UTERCobia fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, cobia peak June–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Rigs and the shrimp boats; sight-cast the surface.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cobia in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilAround
- MayArrivingCobia on the buoys, weed lines and nearshore platforms off Galveston.
- 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.
- JulyPeakRigs and the shrimp boats; sight-cast the surface.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish cobia 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 cobia hold on.
What to use for cobia
- Live eelsHooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait.
- 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.
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- 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.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–7/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid30–50 lb
Feeds in 66–84°F water, best at 68–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch cobia in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is June–September. Cobia are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake April–October. July: Rigs and the shrimp boats; sight-cast the surface.
Where do cobia hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, beach / surf — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for cobia in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: live eels, pinfish, blue crabs, blue runners (hardtails). Live eels: Hooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–7/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 30–50 lb.
What are the rules for cobia 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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