Galveston Fishing Report

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

This year’s colder-than -normal winter, at least compared to recent years, seems to have delayed the movement of fish.

An example: It’s almost trophy trout season, but where are the big fish? Is it that the fish are not here or is it that anglers seeking that wall-hanger have been kept off the water because all of the cold, windy weather?

Capt. Mike Williams, Tarpon Express Guide Service, sent a note that shared his experiences and observations on the big trout. He has been on the fishing scene around the Galveston Bay Complex for more than 50 years and has kept records of his catches and circumstances affecting the fishing.

It is his observation that the best time to catch a record-sized trout is when the pear trees are in bloom. Williams said that in a normal year, the trees bloom from about Feb. 22 to March 1.

He thinks this year, we are having a more normal winter and the magical pear trees of spring will be right on the money. If so, get the waders out, oil up the reels and hit the popular spots for holding the big sows.

On the fishing scene Tuesday, Capt. Jimmy Garner, who operates 3-G Bait and Tackle at the Galveston Yacht Basin and a fishing guide service, had one of his captains return from a successful trip with 15 large sheepshead, three big black drum and some slot reds.

Garner said if you can get out of the wind, there are fish to be caught.

Wednesday was another of those days that has become frequent lately that a roaring fire indoors took precedence over being on the water.

That will not last long and, hopefully, the pear trees will start blooming soon.

Galveston Fishin Report

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

Lots of activities are in store for anglers in the weeks ahead, and among them is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s annual crab trap cleanup program. Volunteers with boats will be able to remove any crab traps they find in the water from Feb. 21 to March 2.

In order to accommodate the removal of crab traps without any controversy, the Texas Legislature voted to prohibit crab traps in the bays and coastal water for a period each winter to allow volunteers to remove old traps and take them to collection sites for disposal.

The act provides that any crab trap in the water during the time set aside for the cleanup is considered abandoned and can be removed without the owner’s consent. Since the start of the program, thousands of abandoned traps have been removed from all along the Texas Gulf Coast and adjacent coastal waters.

Collection sites will be set up where the traps can be taken and disposed of by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. An update on disposal sites will be published closer to the beginning of the cleanup campaign.

Another event that will attract a number of anglers is the Texas Shootout Chorizo Trout Tournament scheduled from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 22. Weigh-in takes place at Serious Tackle in La Marque.
For information, call Lee Garcia, 281-216-3215, or visit www.
chorizotournaments.net.

On the fishing scene Wednesday, not much was taking place. The only reports of any fish caught have come from anglers fishing off lighted docks at night.

Cecil Morehead called in his catch of three speckled trout to 17 inches in length and an undersized red from his dock on Dickinson Bayou on Tuesday night. Free-lined live shrimp was the bait, and all of the fish were retained except for the undersized red.

Galveston Fishing Report

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

We had some good news for pier fishermen Tuesday when it was learned that Austin Kimbrough, owner of the 61st Street Fishing Pier, has proclaimed the month of February Free Fishing Month.

From Monday to Wednesday each week during February, anyone can fish on the 61st Street Fishing Pier for free. All that you need to bring with you is your tackle, and you can keep all of the fish you catch within the regulations. Frozen bait is available at the pier store.

For information call 409-744-8365.

Tuesday, the surf around that pier was choppy, with a brisk, chilling wind out of the east and intermittent rain. This time of year, whiting and black drum are two of the more common fish caught; however, a few reds, especially bull reds, will make a showing as well.

In other fishing news, it seems the old adage of “same song, second verse” is appropriate, as the frontal systems are taking their toll on fishing. One of the few bright spots has been the Offatts Bayou area where lots of baits are working, and the predator fish are not far off.

Night fishing under lights has been the best method for catching fish, which generally have been reds and trout.

The weather forecast for the next few days is not going to encourage many anglers to hit the water. When will all of this cold, windy weather end?

Galveston Fishing Report

                                              Galveston Fishing Charter Company
                                                        832-917-FISH(3474)                    
www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

 Another of many cold fronts this season kept anglers off the water Sunday and Monday while creating low-water levels that drove Saturday’s fish to deeper refuges.

I mention Saturday’s fish because there was a flurry of action all around the Galveston Bay Complex that came to a screeching halt as the cold front passed.

One area that produced a lot of fish, with the exception of specks, was Clear Lake.

Anglers fishing Mud Lake, or Lake Pasadena as it now is called, caught some nice reds and black drum.

Others fishing the Clear Creek Channel near the big bend also reported respectable catches.

Reds, drum, whiting and sheepshead were the varieties taken along the channel, and many of the fish were caught around pilings and boat docks.

If you fish the Clear Lake and Clear Creek areas, you should check the advisories issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on fish consumption.

This is especially true for fish taken from the upper reaches of Clear Creek through much of Clear Lake as the channel feeds that popular recreational boating area.

An unconfirmed report was received from the Seabrook Flats telling of good action on speckled trout around the old pilings of what once was Muecke’s Marina on Todville Road.

For anglers wanting to fish relatively protected waters this week, with a good chance at catching fish, Offatts Bayou might turn out to be a prime spot for some deep-water action.

