UTERLadyfish fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, ladyfish peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Ladyfish in the Galveston surf and the passes.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Ladyfish in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakLadyfish in the Galveston surf and the passes.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish ladyfish 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 ladyfish
- Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 64–90°F water, best at 72–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch ladyfish in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is June–September. Ladyfish are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake May–October. July: Ladyfish in the Galveston surf and the passes.
Where do ladyfish hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, grass flat, dock / pilings, bridge, channel edge — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for ladyfish in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), live shrimp, pilchards (whitebait). Glass minnows (bay anchovies): Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for ladyfish 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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