UTERKing mackerel fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, king mackerel peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Kings on the nearshore rigs off Freeport and Galveston; slow-troll hardtails.
No note for October — see the months around it.
King mackerel in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakKings on the nearshore rigs off Freeport and Galveston; slow-troll hardtails.
- JulyPeakTarpon off the jetties; snapper and kings offshore. Drift live mullet around the bait schools off the jetties; red snapper on the rigs when open.
- AugustPeakBig fish on the rigs in the 80-degree water.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish king mackerel 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, 8 artificial reef spots in the The Upper Texas Coast map area — the kinds king mackerel hold on.
What to use for king mackerel
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Speedos (redtail scad)Bridled through the nose on a kite or slow-trolled for sailfish, kingfish and blackfin.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–6/0
- Braid30–50 lb
Feeds in 66–82°F water, best at 68–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch king mackerel in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is June–September. King mackerel are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake May–October. June: Kings on the nearshore rigs off Freeport and Galveston; slow-troll hardtails.
Where do king mackerel hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on artificial reef, wreck — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for king mackerel in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), threadfin herring (greenbacks), cigar minnows, menhaden (pogies). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–6/0, braid 30–50 lb.
What are the rules for king mackerel 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 king mackerel 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 king mackerel · The Upper Texas Coast, the whole year