UTERLittle tunny fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, little tunny peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Bonito blitzes around the nearshore rigs.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Little tunny in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakBonito blitzes around the nearshore rigs.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish little tunny 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 little tunny hold on.
What to use for little tunny
- 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.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 66–86°F water, best at 70–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch little tunny in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is June–September. Little tunny are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake May–October. July: Bonito blitzes around the nearshore rigs.
Where do little tunny hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf, wreck — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for little tunny in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), 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 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for little tunny 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
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All about little tunny · The Upper Texas Coast, the whole year