report

Wednesday, the estuaries received some badly needed rain and that should help promote life in the nursery grounds for a while. The rain was associated with yet another cold front that will be crossing the Upper Texas Coast.
The effects of the latest system should not last long if the forecast holds. By Saturday, a southeast breeze should return and that usually spells good conditions for fishing.

Eddie Franz and a guest to a good day of fishing earlier this week. Although the wind was strong, there was action while drifting the flats during the incoming tide. Using Bass Assassin Tide Tappers in sand trout color, the anglers landed 19 trout to almost 6 pounds.

Tuesday, the docks just south of the yacht basin cleaning table produced a nice variety of fish for Hal Peterson. Using his trolling motor to slowly work the pilings and bulkheads, Peterson and his son Michael landed three flounder to 18 inches, three large sheepshead, five sand trout and a 22-inch black drum. Free-lined live shrimp was the bait.

Saturday is the day of the annual Turning Point Drum Tournament for the Physically Disadvantaged and, with the forecast of nice conditions, there should be a lot of boats around the Galveston Yacht Basin hosting participants. Bait supplies could be an issue, especially for crabs, one of the top baits for large black drum.

If you are a host boat and coming from off the island, you might want to consider purchasing your bait before arriving. Boyd’s at the Texas City Dike has a good inventory of bait and, if your route takes you down state Highway 146, Hillman’s Bait and Seafood on Dickinson Bayou should have crabs on hand.

If a large quantity of bait is needed, call ahead to your favorite bait shop and check on their inventories. Each year, it seems that the tournament places stress on island bait supplies.