Galveston fishing report

Galveston fishing charter company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

The jetties were alive with action Thursday morning when my good friend Dr. Bob Rose and I fished the North Jetty.

The day started early at the Bolivar Gas Wells where not much was taking place. A sheepshead, black drum and large stingray were all that hit during our hour of fishing one of the wells.

We relocated to the Bolivar surf where the water was off color and, instead of giving it a try, we moved on to the North Jetty where action was consistent but not prolific.

We caught a variety of fish using live shrimp for bait including Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, black drum and a Texas Grand Slam.

The highlight of the jetties was my almost 50-pound bull red that took up 30 minutes of fishing time.

The big red was handled gently, photographed and released. The stress of the fight appeared to take its toll and fortunately for her a doctor was on board who was well familiar with resuscitation. After treatment, she happily swam away.

Tony Keill and Capt. Daniel Marshall found trout in Galveston Bay. Between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Thursday, the anglers landed and released more than 30 specks along with a slot red. Plastics accounted for all of the fish.

Conner Cochrane, whose grandfather is Capt. Billy Cochrane and father is Capt. Bubba Cochrane, landed a new state record rainbow runner. The 7.13-pound fish was caught while fishing on the Park Avenue and will set a new junior state record.

While inshore action is improving, offshore fishing continues to be consistently good.

Miles Hancock and Jeffery Taylor fished the intersectional rigs Wednesday and landed numerous barracuda of all sizes, three ling to 33 pounds, two wahoo, six Dorado to 18 pounds and lots of kings and sharks.

The party boat Capt. John made a 50-mile trip Wednesday where limits of red snapper along with kings, spadefish, lane snapper and stingrays were caught.

Galveston fishing report

Galveston fishing charter company

832-917-Fish(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

After today, we will be back to normal with the ability to check fishing reports on the Reel Report recorder.

One more day to enjoy the remoteness of the most easterly point in the continental United States, Eastport, Maine. One of the intriguing aspects of this area is the tidal changes. At home in Galveston, we rarely see a normal tide change of more than 3 feet or so. Here, the difference between high and low tides this morning was 18 feet.

From emails received from readers, it appears that fishing is improving and the weather is hot. Here, my only fishing trip was not productive as the haddock just were not biting; however, the cool conditions on the water were pleasant.

In Galveston, Paul and Stephanie Jeremy fished the causeway area Wednesday morning and landed three slot reds, a bull red, a 28-inch trout and two oversized black drum that were released.

Action in Chocolate Bay was excellent for Cheyenne Hyden, Alyssa White and Misty Denman. The young anglers managed an 18-inch gafftop, 16-inch flounder and a slot red. The action came at night under lights.

The second annual Ladies Casting for Conservation Fishing Tournament takes place Saturday at Stingaree Marina in Crystal Beach. The event brings together fishing enthusiasts while helping the Galveston Bay Foundation. Entry fee is $300 per team.

The second annual summertime Houston Lure and Tackle Show is Aug. 7-10 at the Crowne Plaza Brookhollow Hotel, 2801 Northwest Freeway, in Houston. For information, call 713-462-9977.

Our only offshore report came from Don Redding who, along with four companions, fished the East Breaks last weekend. Trolling Kona Classics, lead head feather jigs and natural baits, the anglers raised a large marlin that gave them a 45-minute battle before breaking off. Among their catch were two large wahoo, numerous bonito, bull Dorado and several sharks.

Galveston fishing report

Galveston fishing charter company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

Fishing reports, actually the lack thereof, continue to reflect inshore fishing not to be at the levels it should be for this time of year. This is especially true for trout fishing. Reds and other species are being caught; however, overall action has been slower than expected.

Pan fish have been filling most of the stringers lately, and the catches have been coming from all around our area.

The only reports of action on trout have been at night by anglers fishing around lights.

Hank Settles and his son Henry fished around a lighted dock near Crystal Beach on Monday night and caught seven specks to 19 inches using live shrimp for bait.

Fred Askew was up early Monday morning fishing the Bolivar surf were he landed three sharks to almost 3 feet in length, a bull red and three large gafftop. All of the fish were released except for the red, which was tagged and retained. Cut shad was the bait.

Roy Beck, West End Marina, reported another fish placing in the Star Kids Division of the CCA-Texas STAR tournament.

Morgan Sellers, 10, landed a 3-pound, 15 ounce flounder that placed her in third place of the tournament.

The STAR Tournament runs through Labor Day weekend.

On the offshore scene, the action continues to be outstanding. David Uresti and Kent Collins fished the East Rigs on Monday and landed limits of king along with numerous sharks, spadefish and Spanish mackerel. Uresti said a cooler full of filets was taken back to Crockett where the anglers live.

The party boat Capt. John made an overnight tuna trip last weekend with Capt. Johnny Williams and his daughter Capt. Jill Williams sharing duties. The trip ended up well more than 100 miles offshore where limits of red snapper were taken along with 71 blackfin tuna, king, ling, grouper, Dorado and sharks.

Galveston fishing report

Galveston fishing charter company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

The threat of thunderstorms slowed fishing, actually fishermen from being on the water, last weekend.

While there were no fishing reports from Saturday, let’s talk about what to expect as the weather improves this week.

We should be in prime time for trout action along the Houston Ship Channel Spoil Banks, both jetties and deeper shell pads and reefs, in Galveston Bay.

I say we should because normally there are lots of reports of hot action and prolific catches reported during July; however, this year has been different so far.

This week should be a good test for all of those areas, with the only fly in the ointment being tidal movement.

The good news is that it appears that the best tidal movement of the day will begin late morning and go through the afternoon.

