Galveston fishing report 8-12-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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  The dastardly southwest wind was gusting to well over 20 knots on Friday. While that alone was enough to shut things down on the fishing scene, extreme heat continued to plague our area, as well.
There was one spot that was productive Friday morning, as reflected in a report from Mark McDavid. McDavid fished deeper waters behind Scholes Field in Offatts Bayou and landed speckled trout, sand trout and croakers on dead shrimp and cut bait.

Before the wind picked up on Friday, there were two reports of some good action. Thursday night, Henry Taylor and Gary Moore went flounder gigging along the shore just west of the Crash Basin and took four nice-sized flounder. Taylor said the water was in marginal shape and lots of crabs were observed along with small stingrays.

Cary Horn fished from his family’s dock on Teichman Road and landed a half limit of specks and numerous ribbonfish. The action turned on at 1 a.m., and live shrimp was the bait of choice.

Brian Tamney sent a note responding to my recent comments about the lack of seaweed in the nearshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Tamney, who works on a ship, said that he thinks there has been a shift in currents in the Atlantic Ocean, which is keeping the seaweed out of the Gulf.

Recently, he has been transiting from Trinidad to Gulfport and has seen very little seaweed throughout the whole Caribbean. He said that normally there would be a lot of seaweed on its way to Texas, so something has changed in the Atlantic.

While August is my favorite month for fishing out of Galveston, so far this month it has been disappointing. Hopefully, after all of the rain in the forecast for next week moves on, conditions will settle and the August action will return.

Galveston Fishing Report 7-30-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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Other than the extreme afternoon heat, Saturday’s conditions were near ideal for fishing. The surf gave up good numbers of trout along with Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, sheepshead, stingrays, sharks and a few reds.
The calm conditions in the surf should ignite tarpon action anytime now.

Jetty fishermen were continuing to find fishing to be on the tough side during the morning, as tidal movement did not get into motion until later in the day. Still, some nice trout, reds, Spanish mackerel and a few flounder were taken by anglers with patience.

John Harding and Buff Howell were among the anglers anchored close to the end of the North Jetty on Saturday, and while the action was not nonstop, they did manage a respectable haul.

Using live croaker and shrimp for bait, the anglers from the Caplan area landed several blacktip and bull sharks, with the largest estimated to be 5 feet long. Other fish caught included a bluefish, stingray, Spanish mackerel and a variety of pan fish.

We have said many times recently that offshore fishing is in its prime, and Saturday was a good example of it.

For starters, the party boat Capt. John did not have to travel far offshore to get into some good action.

Capt. Johnny Williams found the fish approximately 18 miles out where his 55 guests picked up 228 spade fish, 37 sharks, a ling, two kings, Spanish mackerel and a variety of other fish.

Roland Mathews fished farther out to get into some Dorado and other pelagic fish. Matthews, along with two guests, fished wells and platforms in the vicinity of the V.A. Fogg where they landed numerous kings and three sharks along with a bonanza catch around a floating pallet. Six Dorado to 23 inches were caught along with a large tripletail. Only the Dorado and tripletail were retained.

Monday begins one of the best all-around fishing months of the year.

Galveston fishing report 7-25-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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  Monday saw some badly needed rain make its way through the Galveston area, and the next few days likely will see a repeat of this weather pattern. This should further aid the fishing scene, as it may help drop the water temperatures below the onerous 90-degree mark.
Sunday, there were some nice trout brought in from the surf by anglers in the water early. Most of the action was finished by 9 a.m.; however, up to then lots of limits of specks were placed on stringers.

Sunday evening Polly and I fished the North Jetty Boat Cut area on the channel side and found some good action on trout. Live shrimp was the bait, and surprisingly, speckled trout were the only fish biting.

I said surprisingly because one of the reasons I like to fish the rocks is the variety of fish that feeds around them.

Offshore action continues to be in its prime, with good catches coming from beyond the nearshore waters. Most boats are reporting the need to go over 40 miles out to get into a variety of pelagic fish.

