Galveston fishing report

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

Lots of visitors were in Galveston on Wednesday taking advantage of the gorgeous weather.  While shopping and beachcombing attracted most of the mid-week crowd, just a few chose to go fishing.

Water levels Tuesday were gradually rising under a light southerly wind and were definitely an improvement over Monday’s situation.

While no fishing reports were in by press time, the following note was received from a reader asking about low water levels.

“We moved here from Fort Worth December 2011. Our question is concerning “water is low” that you have written about. In North Texas, drought or over use of a reservoir will cause low water. What are the conditions that cause low water here on the coast?”

After reading this note it dawned on me that others might have the same question.

It definitely is true on inland lakes, rivers and reservoirs that dry conditions and excessive use will draw down the water levels. That is not the case in coastal areas that reap the benefit of tidal ebb and flow. Over usage is not an issue since we are dealing with saltwater.

What affects the coastal water levels most are wind direction and atmospheric pressure.

The number one cause of low water levels in the bays and other coastal areas is a strong, persistent wind out of the north or west.  Cold fronts are the number one contributor to low water in the bays.

Depending on how long the frontal winds last and the velocity of the winds and strength of the high pressure following passage, tide levels will be anywhere from less than a foot below normal to as much as over two feet following northers.

On the other hand, high water levels along the coast are affected by the same factors, just from a different direction that being easterly and westerly.  Besides low pressure, flood waters from rains contribute to higher than normal tide levels.