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Texas · Galveston Bay

Red snapper are the hunt — push West and East Bay grass as the wind lets water back in. Heat is the clock — first light or last light.

Largest Texas estuary. Trinity, East, West, and Christmas bays. Wind often moves more water than the tide table. Home water for drum, sheep, trout, and reds.

  • ⚠ Extreme water temperature. Fish stress quickly — keep them wet, or don't boat them.
8.6OF 10

Today

high confidence

Morning line

Galveston 8.6 this morning. 9 mph SSW. Wind versus the table: -0.3 ft. Scores are 1–10, not a bite.

Mail it
-0.30.30.81.31.8HLHLHLHLNOWSun 7 PMMon 7 PMTue 7 PMWed 7 PMThu 7 PM
incoming · 0.59 ftNOAA hourly · ft MLLW

Wind

NOAA

NESW9MPH

From SSW · gust 16

Sky

NOAA

Sky not in

Sky not in

A 20% shower chance is not a cancel. A soaker is.

Moon

91% lit

Waxing gibbous

mid range · 91%

Water

NOAA 8771450

Water

91.8°

48°92°

Today’s range 1.5 ft

incoming

0.59 ft MLLW

River

USGS 08066500

1,430 cfs

Trinity Rv at Romayor, TX

Discharge into this bay. High water stains the flat.

Wind vs table

Observed − predicted

-0.28 ft

Observed minus predicted. On this coast the wind often is the tide.

Clock

NOAA 8771450

  • HighTue 5:49 AM · 1.53
  • LowTue 9:26 PM · 0.05
  • HighWed 5:46 AM · 1.50
  • LowWed 10:12 AM · 1.39
  • HighWed 1:14 PM · 1.43
Stay or drive · Galveston vs MatagordaOpen the calendarMorning dispatch

Next two weeks

Pulling the 14-day strip…

Where

  • Flower Garden Banks

    blue water · public structure · deep

    10.0

    NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. A weather-window run, not a bay brief. Sanctuary rules apply — not a wreck to grind.

    • — blue water on a incoming tide is a classic match.
    • — In-play: Tuna (blackfin / yellowfin), Mahi-mahi.
    • — Water is hot — deeper guts, passes, and shade hold oxygen and fish.
    • — Troll, edge, or jig water — this is the method.
    offshorespin

When

  • Incoming water

    10.0

    Tue 1:00 AM → Tue 7:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Outgoing water

    10.0

    Tue 2:00 PM → Tue 11:00 PM

    Water is moving, but the clock is against you — heat or dark.

  • Incoming water

    10.0

    Tue 11:00 PM → Wed 7:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Outgoing water

    10.0

    Wed 7:00 AM → Thu 12:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Incoming water

    10.0

    Wed 11:00 PM → Thu 8:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

Launch and beach access

Cited to TPWD, Texas GLO beach-access plans, and NPS. 2WD/4WD is the county plan, not a guess.

  • Seawolf Park

    TPWD / Galveston Parks — public ramp & pier

    Pelican Island. Ramp, pier, jetty-adjacent. County park fees.

    Official source

  • San Luis Pass County Park

    Brazoria County / GLO beach-access system

    Follets Island. Ramp and beach. Current at the pass — wade with respect.

    Official source

  • Galveston East Beach

    City of Galveston / Texas GLO beach access

    Drive-on beach. 2WD when packed; 4WD after rain. GLO + city plan, not a TPWD ramp.

    Official source

  • Galveston 61st Street / Offatts Bayou

    City of Galveston / TPWD-listed launch

    West Bay and Offatts. Trailer traffic. The bay side of the island.

    Official source

Legal water

No-take and closed water cited to the agency that owns it. Only the Keys box is FKNMS.

No FKNMS polygon in this box. Mainland Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, and the Bahamas are not Keys sanctuary closures.

Why — and who

  • — Tide is incoming from NOAA.
  • — Observed water is close to the astronomical prediction — the table is telling the truth today.
  • — Water 91.8°F. Heat is the locator: early, late, deeper.
  • — Wind 9 mph SSW. Troll and jig are on.
  • — Waxing gibbous moon — mid tide range. Marsh and passes usually want the extra current of a spring.

King mackerel

Scomberomorus cavalla

7.0

Thermal window

91.8°

66°90°

In peak season for this water. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Texas: typically 2/day with a minimum fork — verify TPWD. Federal and state can differ.

Red snapper

Lutjanus campechanus

5.2

Thermal window

91.8°

60°88°

Present, not peak. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Texas / federal Gulf: season is announced each year. Verify NOAA and TPWD the morning you leave. Do not invent an open day.

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

3.4

Thermal window

91.8°

64°90°

Off-season here. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Texas: typically 2/day, 37 in — verify TPWD. Measure. The bag is small.

Greater amberjack

Seriola dumerili

3.4

Thermal window

91.8°

64°88°

Off-season here. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Texas: federal Gulf AJ. Season and slot change. Verify NOAA and TPWD. Do not invent an open day.

Mahi-mahi

Coryphaena hippurus

7.0

Thermal window

91.8°

66°92°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Florida: typically 10/person, 60/vessel, 20 in fork. Texas: 3/day in federal waters under HMS/coastal rules — verify NOAA HMS and TPWD. Mexico: verify CONAPESCA. Bahamas: check current bag.

Tuna (blackfin / yellowfin)

Thunnus atlanticus / Thunnus albacares

7.0

Thermal window

91.8°

66°92°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Federal HMS rules. Yellowfin typically 27 in curved fork. Blackfin often more liberal — verify NOAA HMS and FWC/TPWD the morning you leave the inlet.

Blue marlin

Makaira nigricans

7.0

Thermal window

91.8°

68°90°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Federal HMS. Canyon water. Treat as catch-and-release. Verify NOAA HMS.

White marlin

Kajikia albida

7.0

Thermal window

91.8°

66°88°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Federal HMS. Canyon water. Treat as catch-and-release.

Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

5.2

Thermal window

91.8°

60°84°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. Present, not peak. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Federal HMS. Canyon water. Verify NOAA HMS. Not a jetty.

Sailfish

Istiophorus platypterus

3.4

Thermal window

91.8°

66°90°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. Off-season here. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Florida: catch-and-release for Atlantic sail except a rare harvest tag. Federal HMS permit in federal waters. Texas/Bahamas: treat as C&R.

Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

3.4

Thermal window

91.8°

66°88°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. Off-season here. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Texas: verify TPWD and NOAA. Way offshore, not the jetty.

Jack crevalle

Caranx hippos

5.8

Thermal window

91.8°

64°94°

Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Generally unregulated. Still, do not leave a pile.

Regs citedTPWD Outdoor Annual · Sep 1, 2025–Aug 31, 2026 · rolls in 8 days. Texas bag and season roll every September 1. The stamp is the book we cited, not a license.