Scattered kings, sharks and Spanish mackerel have been reported by boats fishing closer in.

The party boat Capt. John made offshore trips last weekend and brought back some nice fish from fishing grounds up to 25 miles out of Galveston. The catch included ling, king, bluefish, black drum, Spanish mackerel, spadefish, mangroves, gafftop and a 125-pound stingray.

Congratulations to Kelly Groce and Colie Blumenshine for bringing in the heaviest stringer of fish in last weekend’s Galveston Bay Foundation Ladies Casting for Conservation Tournament.

Several inquiries have been made about reports of periodic closures to the causeway bridges for debris cleanup. I have calls into the local U.S. Coast Guard office seeking details about it. Anyone with information about this, let us hear from you.

Galveston fishing report 7-16-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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Mid-July heat continues to plague fishermen and is keeping many anglers off the water during the day. While conditions are trying to improve, the hot water is making it difficult to keep bait alive.
The forecast for this week looks promising, with a more southeasterly wind. That is good because the wind will be coming off the Gulf of Mexico and have a cooling effect, especially during the late evening, nighttime and early morning.

Off-color water still remains a problem; however, more areas are beginning to shape up.

Dean Silvers and his friends were back at the jetties Saturday and found the water around the South Jetty not to be in good shape, so they moved to the channel side of the North Jetty where green water was flowing. Six specks and other fish were taken from near the rocks, and as the water continues to clear, the action should pick up.

Arno Carpenter and his grandson Brandon Franks fished the Spoil Banks out of San Leon near Marker 54 early Saturday. Using live shrimp and croaker for bait, they landed 12 specks to 21 inches and two undersized reds, both missing the 20-inch minimum by less than an inch.

Wade fishing around Siever’s Cut in East Bay continues to be productive. Al Sanders was one of the group fishing the spoils near the cut Friday morning and landed a limit of slot reds and a 17-inch flounder using fingerling mullet for bait.

Crabbing remains strong with some of the best action coming around daybreak.

Carlos Morales and his family landed 17 nice-sized blue crabs while working crab lines near Sportsmen’s Road in West Bay. Turkey necks cut in half was the bait.

Galveston fishing report 6-8-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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  Trout action continues to top the fishing news and Wednesday provided a continuation of the hot action anglers have been having on trout all week.
Preston Blaylock and Horace Moore found East Bay to be the spot for limiting out on specks early Wednesday. Live shrimp and piggy perch were the baits while fishing one of the deep reefs.

Frank Martin limited out on trout while wade fishing the surf Wednesday. The big catch came using live shrimp fished under popping corks and took place near Caplan.

While lots are trout are being caught this week, Steve Creecy did not fare so well. Creecy sent a note saying that he personally observed lots of trout at the cleaning tables; however, he got skunked while fishing one of his favorite spots off of Dollar Point on Tuesday where he has caught many specks and other fish over the years.

I am not familiar with the current conditions around that area; however, it sounds like he may have been fishing too far up Galveston Bay. The salinity levels likely are low to near zero around there and the fish most likely are going to be found farther south.

All of the reports this week, like those today, have been from areas close to the passes or from the surf. Earlier this week, one of our local fishing guides pointed out that anglers are going to have to fish where the trout are today, not where they were.

Just past 2 p.m. Wednesday, NOAA Fisheries sent out an announcement that the red snapper season for private anglers is being extended two days until 12:01 a.m. Sunday due to Tropical Storm Colin.

Galveston fishing report May 30, 2016

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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  Anglers hitting the water early Monday avoided the crowded conditions later and also the wind increase that began in the early afternoon. Trout action has been consistent, although not in the quantities as hoped but the overall quality made up for it.
Pinky Hurst was one of the anglers at the launching ramp just before day break and enjoyed a good morning of fishing East Bay reefs. Hurst used live shrimp fished deep under a popping cork to land five specks, with three over 18 inches in length.

