Is flounder season open in Texas?
Live status for · rules verified 2026-08-14
Know the fish
Flat, left-eyed ambush fish, olive-brown with dark blotches, camouflaged to the bottom. Galveston keepers run 15–18"; 20"+ 'doormats' 3–5 lb are a prize.
When they bite
Spring through fall, but THE event is the fall flounder run (Oct–Nov): flounder migrate from the bays out through passes/jetties to spawn, stacking at cuts, jetties, San Luis Pass and the dike — best on strong outgoing tide. Note the Nov 1-Dec 14 statewide closure caps the tail of the run. Historical catch records along the Texas coast peak in Oct, Nov, Dec (GBIF occurrence data, coastwide).
Where & how
Where: Sandy/muddy bottoms near structure and current edges: bayou and channel mouths, drains and cuts, the jetties and rock, the Texas City Dike, San Luis Pass, marsh drains, pier and bulkhead pilings, and drop-offs along the Intracoastal.
How: Slow-drag baits on bottom right along structure and drop-offs; hop a jig/soft plastic slowly on the bottom; drift live mud minnows/finger mullet on a Carolina rig near cuts. Give a slow sweep — flounder grab and hold, so pause before setting the hook. Gigging at night is a Galveston tradition (subject to the closure).
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