Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Out of Galveston: Runs and Rigs

When yellowfin are off Galveston

Yellowfin tuna fishing out of Galveston depends on the summer peak and on a weather window long enough for a 100+ mi overnight run.

Peak months

Get Hooked puts the peak at June to September. Galveston Offshore says tuna are weather dependent.

Reading the weather

Because the fishery is weather dependent, the numbers on the morning of the run decide whether you go. The reference buoy is the NDBC 42035 station page, 22 NM east of Galveston at 29.235 N 94.410 W. Read wind speed, wave height and dominant period there.

The buoy reports conditions 22 NM east of the port, not 110 mi south, so pair it with the Houston/Galveston marine forecast from the National Weather Service. Check both before committing to the run.

How far boats run from Galveston

The run line is due south from the jetties, and every distance below is measured along it. For the wider picture, the Gulf of Mexico yellowfin guide (see also the wider Gulf of Mexico guide) covers the region beyond this port.

The heading out

One trip recap had boats fishing the Nansen rig 100 to 130 mi out, running due south from the jetties. The Cerveza rig lies on the same line.

Overnight distances

The reported distances, shortest to longest:

• Get Hooked puts the Flower Garden Banks area 90 to 110 mi out.
• Overnight trips run 100+ mi.
• The Nansen rig is 100 to 130 mi out, per the trip recap.
• Williams runs a 36-hour trip to oil platforms up to 200 mi out.

Grounds and structure from the jetties out

Moving outward along the run line, the structure comes in this order.

Chart layers and structure positions are not for navigation.

Jetties and nearshore reefs

The run starts at the entrance channel, between the north jetty at Bolivar and the south jetty at Galveston Island. Big Man’s and Kate’s Nearshore Reefs lie roughly 20 mi southwest of the jetties and are passed on the way out.

Cerveza rig and the 30 to 60 mi wrecks and rigs

The Cerveza rig sits due south of the jetties, on the run line. Wrecks and rigs at 30 to 60 mi are the mid-range structure between the reefs and the bluewater.

Flower Garden Banks

Get Hooked puts Flower Garden Banks 90 to 110 mi offshore in 200 to 1000+ ft.

Nansen rig

The Nansen rig sits 100 to 130 mi out, due south from the jetties, per one trip recap. Boats fish it for yellowfin at night.

Deepwater platforms to 200 mi

Past the bank edges, boats move onto the deepwater platforms. Williams describes platforms up to 200 mi out in about 150 to 3000 ft on its 36-hour trip.

How yellowfin are fished here

Locals work yellowfin with a short list of methods. For general behavior and tackle, the yellowfin tuna fishing guide covers the species.

Chunking with blackfin

Boats chunk and run a chum slick, free-lining blackfin chunks back into it.

Topwater and jigging

Topwater casting and jigging are both used locally.

Night at the rigs

Night fishing is done around the rigs. The Nansen rig is the recap example, and Williams’ 36-hour trip fishes oil platforms through the night.

Who fishes for them out of Galveston

Three local operators list yellowfin. If you are weighing a guided trip against running your own boat, the tuna fishing guides page is the place to start.

Galveston Offshore Fishing. Capt. Shannon LaBauve runs the 31 ft Oceanmaster Half Time. The Galveston Offshore Fishing website lists yellowfin and says tuna are weather dependent.

Get Hooked Charters (Galveston Fishing Adventures). The Get Hooked Charters website lists yellowfin. Get Hooked puts the peak at June to September and the Flower Garden Banks area at 90 to 110 mi.

Williams Party Boats. Docked at Pier 19. The Williams 36-hour tuna trip goes to oil platforms up to 200 mi out in about 150 to 3000 ft. The 12-hour trip boat is shown as Capt. John.

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