Sunday night Merl Bonner and Patrick Dawson fished their portable underwater green lights at Cold Pass and landed two flounder, four specks, two sand trout and a stingray. Free lined live shrimp was the bait.

Hopefully, we will have more weekend offshore reports to pass on early this week; however, Sunday, Dean Silvers, his son Ben and Bill Zimmer were able to make a trip to the short rigs. Silvers said the water was off color 15 miles out and that when they passed the jetties, the water looked like the muddy Brazos River.

Fishing in not the best of conditions, they landed a bull red, huge black drum and numerous small red snapper.

On Sunday, June 5, the first Congregation B’nai Israel Saltwater Fishing Tournament takes place. The event will headquarter at 3008 Ave. O with a fish fry starting at noon. Tournament hours are from daylight to 2 p.m. and the entry fee is $75. Proceeds from the event will benefit the congregation’s youth programs including scholarships to summer camp. For more information call Steve Hoffman at (281) 491-6565.

Galveston fishing report 5-21-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Cmpany

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  One of the more often requested articles by readers of the Reel Report is about jetty fishing. Since June is one of the prime months to fish the granite rocks, let’s take a look at some of the basics of jetty fishing.
The most common practice for jetty trout fishing is to bottom bump live shrimp. While this is the best method from late June until Labor Day, free lining and popping corks usually work better during May and the earlier part of June.

Bottom bumping consists of using a slip weight, just heavy enough to keep the bait close to the bottom, which is attached above a leader and swivel. The leader should be 12 to 24 inches long and made with no less than 20-pound test monofilament. Most leaders contain 30-pound test line and are in the 16- to 24-inch length.

Sizes 8 and 10 treble hooks are the most common hooks for bottom bumping and free lining. Many bottom bumpers and free liners prefer size 8 treble hooks.

Free lining is similar to bottom bumping; however, it consists of using no weight or a very small one. Anglers using popping corks tend to prefer size 6 treble hooks.

Although a few anglers use artificial baits at the jetties, live shrimp is the most popular and productive bait. The numerous rocks and debris around the jetties take a toll on artificial baits.

The two most popular spots for jetty trout during June are from the channel side of the North Jetty Boat Cut, all the way to the end, and all along the Gulf side of the South Jetty.

During periods of good water conditions, just about every fish in the near Gulf makes a visit to one or both jetties

The jetties offer both deep and shallow water in which to fish. That is a feature, among many, that attracts so many anglers to the rocks.

Galveston Fishing Report 5-18-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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  Once we get by Thursday and Friday, conditions look to improve with light winds and little chance of rain in the forecast.
Wednesday, there was not much taking place on the fishing scene around Galveston. It likely will be Saturday before we see much in the way of change.

The unsettled weather of recent days has the surf in poor shape for fishing; however, once the stormy conditions pass, the water clarity should rapidly improve. Late last week there were some excellent catches reported from all around the Galveston area including the offshore waters.

There is nothing to indicate that the action won’t resume, and this weekend looks to be a good bet for trout from the inshore waters and pelagic fish from the offshore.

Lots of freshwater continues to flow into Galveston Bay causing low salinity levels in Upper Galveston Bay, Trinity Bay and parts of East Bay. It remains to be seen when the floodwaters will slow down or cease to affect Galveston Bay.

Last Sunday’s edition of the Reel Report mentioned a meeting taking place in League City on May 18 regarding comments on the proposed red snapper regulations. The meeting is actually scheduled for next Wednesday, May 25, at the same location and time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

I will be out of pocket for the next few days while dealing with an unpleasant health issue and ask your patience in receiving timely replies to emails and phone messages. Please continue sending in your fishing pictures and reports, and I will get to them as quickly as possible.

Galveston fishing report 5-11-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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Unsettled weather continues to plague the upper Texas Coast.
Early Wednesday, Darrell Watkins and two friends headed out for what they hoped would be a good day of early season offshore fishing. After just over an hour underway, thunder and lightning were taking place along the horizon and the wind picked up.

