UTERPompano fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, pompano peak May and October and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. October: Fall fish in the surf and at San Luis Pass.
Fall fish in the surf and at San Luis Pass.
Pompano in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingPompano in the Galveston surf.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArriving
- OctoberPeakFall fish in the surf and at San Luis Pass.
- NovemberAround
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish pompano 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 pompano
- Sand fleas (mole crabs)On a small circle hook or a pompano rig, digger-end first — the pompano and whiting bait.
- 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.
- Fiddler crabsA #1 hook through the back corner of the shell, dropped tight to the piling — the sheepshead bait.
- Leader15–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–1/0
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 62–82°F water, best at 66–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch pompano in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is May and October. Pompano are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake April–November. October: Fall fish in the surf and at San Luis Pass.
Where do pompano hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, grass flat, channel edge — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for pompano in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: sand fleas (mole crabs), live shrimp, fiddler crabs. Sand fleas (mole crabs): On a small circle hook or a pompano rig, digger-end first — the pompano and whiting bait. Tackle: leader 15–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–1/0, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for pompano 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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