader30–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook3/0–5/0
- Jig head1/2–1 oz
- Braid20–30 lb
Feeds in 66–92°F water, best at 72–88°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch jack crevalle in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is May–September. Jack crevalle are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake April–October. May: Jacks on the Galveston jetties and the surf.
Where do jack crevalle hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, grass flat, dock / pilings, bridge, channel edge — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for jack crevalle in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: pilchards (whitebait), finger mullet, pinfish. 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 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook 3/0–5/0, jig head 1/2–1 oz, braid 20–30 lb.
What are the rules for jack crevalle 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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