According to Watkins, that was it, and they headed back to dock. By noon, the wind was gusting to over 20 knots. Not a good day for fishing either offshore or in the bay.

One other report was received Wednesday, and that was from Harry Peterson who hit the water along the spoils of the Intracoastal Waterway before daybreak. Peterson and his neighbor Collin Clark wade fished for two hours using live shrimp and Saltwater Assassins for baits. Their catch amounted to a Texas Grand Slam which included 12 trout to 19 inches, two reds and a 16-inch flounder.

All of the action came within 45 minutes after first light of day.

Capt. Mike Williams sent an update on his Tides of Taurus report that includes predictions of excellent trout action in the near future. Williams said that when the wind drops, fishermen will see the “Bloom of the Plume” as both our resident trout and those surf runners from the Gulf come together, and the line where the northbound and southbound schools meet will be a break point where the salinity level is more in balance.

Williams said that this event, under the right conditions, will produce some of the best trout fishing of the year.

I think all of us anticipate some excellent trout fishing for several weeks ahead.

Galveston fishing report 4-9-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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Anglers on the water early Saturday avoided the wind and made some nice catches. Calm waters greeted those early risers, and the nice conditions lasted until close to noon when the wind picked up. Jerry Matthews, of La Marque, sent a note asking what I consider windy conditions as he is accustomed to wind while fishing the Galveston Bay Complex and is not affected by it until velocities reach well over 20 knots.

I replied to Matthews that it sounded like he was more of a lower coast fisherman than someone who fishes the upper Texas Coast. When wind velocities around here are blowing consistently above 15 knots, that is usually the point where anglers have to avoid the open bays, surf and jetties.

I must admit that I have seen boats fishing East Bay Reefs in such conditions; however, most of the time the catches are down when the wind rises to that point.

On the fishing scene, Don Robinson, of Tiki Island, hosted Will Oliver to a West Bay trip Saturday where the guest from Washington D.C. caught a nice-sized flounder, slot red, and released five rat reds, two stingray, a whiting and large blue crab.

All caught on a 2-hour trip using live shrimp for bait.

Randy Bartosh, of Tiki Island, landed a 42-inch bull red while fishing the jetties. There was no mention of which jetty or baits employed.

Last Thursday, Ray Hensarling, his son Oliver and Bob Bates fished the end of the North Jetty with Capt. Michael Marquez and caught reds along with three limits of sheepshead. Hensarling said the water was so calm that you could water ski on it.

Betsy Hatherill, who is gaining a reputation for her ability to find flounder, was at it again Saturday and landed two large flatfish, one considered a saddle blanket, from her canal at Spanish Grant.

Galveston fishing report 3-25-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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  Anglers seemed to have lucked out this weekend as great conditions appear to be settling in on the upper Texas Coast for the Easter holidays.
Friday started out with moderate winds; however, as the day progressed, the volumes dropped and the forecast for the remainder of the weekend calls for light winds, which is just what everyone on the fishing scene wants.

Several reports were in by press time Friday, and all indicated excellent action on a variety of fish.

Dean Silvers was back on the water Friday with his son Ben and friend Bill Zimmer. They started off at the South Jetty where Silvers said the water was nice, and they caught two undersized reds, a trout and 11 sheepshead.

While fishing Offatts Bayou, Zimmer landed a nice flounder.

Larry Wright and his son Terry fished Green’s Cut and other spots in upper West Bay on Friday and landed six trout and an undersized flounder. Most of the action came from drift-fishing West Bay between Mecom’s and Green’s Cuts in 4 to 6 feet of water. Bass Assassins and Touts were the baits.

Mike Hall and Jerry Sales fished from a lighted dock in Jamaica Beach on Thursday night and landed 11 trout to 16 inches in length. Six of the specks were undersized and live shrimp was the bait. The action took place between midnight and 2:30 a.m.

