UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, Spanish mackerel peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Jetties, surf and nearshore rigs; small spoons.
The last of them before the fronts.
Spanish mackerel in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingSpanish arrive at the Galveston jetties.
- MayPeakSpawning trout at the jetties and wells. Croaker on a Carolina rig at the jetties and bay wells; cobia on the buoys.
- JunePeakGreen to the beach: surf trout, kings on the rigs, first tarpon. Wade the Galveston surf at dawn on calm days; slow-troll hardtails on the nearshore rigs.
- JulyPeakJetties, surf and nearshore rigs; small spoons.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeavingThe last of them before the fronts.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Spanish 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 8 artificial reef spots in the The Upper Texas Coast map area — the kinds Spanish mackerel hold on.
What to use for Spanish mackerel
- Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.
- 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.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Leader30–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 64–84°F water, best at 68–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Spanish mackerel in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is May–September. Spanish mackerel are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake April–October. July: Jetties, surf and nearshore rigs; small spoons.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), spanish sardines. Glass minnows (bay anchovies): Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook. Tackle: leader 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for Spanish 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.
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All about Spanish mackerel · The Upper Texas Coast, the whole year