Galveston Fishing Report 2-24-16

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

www.fish-n-lodge.com

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

www.fish-n-lodge.com

 

  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)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

www.fish-n-lodge.com

 

  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

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

www.fish-n-lodge.com

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

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

www.fish-n-lodge.com

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.