Our only black drum report came from Raul Cervantes who, along with two friends, fished the Galveston Channel on Friday and landed eight black drum, with the largest being an oversized 34-inch big ugly. In addition to the drum, a bull red was caught, tagged and retained.

A variety of baits were used including live crab, live shrimp and cut mullet. The smaller fish hit the cut mullet, and the big drum and red hit the live shrimp. The crab did not attract anything.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-22-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

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  Monday was a nice day to be on the water, especially later in the day. While conditions were inviting, not many anglers were taking advantage of them. Later this week does not look good for fishing based on current forecasts, at least for anglers looking for comfort while wetting a line.
With no fishing reports to pass on, this allows for discussing a couple questions readers have had lately. While I have been responded to these questions before, they bear repeating.

George Morgan asked about using non-ethanol gas in his new 150 horsepower, four stroke engine. He said that the fuel recommendation in the manual was for gasoline with up to 10 percent ethanol while friends had recommended non-ethanol gasoline.

I replied he should check with the dealer where he purchased the engine. Although he did not mention the manufacturer, I do not know of any outboard engine that would be harmed by using non-ethanol gasoline. In fact, I tend to agree with his friends who recommended the gas.

Unfortunately this type of gasoline is not widely available. I used it in my new 15 horsepower Yamaha at the lake and purchased the gas from a station outside of Lake Jackson.

Often in the Reel Report I mention Sarah Melcer‘s famous recipe for preparing gafftop catfish and readers frequently ask for her recipe. Below is Sarah’s recipe and, if you try it, chances are you will seldom toss back a good-sized gafftop catfish.

“My gafftop recipe is simply pan-seared, lightly floured, gafftop filets in a little olive oil,” Melcer stated.

“Add in some capers, mango, tomatoes, purple onions, cilantro and diced jalapeños. It doesn’t take long and it’s done.”

Enough said and highly recommended.

Galveston fishing report 3-4-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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 A moderate wind kept many anglers off the water early Friday; however, by noon conditions improved, and later on, the afternoon bite commenced.
The Galveston Channel was one of the hot spots Friday as black drum were schooling along the channel drop offs from the Pier 19 area all the way to the Coast Guard station.

Harold Wilkins and Rob Schwartz fished the channel edge just out from Pier 19. The two anglers landed eight large sheepshead with the largest measuring 18 inches. To round out their catch, they caught two black drum, a 23-inch keeper and a 32-inch oversized fish. Both drum were released.

Protected areas around Seawolf Park were producing black drum, reds, and sheepshead.

Cyril Manchester fished the rocks near the submarine and landed a 33-inch black drum that was photographed and released. Other anglers were landing sheepshead and reds with a few sand trout among them.

Corinne Bates and her 88-year-old father fished the Texas City Dike on Thursday and landed six sheepshead and a large stingray. Bates used the assistance of a nearby angler to land the big ray and gave the fish to him.

Bates said she refuses to eat stingray and the good Samaritan told her that the wings were as good a seafood delicacy as you can find. Her reply was, “I hope you enjoy them!”

The outlook for the first part of this weekend is good with light southeasterly winds in the forecast. Trout action undoubtedly will pick up under those conditions and stronger tide movement.

Anglers targeting oversized black drum for catch and release likely will find the channel side of the North Jetty to be a good spot along with the edges of the Galveston Channel and possibly the Bolivar Gas Wells.

Upper West Bay should be a good spot for trout of all sizes. Night fishing around lights should continue to be productive.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-24-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

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Strong northerly winds gusted to well over 20 knots most of the day Wednesday and fishing was nonexistent. Hopefully that will change quickly, and by this weekend, conditions should return to normal with rising water levels.
With no fishing reports, this allows us to address an unpleasant topic to most boaters: ethanol gasoline.

Wednesday, BoatUS, a large organization devoted to boaters, issued a statement warning operators of marine engines that there likely will be a shortage of E0 (zero-ethanol) gasoline available at marinas and gas stations this summer.

