When king mackerel are off Galveston
Kings are fished out of Galveston from April through December, from the beach front out to 60 mi. That makes king mackerel fishing out of Galveston a long-window target for anyone running their own boat. Locals call them kingfish, and the two names are used interchangeably here.
Two operators put numbers and conditions on the season:
- Galveston Offshore lists April through December on beach-front and offshore trips.
- Texas Deep Sea Fishing Charters targets kings when the water is warm.
Biology, migration and behavior are covered in the king mackerel guide. This page covers what is particular to this port.
How far boats run
Beach-front trips fish 5 to 15 mi out, and offshore runs go out to 60 mi. Half-day trips cover 10 to 40 mi, so most of the named reefs and rigs fit inside a single morning.
| Band | Distance from the jetties | Grounds in the band |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance | At the entrance channel | Galveston jetties |
| Beach front | 5 to 15 mi | Beach-front water |
| Half-day | 10 to 40 mi | Big Man’s and Kate’s Nearshore Reefs (about 20 mi SW), Cerveza oil rig (due south) |
| Wrecks and rigs | 30 to 60 mi | Wrecks and rigs |
Check the buoy before committing to a run. NDBC 42035 sits 22 NM East of Galveston and reports wave height, period and wind. Compare those numbers against your boat’s limits, then check the official marine forecast.
Grounds and structure that hold kings
The grounds below run from the closest structure to the outer edge of the king range. Positions and directions are for planning, not navigation.
Galveston jetties
The north jetty at Bolivar and the south jetty at Galveston Island flank the entrance channel. This is the closest named structure. Bull reds have been taken here in 24 to 28 ft of water.
Beach front, 5 to 15 mi
This nearshore band is the shortest run that still gets you out of the entrance channel water.
Big Man’s and Kate’s Nearshore Reefs, about 20 mi SW
Both reefs sit roughly 20 mi southwest of the Galveston jetties, inside the half-day 10 to 40 mi band.
Cerveza oil rig, due south
The Cerveza rig lies due south of the jetties. Plot a bearing from the jetties before you leave the dock.
Wrecks and rigs, 30 to 60 mi
This is the outer king band and the edge of the 60 mi range. Runs this far reach federal waters, so read the Regulations section below before you go.
Past the king range: Flower Garden Banks and Nansen
Two well-known grounds sit beyond the range where kings are fished from this port:
- Flower Garden Banks: 200 to 1000+ ft of water, 90 to 110 mi offshore, according to Get Hooked.
- Nansen oil rig: a yellowfin tuna night ground 100 to 130 mi out, per a trip recap.
Without a boat: the seawall piers
The 61st Street and 91st Street piers are pay piers on the Galveston seawall, an option for anglers without a boat.
How kings are fished here
Trolling is the method used locally. Wave Dancer reported kings around floating debris, so a drifting patch of flotsam is worth a pass.
For general Gulf technique, see the Gulf of Mexico king mackerel guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico region guide).
Who fishes kings out of Galveston
Six local operators list king mackerel. They give a sense of typical boat size, trip length and how far a day on the water reaches.
- Galveston Offshore Fishing: Capt. Shannon LaBauve, 31 ft Oceanmaster Half Time.
- Williams Party Boats: docked at Pier 19, with a 12-hr trip boat shown as Capt. John.
- Texas Deep Sea Fishing Charters: 33 ft Contender, covering Galveston and Freeport, and targeting kings when the water is warm.
- Just Cast Charters: 31 ft Ocean.
- Get Hooked Charters (Galveston Fishing Adventures): lists king mackerel.
- Galveston Sea Ventures: lists king mackerel, and Capt. Shane is named in a review.
FAQ: king mackerel fishing out of Galveston
What months are kings off Galveston?
April through December, per Galveston Offshore. Texas Deep Sea Fishing Charters targets kings when the water is warm.
How far out do you need to run?
Beach front is 5 to 15 mi, half-day trips run 10 to 40 mi, and wrecks and rigs sit at 30 to 60 mi. For a first trip, start on the beach front at 5 to 15 mi or work the water by the jetties.
What is the closest named structure?
The Galveston jetties at the entrance channel. The nearest named reefs are Big Man’s and Kate’s, about 20 mi southwest.
Which buoy should you check?
Use the NDBC station 42035 buoy, 22 NM East of Galveston at 29.235 N 94.410 W. Read wave height, period and wind, then check the official forecast.
Can you fish kings without a boat?
The 61st Street and 91st Street pay piers on the Galveston seawall are the shore options. They do not carry a catch claim.
Do Galveston charters target kings?
Yes. Six local operators list king mackerel, as covered above. For other offshore targets from this port, see the coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
