UTERMahi-mahi fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, mahi-mahi peak June–August and are around May–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Dolphin on the weed lines and the rigs.
Not in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake this month.
Mahi-mahi in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakDolphin on the weed lines and the rigs.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberLeaving
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish mahi-mahi 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 mahi-mahi hold on.
What to use for mahi-mahi
- BallyhooRigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked.
- 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.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 72–88°F water, best at 76–84°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch mahi-mahi in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is June–August. Mahi-mahi are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake May–September. June: Dolphin on the weed lines and the rigs.
Where do mahi-mahi hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on wreck, artificial reef — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for mahi-mahi in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: ballyhoo, pilchards (whitebait), blue runners (hardtails). Ballyhoo: Rigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for mahi-mahi 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 mahi-mahi 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.
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All about mahi-mahi · The Upper Texas Coast, the whole year