Where and What to fish near Galveston

[Mudshack]

I have only been fishing twice and it was with guys who had gear and we fished croaker for the reds and trout. I am a trout fisherman (freshwater small streams), so I have a lot of tackle for the little guys. I do have a 7' mid-lite action rod. Currently with old 4# test line.

Want to take the kids, 4 and 6, to the "beach" on Monday, and want to throw some lines. I don't mind, and actually prefer, being on the bay side of the island. So where can I go to drive right out to where where we can make a home base for the kids and coolers?

I am open to anywhere from Freeport to Galveston.

[Jaspro]

Go to the bait store and get you some croakers and shrimp and then just drive the beach until you find some birds and set up shop with the bait under popping corks.

[holdem]

Go to Galveston side of San Lius pass but be careful of the currents. Peeled shrimp on a Carolina rig with your trout tackle will work. Have fun

[Rickzilla4645]

You could go all the way down Galveston island to the pass, get off before you cross the bridge and go right at the pass, probably be a lot of people there but you can wade the bay, I have no idea what the fish are doing right now down there but you might get into some specks, there was a post on here yesterday I believe of some guys fishing in Matagorda Bay wading but had boats for transportation. They were tearing them up. If you cross over the bridge at the pass, there is a fishing pier right there on the left, you will see it from the bridge, a bait store is right there after the bridge, might do better out farther off the pier, it is lite and you can fish all night. If you go a bit farther south there is a little group of houses about 2miles from the bridge, you can hit the beach there and drive all the way to Surfside pretty much, if you want to fish in the surf.....

[Mudshack]

Which tide is better to fish? High or low? Or is it better to fish a tide going out?

Carolina rig - that is pretty much how we fished the small streams. Do you all lit it sit, or constantly move it?

[Rickzilla4645]

Yeah what Holdem said be careful of the current through that pass if on Galveston side and tide is going out, saw a guy step out just a couple of feet farther than I was and dude he was gone, good thing there is a sandbar 100 yards or so off the beach there of he would have been toast, also a guy drowned a couple of years ago right there where I told you you could hit the beach at that little clump of houses, just got out to far and the undertow was really bad that year, it'll suck the sand right out from under your feet, there are two sand bars off the beach there, just depends on the tides whether or not you can get out to second one.Rick

[holdem]

Does not matter much at the pass just so it's not slack. Moving water is the best. High tide is best on the beach.

[Rickzilla4645]

In the bay I would say tide coming in they will gang up around the pass inlet to feed on what ever is getting washed in, and you really have total access to the bay there as far as you can walk, I always use artificial shrimp, you can rig it under a cork bout 2 ft or so and pop it, can use a balloon and let the current carry it, I also will use a Johnson gold colored spoon called a Johnson Sprite has a little piece of pink plastic on the tail of it where the hook it attached, they will tear that thing up specks and reds, I always pretty much keep my bait moving, ever seen a speck rig? You can pick them up at Walmart in Galveston cheap, two little lead jigs with yellow fiber tails they work good too.. In the surf around pass tide going out...sometimes when they are running into the bay you can catch hundreds of them they are so thick....thas fuuuunnn!!!! Rick

[holdem]

Which tide is better to fish? High or low? Or is it better to fish a tide going out?

Carolina rig - that is pretty much how we fished the small streams. Do you all lit it sit, or constantly move it?

Move it 6 inches every minute or two but the current will usually do it for you.
Hang on !!

[holdem]

I found that when taking little ones to a fishin hole it's important to catch something frequently to keep them interested. If you use your freshwater trout tackle and fish the same way as you do for rainbow you will stay busy and the kids will love it. remember peel your shrimp and you don't have to use a whole one, use a size that fits the hook.

[Mudshack]

Good deal guys. So that I am hearing you all right.

San Luis Pass....Galveston side. I can drive down to the beach (coolers, stuff for kids), kids can safely play in the water there (just not too deep), fishing carolina rigs w/ shrimp will work, and fishing Johnson Sprite or speck rig will keep things active, high tide is about noon, so fishing the middle part of the day is best (works for my schedule).

[holdem]

Don't forget long nose pliers or hookouts, watch out for hardhead catfish spines, they're poison and very painful. Enjoy.

[Mudshack]

...watch out for hardhead catfish spines, they're poison and very painful. Enjoy.

there are catfish in the bay/gulf?

See....it is little statements like this that you texans use, that freak us transplanted texans out. Like, "enjoy bowhunting, watch out for 300# boars. Have fun!"

In texas.....where you things hunt you! LOL

[Injun]

Watch those babies down there and make sure if they're fishing or swimming with you I'd have em in a life vest. Iv'e been where your going and those tide holes are camoed pretty well. Iv'e gone from thigh deep to over my head in 1 step before. If high is at noon and the water is not too fresh from rain run-off it should start picking up about 10:00a and last till maybe 1P. Good luck & stay safe!

[bowmansdad]

I wouldn't recommend letting your kids play in the water at the pass.
If the tide is moving, it will be ripping through the pass. I would move down
the beach and keep them close and shallow. The fishing advice is good,but
be extrememly careful when the current is really moving. Just my $.02.