What's Biting | Galveston Fishing Pier

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WHAT'S BITING

Your complete guide to Gulf Coast fishing — species, seasons, bait & pier tips from the people who fish it every day.

🐟 Species Guide 📅 Seasonal Calendar 🎣 Bait & Gear Tips ⏰ Best Times

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Seasonal Activity

Gulf of Mexico, Galveston — tap any month below to see what's biting, the best methods, and current TPWD limits.

Monthly Gulf Activity May — Peak Season

↓ Tap a month to see what's biting

Red DrumRedfish
—
Year-round (peak fall)
Cast a bottom rig with a 1–2 oz sinker into channels and drop-offs, or fish a popping cork in 3–5 ft over sand. Slow-retrieve soft plastics along structure where reds ambush bait.
Medium 7' rod, 15–20 lb braid, 20–30 lb fluoro leader. Live shrimp, cut mullet, blue crab, gold spoons, paddletail plastics.
3/day · 20–28" (1 over 28" w/tag)
Speckled TroutSpotted seatrout
—
Spring – Fall
Best at dawn and dusk — fish a popping cork with live shrimp suspended 18–24" below over grass flats. Topwater plugs at first light produce explosive strikes.
Medium 7' fast-action, 10–15 lb braid, 20 lb fluoro leader. Live shrimp, croaker, MirrOlures, Gulp! Shrimp, soft plastic jerkbaits.
3/day · 15–20" (1 over 28")
Black DrumBottom feeder
—
Winter – Spring
Bottom-fish a 2–3 oz pyramid sinker rig near pilings with fresh shrimp or crab — drum feed by smell and feel. Set the hook slow; they mouth bait before committing.
Medium-heavy 7', 20 lb braid, 30 lb mono leader, 4/0–6/0 circle hooks. Fresh peeled shrimp, blue crab quarters, fresh cut bait.
5/day · 14–30" (1 over 52")
FlounderAmbush predator
—
Fall run, spring
Drag a Carolina rig with finger mullet or Gulp! shad slowly across sandy bottom near structure. Flounder ambush — let them eat for 3–5 seconds before setting.
Medium 6'6"–7', 12–15 lb braid, 20 lb fluoro leader, 2/0 Kahle or wide-gap hook. Finger mullet, mud minnows, Gulp! shad and shrimp.
5/day · min 15"
SheepsheadPier pilings
—
Winter – Spring
Fish a small hook tight against pier pilings with fiddler crab or shrimp. Sheepshead are bait stealers — feel for the tick and set fast.
Light-medium 7', 10–12 lb braid, 15 lb fluoro leader, #1 or #2 sharp J-hook. Fiddler crab, live shrimp, fresh barnacles scraped off pilings.
5/day · min 15"
Spanish MackerelFast water
—
Spring – Summer
Fast-retrieve flashy spoons or Gotcha plugs through bait schools — Spanish chase moving lures. Look for diving birds; that's your bait ball signal.
Medium-fast 7', 15 lb braid, light wire leader (sharp teeth). Silver/gold spoons, Gotcha plugs, live menhaden, small jigs.
15/day · min 14"
Jack CrevalleHard fighter
—
Summer
When birds dive and water boils, cast fast-moving spoons or topwater into the chaos. Reel as fast as you can — jacks crush burning retrieves.
Medium-heavy 7'6", 30 lb braid, 40 lb fluoro leader, tight drag. Large silver spoons, topwater poppers, paddletail jigs, live mullet.
No bag/size limit
SharksMultiple species
—
Summer
Big bottom rig with a heavy lead and circle hook, baited far out past the breakers. Let them run before tightening — circle hooks set themselves.
Heavy shark rod 8'–10', 50–80 lb mono, 100 lb wire/cable leader, 10/0–16/0 non-offset circle hook. Whole mullet, bonita chunks, stingray.
1/day (varies by species)
CobiaLing
—
Spring – Summer
Sight-cast a heavy bucktail jig at fish riding under buoys or stingrays — cobia are curious and will charge a slow jig. Also responds to live bait drifted deep.
Medium-heavy 7'6", 30 lb braid, 50 lb fluoro leader. Large bucktail jigs (2–4 oz), live pinfish, live eels, big swimbaits.
1/day · min 40"
WhitingSurf species
—
Year-round
Surf-style bottom rig (Carolina or fish-finder) cast just past the breakers into sandy troughs. Small hooks, small baits — bites are quick taps.
Light-medium 7'–8', 10–15 lb braid, 1–2 oz pyramid sinker, #4–#2 long-shank hook. Fresh dead shrimp, sand fleas, Fishbites, squid strips.
No limit
CroakerBottom feeder
—
Summer
Two-hook bottom rig with small chunks of shrimp tight to bottom — croakers school, so once you find them expect a steady bite. Great kid fish.
Light 6'6"–7', 8–12 lb braid, #4 or #6 long-shank hook, 1 oz pyramid sinker. Fresh peeled shrimp, squid, Fishbites bloodworm.
No limit
Sand TroutSmaller cousin
—
Summer
Bottom-bounce a small jig tipped with shrimp or fish a Carolina rig in 5–8 ft. Sand trout hit aggressively; faster retrieves than specks.
Light-medium 7', 10 lb braid, 1/4–3/8 oz jighead, #2 hook. Fresh shrimp, Gulp! shrimp on jighead, small soft plastics, Fishbites.
No limit
Gafftop CatfishCommon at pier
—
Year-round
Bottom rig with cut bait or shrimp anywhere on the pier — gafftops are everywhere, especially at night. Watch the venomous dorsal/pectoral spines.
Medium 7', 15 lb braid, 20 lb mono leader, 2/0–3/0 circle hook. Cut mullet, fresh shrimp, squid, chicken liver, any oily cut bait.
No limit

Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (TPWD) 2025–2026 regulations. Always check current limits at tpwd.texas.gov before keeping a catch — rules change.

