Galveston fishing report 6-8-16

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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

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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.