In their news release they wrote:

“E0 gasoline, which is sold at marinas and gas stations, is in effect being pushed out of the boat fuel market to make room for the Renewable Fuel Standard-mandated E15 and higher ethanol blends. This means boaters may see shortages of E0 fuel as early as this summer’s boating season. BoatUS believes boaters need a reliable, trusted fuel such as E0 to ensure smooth engine operation and safe navigation”

Currently, the majority of marine engines along Texas Coastal Waters operate on E10 gasoline which contains approximately 10 percent ethanol. This has been the case for years, and boaters have learned to deal with it, knowing how to prevent ethanol-related fuel problems by use of additives and not allowing the fuel to sit up too long in gas tanks and engines.

There is one ethanol-based fuel that should be avoided all together, and that is the E85 blend containing 85 percent ethanol. This high-ethanol fuel is intended only for engines specially designed to accept high-ethanol content fuel blends, such as the flexible-fuel vehicles.

I am not aware of any marine engines that can use that blend without major damage occurring. Before adding gas to your boat’s tank, check the ethanol content. If the e-number is higher than 10, you should consult with your dealer or mechanic before refueling.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-23-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

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  There is little doubt that fishing will be impaired by the latest cold front passing through. While winds will start dropping late Wednesday, it is likely that low water levels will persist for a while.
Friday, a wind shift to an east-northeast direction should help water levels return to normal, and by this weekend, the outlook is looking good. Light southeast breezes are forecast to return, and that is always good news for fishermen.

We continue to receive reports from last weekend, and the two latest ones were both from the jetties.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-18-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

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  We are in that time of year when wade fishing tends to be at its peak for trout fishermen and especially those anglers wanting to catch that once-in-a-lifetime fish to mount. While there is little doubt that wade fishing is the top choice, there are a lot of perils that we need to discuss.
For those who have not donned their waders in a while, be sure you are physically fit for wade fishing as it can be a strenuous sport at best. Too often this type of fishing can bring on a heart attack while an angler is out in the water and a long way from medical help.

The cardinal rule is to not go it alone. Have at least one companion join you.

During March, the water will begin warming and hitting temperatures that attract a lot of unwanted guests, especially those that sit on the bottom. Stingrays start showing in greater numbers when the bay waters reach the mid-60s and higher.

While insulated waders are better protection than bare skin, a barb can easily penetrate most waders, insulated or not. Protective foot and ankle shields would be good investments

Jelly fish and others that swim in the warming waters are not as much of a problem for anglers wearing waders as they are for those choosing to wear just a bathing suit.

During the height of my wade fishing days, I would remind my guests to remember that as we get farther from the anchored boat or land entry, each step would have to be repeated when we returned. On many occasions I would be asked why I allowed them to get so far away.

A complete first-aid kit is a must for wading, as accidents do happen and when they occur, you likely are miles from a first-aid station.

Go out and enjoy some late winter wading and remember to keep safety as your priority.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-11-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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Thursday, conditions around the Galveston Bay Complex were improving with gradually rising waters pushed in by a southerly breeze.
There were no reports in by press time; however, one reader sent a note asking about water temperatures.

Mike Forsyth, of Fort Worth, asked if we could touch on what water temperatures are best for fishing the Galveston area. Forsyth has a weekend home on the west end of Galveston Island and has noticed that the beach water temperature continues to hover below 60 degrees.

Water temperature is a very important factor when determining where to fish and what species will be biting.

For the next month or so, Galveston-area anglers will be watching for the magic 70-degree reading to hit. This is a number that tends to start the action along the beach front and in the bays.

My experience has shown that the hotter the water, the hotter the action. Now that is true through summer but not in the fall.

When autumn hits, a reverse scenario begins, as our fall fishing does not get into full swing until the water temperature falls below 70 degrees.

During the late spring and summer, a beach front reading of 80 degrees sets the pace for major runs of both inshore and pelagic fish along the beach front and jetties. The same temperature is also known for attracting our popular offshore surface feeders — like king mackerel, ling and Dorado — closer in toward the beach front.