Species Deep Dive

Species Guide

Everything you need to catch them — seasonality, habitat, and pier-tested tips.

Flounder Hot

Flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

Season
Apr – Nov
Best Time
Dusk & dawn
Habitat
Sandy bottom
Rod
Light–medium
Pier tip: Drag live shrimp slowly across the sandy bottom near structure. Flounder ambush — slow is key.
Live shrimpFinger mulletSlow drag
Speckled Trout Strong

Speckled Trout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Season
Year-round
Best Time
Early AM
Habitat
Grass flats
Rod
Medium
Pier tip: Work soft plastics or live shrimp under a popping cork near pilings. Overcast mornings produce the biggest trout.
Soft plasticsLive shrimpPopping cork
Sheepshead Slowing

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Season
Nov – Apr
Best Time
Incoming tide
Habitat
Pilings
Rod
Light
Pier tip: Fish fiddler crabs or barnacles scraped right off the pier pilings. Sheepshead are bait stealers — small hook, set fast.
Fiddler crabBarnaclesSmall hook
Redfish Building

Redfish

Sciaenops ocellatus

Season
Jun – Nov
Best Time
High tide, AM
Habitat
Shallow flats
Rod
Medium
Pier tip: Look for the black spot near the tail — that's your redfish. Live shrimp under a cork or cut crab works great during high tide.
Live shrimpCut crabCork rig
Pompano Hot

Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

Season
Spring & Fall
Best Time
Incoming tide
Habitat
Sandy surf
Rod
Light–medium
Pier tip: Pompano run just beyond the breakers in sandy troughs. Sand fleas or fresh shrimp on a small hook on the bottom — they feed when water moves.
Sand fleasFresh shrimpBottom rig
Jack Crevalle Strong

Jack Crevalle

Caranx hippos

Season
Spring & Fall
Best Time
Schooling
Fight
Extremely hard
Rod
Medium–heavy
Pier tip: Birds diving + water boiling = jacks pushing baitfish. Cast a fast-moving spoon into the chaos. Tight drag — jacks will smoke you.
Live baitfishSilver spoonsFast jigs
Gafftop Catfish Year-round

Gafftop Catfish

Bagre marinus

Season
Year-round
Best Time
Night fishing
Habitat
Bottom, pilings
Rod
Light–medium
Pier tip: Everywhere at the pier — especially at night. Great for beginners. Watch the spines — they're sharp.
ShrimpCut baitBottom rig
Whiting Year-round

Whiting

Menticirrhus spp.

Season
Year-round
Best Time
Incoming tide
Habitat
Sandy surf
Rod
Light
Pier tip: Excellent beginner fish and great table fare. School in the surf zone. Sand fleas or shrimp on a small hook on the bottom — reliable even when others aren't biting.
Sand fleasShrimpSurf zone

Sharks of the Gulf

Pier Sharks

Species you may encounter from the Galveston pier — always handle with care and release quickly when possible.

Texas regulations: Non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks required for shark fishing. One shark per angler per day. Minimum size 24" for Blacktip, Atlantic Sharpnose, and Bonnethead. Always handle with care and release quickly when possible.
Blacktip Shark Summer Peak

Blacktip Shark

Carcharhinus limbatus

Season
May – Sep
Size
4–5 ft avg
Fight
Acrobatic leaps
Rod
Heavy
Pier tip: The most common shark at the pier. Known for spectacular jumps. Oily cut bait — mullet or mackerel — with wire leader. Peaks in August.
Cut mulletWire leaderCircle hook
Bull Shark Summer

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

Season
Jun – Sep
Size
6–8 ft
Fight
Powerful
Rod
Extra heavy
Pier tip: Strong, stubborn fighters. Large cut baitfish on heavy wire leader. Known to follow shrimp boats — summer nights at the end of the pier produce big ones.
Large cut baitWire leaderNight fishing
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Spring–Fall

Atlantic Sharpnose

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Season
Apr – Oct
Size
2–4 ft
Difficulty
Beginner
Rod
Medium
Pier tip: Most common small shark at the pier — great for first-timers. Shrimp, cut mullet, or squid all work. Medium tackle is enough.
ShrimpCut mulletBeginner
Bonnethead Shark Spring & Fall

Bonnethead Shark

Sphyrna tiburo

Season
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Size
3–4 ft
Diet
Shrimp & crab
Rod
Light–medium
Pier tip: Smallest of the hammerhead family — shovel-shaped head. Bottom feeders that love shrimp and crab. Light tackle makes them a blast.
ShrimpCrabLight tackle
Spinner Shark Summer

Spinner Shark

Carcharhinus brevipinna

Season
May – Sep
Size
4–6 ft
Known for
Spinning leaps
Rod
Heavy
Pier tip: Named for acrobatic spinning jumps. Often found near baitfish schools in summer. Similar tackle setup to blacktips.
Cut baitLive baitfishWire leader
Hammerhead Shark Trophy

Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna mokarran / lewini

Season
Jun – Sep
Size
6–10+ ft
Rarity
Occasional
Rod
Extra heavy
Pier tip: A genuine trophy catch — the pier has produced legendary hammerhead sightings. Heavy shark gear, large whole baitfish, big drag capacity. Release strongly encouraged.
Large whole baitHeavy wireCatch & release

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