UTERSand seatrout fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, sand seatrout peak November–April and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Galveston ship channel and the deep holes; drift a shrimp-tipped jig.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Sand seatrout in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryPeakGalveston ship channel and the deep holes; drift a shrimp-tipped jig.
- FebruaryPeakWade East Bay for big trout; drum and sheepshead spawn. Mud and shell in East and West bays; cracked crab for big drum at the jetties.
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeak
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeakWinter marsh: clear water, schooled reds. Sight-cast reds in the clear marsh lakes on calm days; trout in the deep bayous.
Where to fish sand seatrout 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 sand seatrout
- 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.
- Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 58–88°F water, best at 66–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sand seatrout in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is November–April. Sand seatrout are here year-round. January: Galveston ship channel and the deep holes; drift a shrimp-tipped jig.
Where do sand seatrout hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on channel edge, pass / inlet, bridge, grass flat — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for sand seatrout in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: live shrimp, glass minnows (bay anchovies). Live shrimp: Under 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. 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 sand seatrout 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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