During the fall months, water temperatures in the 60s have been late in arriving because of the prolonged summers we have experienced in recent years. The flounder run is one of the key events in autumn, and lately it has not kicked off in earnest until well into November.

Remember, the best fishing action requires post-70-degree water temperatures in the spring and sub-70 degrees in the fall.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-10-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

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Wednesday, low water levels continued to hamper fishermen; however, they did not keep everyone from catching fish.
Harold Manchester, Dirk Ramsey and Todd Hemphill got into some great early day action in Offatts Bayou. The anglers from Pearland fished the vicinity of the Blue Hole, a deep pocket that has been famous for years as a wintertime fish haven.

Using live shrimp, Corkies and Gulps for bait, they caught seven trout to 19 inches and five reds, three of which were slots and retained.

The report did not come as a surprise to me as I took a run through Offatts on Wednesday afternoon to run my boat engine that had been idle for a month. While cruising the area, numerous cormorants were observed in a herding formation just off the shoreline. That indicated to me that they were chasing and feeding on a school of fish. It could have been bait fish; however, a mature cormorant can devour fish close to its size.

Once I observed one of the not-so-popular birds surface with a trout and swallow it whole. I could not believe my eyes.

The low water levels should not last much longer as a wind shift took place Wednesday afternoon, and a south wind was gradually pushing water back into the bays.

Fletcher Thompson, of Kemah, sent a note saying that his fishing friends have been doing well in Burnet Bay. He asked why we have not reported the action from that area as it is a popular winter spot for anglers who fish mid-Galveston Bay.

Occasionally we do get reports from Burnet Bay and publish them in the Reel Report. Within the last three weeks, we mentioned a catch by some local anglers who fished that area.

Hopefully you and your friends will send in more reports. I agree that the small bay does have a good reputation for winter fishing.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-6-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

www.fish-n-lodge.com

 

  Another cold front crossed the upper Texas Coast on Saturday, with cold north winds gusting in excess of 20 knots. The sudden change in conditions forced cancellation of Williams Party Boats’ overnight tuna safari as seas were expected to reach 7 feet in height.
Patrick Lemire, spokesperson for Williams, said their next overnight trip is scheduled for the last weekend of February.

With no fishing reports to pass on, this allows time to mention some questions readers have had recently.

Rod Burns of Hitchcock asked for clarification on the game fish status of the big three: trout, reds and flounder. Burns said that he understands that game fish cannot be sold commercially and wonders how flounder seem to make their way to the menus of restaurants.

Only speckled trout and red drum are classified as game fish. While flounder do have size and bag limit restrictions, they are not classified as game fish and can be taken and resold by commercial fishermen.

Speaking of limits, Jerry White of Texas City asked about limits on crabs. He was told by personnel at an area bait camp that there is a limit of five per person.

There are no bag limits on crabs; however, there is a minimum size, and along with the minimum size is an exception for bait crab. I think the person mentioning the number five may have been referring to the limitation on the number of crab traps an individual may set out.

A related question came a while back from a reader in Crystal Beach who asked if there are any crab fishing tournaments. As far as a tournament limited to crabs only, I know of none. Several of the large fishing tournaments have crabs as one of the categories.

Crabs are one of the best baits for larger drum, and soon they will be in demand by anglers fishing the annual black drum run.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-5-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

www.fish-n-lodge.com

 

  There is some good news on the fishing scene. I am glad to report that we likely are going to dodge a fish-killing freeze again this year.
From early December until mid-February each year is “nail-biting” time for anglers who are concerned over a severe freeze. A severe freeze is one strong enough to take its toll on our stocks of speckled trout in Galveston Bay.

While other parts of the country have experienced record cold temperatures this winter, Texas coastal anglers have been fortunate to have dodged such harsh weather.

Weather forecasts for the Galveston area through late February do not show any freezing weather, and when we reach that point, normally we are all clear as far as major freezes go.

