Galveston Bay fishing

Galveston Bay fishing: not stocked since 2021. It was stocked with Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Striped Bass, and Southern Flounder. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Galveston Bay
Photo: NASA, Public domain
Last stocked
2021
Red Drum
Plants on record
73
Since 1980
Species recorded
4
Elevation
-1.7 ft

Fish at Galveston Bay

4 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Red Drum Stocked · 43 plants · last 2021

Last stocked 2021 · 43 plants

Spotted Seatrout Stocked · 21 plants · last 2021

Last stocked 2021 · 21 plants

Southern Flounder Stocked · 8 plants · last 2020

Last stocked 2020 · 8 plants

Striped Bass Stocked · 1 plant · last 1994 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked 1994 · 1 plant

Best: dawn, dusk

Striped Bass species guide

How Galveston Bay is stocked

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

No plants recorded in 8 years between 1980 and 2021.

Fish stocked in 1980

12,000

Fish stocked in 1987

882,151

Fish stocked in 1988

2,360,492

Fish stocked in 1989

929,615

Fish stocked in 1990

2,947,597

Fish stocked in 1991

4,571,271

Fish stocked in 1992

3,836,685

Fish stocked in 1993

6,202,252

Fish stocked in 1994

5,415,539

Fish stocked in 1995

3,224,063

Fish stocked in 1996

5,546,391

Fish stocked in 1997

2,058,134

Fish stocked in 1998

10,880,576

Fish stocked in 1999

7,678,105

Fish stocked in 2000

6,677,024

Fish stocked in 2001

9,349,426

Fish stocked in 2002

6,538,387

Fish stocked in 2003

10,035,965

Fish stocked in 2004

3,226,782

Fish stocked in 2005

7,703,387

Fish stocked in 2006

7,074,201

Fish stocked in 2007

6,269,167

Fish stocked in 2008

7,812,381

Fish stocked in 2009

7,107,393

Fish stocked in 2010

4,034,607

Fish stocked in 2011

8,010,202

Fish stocked in 2012

7,668,702

Fish stocked in 2013

9,649,084

Fish stocked in 2014

4,890,868

Fish stocked in 2015

6,142,116

Fish stocked in 2016

2,727,847

Fish stocked in 2017

5,462,415

Fish stocked in 2020

5,078,658

Fish stocked in 2021

4,311,613

Stocking history

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
2021Red Drum3,145,511–report
2021Spotted Seatrout1,166,102–report
2020Red Drum4,940,817–report
2020Southern Flounder2,958–report
2020Spotted Seatrout134,883–report
2017Red Drum3,624,504–report
2017Southern Flounder22,351–report
2017Spotted Seatrout1,815,560–report
2016Red Drum308,846–report
2016Southern Flounder23,021–report
2016Spotted Seatrout2,395,980–report
2015Red Drum5,361,339–report
2015Spotted Seatrout780,777–report
2014Red Drum4,688,012–report
2014Southern Flounder4,295–report
2014Spotted Seatrout198,561–report
2013Red Drum6,184,334–report
2013Southern Flounder6,877–report
2013Spotted Seatrout3,457,873–report
2012Red Drum4,450,232–report
2012Southern Flounder1,425–report
2012Spotted Seatrout3,217,045–report
2011Red Drum4,222,637–report
2011Southern Flounder1,587–report
2011Spotted Seatrout3,785,978–report
2010Red Drum2,797,321–report
2010Southern Flounder3,214–report
2010Spotted Seatrout1,234,072–report
2009Red Drum5,690,822–report
2009Spotted Seatrout1,416,571–report
2008Red Drum6,878,496–report
2008Spotted Seatrout933,885–report
2007Red Drum6,269,167–report
2006Red Drum7,074,201–report
2005Red Drum4,567,890–report
2005Spotted Seatrout3,135,497–report
2004Red Drum3,226,782–report
2003Red Drum6,667,931–report
2003Spotted Seatrout3,368,034–report
2002Red Drum4,714,107–report
2002Spotted Seatrout1,824,280–report
2001Red Drum6,858,422–report
2001Spotted Seatrout2,491,004–report
2000Red Drum4,734,066–report
2000Spotted Seatrout1,942,958–report
1999Red Drum5,020,130–report
1999Spotted Seatrout2,657,975–report
1998Red Drum7,002,605–report
1998Spotted Seatrout3,877,971–report
1997Red Drum2,058,134–report
1996Red Drum1,419,292–report
1996Red Drum4,127,099–report
1995Red Drum870,014–report
1995Red Drum2,354,049–report
1994Red Drum2,167,800–report
1994Red Drum3,041,629–report
1994Striped Bass206,110–report
1993Red Drum3,882,750–report
1993Red Drum1,941,380–report
1993Spotted Seatrout378,122–report
1992Red Drum3,088,653–report
1992Red Drum668,732–report
1992Spotted Seatrout79,300–report
1991Red Drum2,462,329–report
1991Red Drum2,101,822–report
1991Red Drum7,120–report
1990Red Drum2,923,183–report
1990Red Drum24,414–report
1989Red Drum841,098–report
1989Red Drum88,517–report
1988Red Drum2,360,492–report
1987Red Drum882,151–report
1980Red Drum12,000–report

Access and facts

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department before you go.

About Galveston Bay

Photo of Galveston Bay
NASA, Public domain
Photo of Galveston Bay
NASA, Public domain

Nearest lakes

Nassau 9.5 mi last stocked 2025 Trinity Bay 11.7 mi last stocked 1994 Sheldon 25 mi last stocked 2026 Eisenhower Park Pond 26.4 mi last stocked 2025 Kitty Hollow Lake 35.4 mi last stocked 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Galveston Bay?

Fishing Galveston Bay usually means Red Drum: Red Drum accounts for 43 of 73 plants on record, ahead of Spotted Seatrout and 2 more. Red Drum was last stocked 2021. Spotted Seatrout was last stocked 2021. Southern Flounder was last stocked 2020. Striped Bass was last stocked 1994.

When is Galveston Bay stocked?

Not stocked since 2021. No plants recorded in 8 years between 1980 and 2021.

Which lakes near Galveston Bay were stocked more recently?

Nassau (9.5 mi), Sheldon (25 mi), Eisenhower Park Pond (26.4 mi), and Kitty Hollow Lake (35.4 mi) were stocked more recently. Sheldon is also stocked with Red Drum.

Sources (1) +