Regulars who fish some of the popular holes in the bayou tend to keep information close to their vest as they do not like a lot of company while fishing their favorite spots.

Once the water warms, and this year who knows when that will begin, action on large black drum should get underway, paving the way for the annual black drum run.

Galveston Fishing Report

                                                Galveston Fishing Charter Company
                                                           832-917-FISH(3474)

                                          www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

Folks, our optimism for warm spring weather to quickly arrive received a setback on Sunday as Punxsutawney Phil, the official prognosticator of the length of winter woes, saw his shadow on Groundhog Day.

According the folklore, this means we will have six more weeks of winter weather.

Perhaps, if his annual debut had been in Galveston instead of Pennsylvania, the forecast would have been different as heavy fog prevailed in our area all morning, followed by overcast skies and rain.

What a contrast to Saturday, when trout action was picking up in Upper West Bay and other areas around the Galveston Bay Complex.

The good news is that the fish are there just waiting for anglers to get a bait in the water.

February is starting off much like January with cold fronts blasting through for much of the first part of the month.

Hang in there.Eventually, comfortable conditions will set in and we all can enjoy getting back on the water.

In the meantime, there are many activities on the schedule that will fill in the time.

First is the 20th annual Houston Antique Lure and Tackle Show hosted by The Houston Tackle Team consisting of Phil and Rebecca Thompson and Leonard and Vickie Tucker. The event takes place next weekend in Houston.For information, call 713-443-9847 or email them at bingotexas@yahoo.com.
Also, it is not too early to make plans for the big Houston Fishing Show that takes place in the George R. Brown Convention Center.

This year’s show is scheduled for March 5 through March 9. More details will be forthcoming.

Galveston Fishing Report

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

West Bay was alive with trout action Saturday morning. Galveston Bait and Tackle reported a great trip by Capt. Jesse Eureste, Bottoms Up Charters. Dale Mattix of Houston was Eureste’s guest and used live shrimp fished under a popping cork to take a limit of reds and eight trout to 4 pounds.

Malcolm Mencacci and his brothers Frank and Dennis found the trout biting in upper West Bay on Saturday and landed 15 trout to 19 inches in length, along with a 24-inch black drum. The fish were caught in 3 to 4 feet of water using Norton Sand Eels.

Larry Austin of Crystal Beach hit the water near Fat Rat Pass early Saturday and wade fished the cut and the protected shore along East Bay tossing She Dogs and 52-M series Mirrolures. After three hours of fishing, Austin returned with a stringer of two slot reds and five trout to 18 inches.

Another Crystal Beach resident, John Boyles, fished the spoils near Stingeree Cut and landed a 26-inch red and 19-inch black drum using live shrimp fished under a popping cork.

Reds were biting near the flood gates of Moses Lake on Saturday afternoon. Hector Morales and his sons Eddie and Ricky used dead fingerling mullet to land seven reds, including three keepers and four that were just shorter than the 20-inch cutoff.

An unconfirmed report told of good catches of reds coming from Hall’s Bayou just south of the FM 2004 Bridge. Two different parties purportedly had close to limits of reds. Baits were not mentioned.

Hopefully, Saturday’s action is representative of fish we can expect to see caught during February.

This week, there might be a temporary setback, as another cold front is forecast to cross our area and send the temperatures falling for a short time.

Galveston Fishing Report

Galveston Fishing Charter Company

832-917-FISH(3474)

                                              www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

Often readers who are new to coastal fishing contact the Reel Report asking what equipment will be needed for fishing the Galveston Bay Complex.
 
Fred Miller of San Leon is one of the newcomers, and he had a disappointing experience when he consulted a tackle shop in west Houston for some advice.

Miller was sold more than $300 worth of tackle that he likely will rarely use as it is designed for large fish, found mainly offshore.
 
He asked where he could get some reliable advice on what he needs.

A native of Kilgore, he moved to San Leon last year and has found that his tackle is just too heavy for the bay fishing he would like to enjoy.

Since he has declared bay fishing as his choice, then it should be fairly easy to pick out the appropriate tackle.

His first decision will be whether to purchase an open-faced spinning reel or casting reel. Both are great; however, the spinning reel is usually the choice for those with little experience casting. A rod designed for trout and reds usually is in the seven- to nine-foot range to enable long casts.
 
The line on the reel should be in the 12- to 20-pound test range, depending on where you fish. The lighter line is for open areas and the heavier line is for around structures such as the jetties or rock groins.

The next choice depends on whether you plan to use artificial or live baits. Popping corks with live bait require a heavier rod, while tossing artificials and free-lining live bait usually require more nimble rods. Leaders should be from monofilament line in the 20- to 30-pound test range.

The choice of hooks depends on a number of factors. There is a growing trend among sportsmen to use small circle hooks in lieu of treble hooks. Both are designed for live bait, with circle hooks offering much better mortality rates than the treble style.

Pages could be written about choosing tackle, and my recommendation has always been to consult with a local tackle shop. Give as much information as you can to the salesperson about where you plan to fish, your experience and objectives. Not any one set of tackle works for all areas.