UTERTarpon fishing in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake
In Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, tarpon peak July–September and are around June–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Tarpon rolling off the Galveston jetties and the nearshore bait schools; drift a live mullet or a big swimbait.
The last fish leave with the first real front.
Tarpon in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneArrivingThe first tarpon show off Galveston and Sabine on the calm days.
- JulyPeakTarpon rolling off the Galveston jetties and the nearshore bait schools; drift a live mullet or a big swimbait.
- AugustPeakThe heart of the season off the upper coast beaches.
- SeptemberPeakFish turning south; jetties and passes on the outgoing tide.
- OctoberLeavingThe last fish leave with the first real front.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tarpon 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 tarpon
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–8/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid40–65 lb
Feeds in 74–90°F water, best at 78–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tarpon in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Peak season is July–September. Tarpon are in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake June–October. July: Tarpon rolling off the Galveston jetties and the nearshore bait schools; drift a live mullet or a big swimbait.
Where do tarpon hold in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, bridge, channel edge — around Matagorda, Freeport, Galveston, Kemah, Anahuac, High Island.
What is the best bait for tarpon in Galveston Bay & Sabine Lake?
Live bait: blue crabs, threadfin herring (greenbacks), pilchards (whitebait), finger mullet. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–8/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 40–65 lb.
What are the rules for tarpon 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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