Our most severe freezes in terms of fish-killing temperatures usually occur from mid-December through mid-January. Before moving to Galveston from Houston over 10 years ago, I kept records of freezes, and almost always when we reached Valentine’s Day, the threat of a pipe-busting freeze was over.

Before moving here we had a weekend home on the west end of Galveston Island for over 25 years, and I recall a light freeze on the first day of spring in 1980. While it was not a severe freeze, it did freeze the water in my PVC pipes under the house.

Today, I feel comfortable that we again will dodge a major freeze this winter; however, should The Daily News’ weather expert Stan Blazyk pass on an update that contradicts my outlook, I will pass it on to you.

Now, what about fishing this weekend?

It appears that we could have a window of opportunity Sunday, as light southeasterly winds return along with warmer temperatures. Although this window of nice conditions is not forecast to last long, Sunday just might be a good day for fishing.

My guess is that areas close to deeper holes and channels would be the best choices.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-4-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

www.fish-n-lodge.com

 

  A cold, biting north wind eliminated most of the fishing around the Galveston area Thursday, and it appears that the chill will be with us for another day or so. Sunday looks like it might offer favorable conditions for fishing.
John Powers, of Luling, called in asking about overnight tuna trips or safari’s as they are often called. Powers said that he reads about the offshore trips taking place periodically in the Reel Report and asked if we could give some details on how long the trips last, how far out they go and what party boats make those trips.

The best source of information on the popular overnight trips is from the party boat operations that make the trips. Galveston Party Boats and Williams Party Boats both report the results of their trips, and that information is published in the Reel Report.

There are a few aspects of the trips about which I am familiar. The boats usually make 32- or 36-hour trips to fishing grounds over 100 miles out of Galveston where they most often fish around one of the floating platforms in water depths of over 3,000 feet.

Both blackfin and yellowfin tuna are often caught along with other deep-water species.

During the winter and spring months, a number of scheduled trips are canceled due to weather. The trips are popular with anglers without boats, and most anglers give good reports of their experiences.

On the tournament scene, the 5th anniversary edition of the Texas Shoot-Out Chorizo Trout Tournament will take place on March 26 from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weigh in is at Serious Tackle located at 14065 Delaney Road in La Marque.

The entry fee is $80 per person, and for more information contact Lee Garcia at teamlalito2@gmail.com or at 281-216-3215.

Galveston Fishing Report 2-2-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

www.fish-n-lodge.com

 

  Often we talk about the advantages of wade fishing this time of year, particularly for trophy trout. As a result, one of the more common questions from readers is, “Where are some easily accessible wading spots located?”
Listed below are several good winter wade fishing spots that offer fairly easy wading and easy access for anglers without boats.

Among the most accessible stretches of prime shorelines are Dollar Flats, Seabrook Flats and Sylvan Beach shorelines, all located on the west shore of upper Galveston Bay.

Dollar Flats is located at the immediate base of the Texas City Dike in the north corner. They extend well up the shoreline to Dollar Point. This is one big massive flat of 2- to 6-foot deep water over a hard sand bottom.

The Seabrook Flats are directly in front of Seabrook, just up from the Kemah Flats that also provide good wade fishing. Both of these areas are right off the mouth of the Clear Creek Channel. It is easy wading on hard sand with no tricky drops; however, there are a few rocks to negotiate.

Sylvan Beach, just up the shoreline from Seabrook, offers shoreline wading in and around old boat docks and pier pilings. This is a hard sand bottom providing safe wading.

When fishing them you’ll do best by locating green water that has at least some mullet milling about.

Leeward shorelines on high tides will provide best fishing. One of the key points in locating productive areas on the Galveston Bay system is to purchase a good map detailing the four bays.

When wade fishing, remember to dress accordingly for the occasion meaning a good pair of insulated waders among other gear. Also, for safety sake, do not wade fish alone, have a fishing buddy join you.