That is a much better scenario for most anglers as earlier this month the best tides were anywhere from late afternoon to late evening thus eliminating the early morning fisherman.

If you are new to reading tide charts, the method to determine the strongest tides is to look at the respective heights of each low and high tide.

The heights are in relation to mean sea level.

Those tides reflecting the greatest measurement between the low and high are going to reflect the strongest tide.

For example, let’s view two tide change days (generally better as compared to single tide change days) and use today’s South Jetty Tide as an example.

Note the 10:40 a.m. high and the corresponding lows. With the earlier low tide (1.59 feet at 7:37 a.m.) and the subsequent low (-0.45 at 6:46 p.m.), you easily can see that the afternoon outgoing tide is going to be the strongest while the strongest incoming tide is from 6:46 p.m. until 3:50 a.m.

Tuesday.

If you have an opportunity to be on the water, send us a fishing report.

Galveston fishing report

Galveston fishing charter company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

If offshore fishing interests you, this week looks like a great time to head into the Gulf of Mexico if the forecasts hold.

Typically, mid-July through most of August is the best time of year to plan an offshore trip, barring a weather system in the Gulf.

Not only is the weather the most stable of the year, but fishing is at its best.

This year is no exception, and there are lots of large fish swimming around from just off the beach front and beyond.

Last week, I found most of the action from a trip that ranged up to 35 miles out at about 12 miles.

Other captains were reporting similar experiences.

Seaweed did not appear in the masses of earlier in the month; however, I am not about to say that the nuisance is out of here just yet.

Smaller seaworthy boats can easily make a run 12 miles out and, with seas running in the 1- to 2-foot range, it does not take long to make it to your destination.

Mitchell’s Reef, named after Galveston Philanthropist George Mitchell, has been in the center of an area loaded with offshore fish lately.

The area had an added bonus of a working platform nearby that offers another spot for boats to drift and troll.

Inshore fishing has been spotty lately with the best results coming at night from anglers fishing around lighted piers and docks.

Flounder gigging has been fair for anglers willing to work for a few flatfish.

Christmas Bay, Chocolate Bay, Virginia Point and the Bolivar Flats have been producing the best results for gigging.

The next Chorizo Texas Slam Tournament is scheduled Aug. 16.

The event will be headquartered at Serious Tackle in La Marque which, in conjunction with the tournament, will be celebrating its 20th year in business.

For information, call Lee Garcia, 281-216-3215.

Galveston fishing blog

Galveston fishing charter company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfishingchartercompany.com

Good amounts of rainfall fell on the Galveston Bay Complex on Friday and that should give fishing a badly needed boost after conditions settle. Today appears to continue to offer unsettled weather; however, next week looks promising for inshore fishing.

While offshore action continues to be hot, Friday’s stormy weather kept boats in port waiting for better conditions. As soon as the threatening weather subsides, look for some excellent catches from the Gulf.

The influx of fresh water into the Galveston Bay System should reduce salinity levels and lower the overall water temperature for a while. Sunday, we should see some better results reported, especially from around the jetties and other areas.

Stan Watkins of Bellville called in to say that he caught an alligator gar in Highlands Bayou on Thursday night that measured more than four feet long. The fish hit a live fingerling mullet and Watkins was amazed that the 30-pound monofilament leader held. The mullet was attached to a 5:0 live bait hook.

Catches around the Seabrook-Kemah Channel area have been mostly panfish, according to Pat Moore’s report. Moore took his two young grandsons fishing in the channel as it was close to the boat ramp with the threatening weather all around. Using dead shrimp for bait, croaker, black drum, piggy perch and a mudfish were landed. All of the fish were released and all had a ball catching the fish.

Thursday night, Ted Hemphill fished the lights around docks along Dickinson Bayou and landed a slot red, three trout, two undersized and a keeper, along with several small sand trout. Live shrimp was the bait.

Offshore, the party boat Capt. John battled breezy and bumpy conditions to make it 35 miles out where 56 anglers limited out on red snapper to 15 pounds and also caught 15 kings along with blue fish, spade fish and Spanish mackerel.

Galveston fishing blog

Galveston fishing charter company

832-917-FISH(3474)

www.galvestonfisingchartercompany.com

It appears that anglers are in for some stormy weather through Saturday if the forecast holds.

Hopefully, the rain will help improve daytime fishing inshore. Lately, daytime action has been slow, and for a good chance at catching fish, anglers are heading offshore. Night fishing under lights has been the better option for inshore fishing.

The early morning incoming tide has been producing good numbers of specks and reds from around midnight until close to daybreak.

Steve Albrecht took his brother Ray to the jetties Wednesday where they found the action slow. A small lemon shark was all they could attract from around the rocks. One of their next stops was between the old concrete ship, The Selma, and Seawolf Park. There, the anglers drifted patches of seaweed, and that is where a couple of monster fish hit, as Albrecht described it.

Steve’s fish took almost all of his line, and during an effort to turn the fish, the leader broke.

A similar thing happened to Ray’s fish as they attempted to chase it with the boat but finally lost it. Their tackle just was not suitable for whatever it was. Neither angler saw his fish.

Live fingerling mullet fished on the bottom was the bait.

Pete Hescock and his family fished from the lighted dock of the home they are renting at Pirate’s Cove and caught 12 trout to 18 inches and three reds, a slot and two throwbacks. The action took place between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on free-lined live shrimp.

Charlie Moore and Bill Best spent Wednesday night and early Thursday morning flounder gigging in Christmas Bay. Roaming the islands with lanterns for five hours, the anglers from Clute managed seven flatfish to 19 inches. Moore said that there were lots of stingrays buried in the sand, especially around Christmas Pass.