Bolivar Peninsula 10-14-2011

In the afternoon on the 14th we took the ferry from Galveston over to the Bolivar Peninsula to do some surf fishing.

Brad and Diane 

Diane with a fish on. 

Diane's fish, a Croaker. 

Alan caught these fish in his casting net. The bigger fish a Croaker was probably chasing the smaller Mullet when the net came over them.

Linda with a fish on.

Linda's fish a Whiting.

Nolana had one on that got off.

The next few picture show how to throw a casting net. Luckily I did it right this time, with a nice open circle landing on the water. It didn't always work out that well.

Some bait fish (Menhaden) caught with the casting net.

One more Sunrise outing 10-14-2011

Friday morning we decided to surf fish the west end of Galveston island by a place called San Louis Pass, it's were the water from the Gulf flows in and out of the Bay.

We started out using shrimp. 

It wasn't long before I caught a Stingray. 

Alan went out to catch us some live bait. 

The live bait, a Mullet. 

After not having much luck at this location, we went over to the bay side to fish for Reds. I didn't get any pictures over there. While Brad and I wade fished the flats with no luck, Alan stuck to fishing the pass, he ended up catching a couple fish, one was a Piggy Perch.

Galveston Bay 10-12-2011

Brad arranged for us to fish Galveston bay with a guide on Wednesday. We met up with the guide at Fat Boy's Bait & Tackle at 5:30 am. After about a 30 minute boat ride by moon light, the guide stops the boat in the middle of the bay and says "this is where we get out to fish". It seemed a little weird sliding over the edge of the the boat in the middle of the bay, in the dark, into dark water. This spot was on a submerged oyster shell island. The water was nice and warm.

Click the PLAY button below to watch a short video.

Getting rigged up to start fishing at the first location.

Brad fishing by moon light.

Alan at sunrise. 

In the distance you can see the nearest shoreline.

Me

Getting ready at the second location. A small sand and oyster reef.

Alan and the guide fishing on the reef, just beyond the boat.

Brad by the boat.

Brad with a nice Speckled Sea Trout.

Alan with his stringer of Speckled Sea Trout.

At the third location, I tried my hand at fly fishing the grassy flat's. At this location there were lots of stingrays and you had to shuffle your feet while walking so you wouldn't spook them.

At the forth and last location Alan caught this Spanish Mackerel and a Flounder.

Alan with the largest Spec of the day, 19-inches. In order to keep a Speckled Trout (the type of fish we were after) they had to be over 15-inches. Alan had the hot rod, catching the most fish (8 or 9) and three different species, Speckled Trout, a flounder, and a Spanish Mackerel. Brad caught a couple less than Alan, and I got a lot of casting practice, only catching two, a Speckled Trout and a Sand Trout. It was fun trying another type of fishing.

Back at Fat Boy's dock with the catch of the day, or should I say the fat boy's at the dock.

These fish are made to hold on to what they catch.

That night Brad cooked up some of the fish, they were delicious.

Gulf Sunrise 10-11-2011

Monday morning Brad, Alan, and I got up just before sunrise to try a little surf fishing with our spinning gear. We went to a public access spot across the street from the condo. It was a nice sunrise, the wave action was calmer than the day before, the water was also clearer, and a nice temperature. Alan had a fish explode on his top water lure, but no hookup. Brad had one on for a while that got off, using a spoon I believe. A few mullet were jumping in the surf, indicating a larger fish below chasing them. After an hour or so we went back to the condo for breakfast.

Gulf of Mexico Surf Fishing 10-10-2011

Sunday night it rained hard, but when we got up Monday morning the weather looked good, so we desided to head to the beach. On the way there we stopped to pick up some bait (shrimp and squid). The lady that sold it to us asked if the water had cleared up enough to fish. We said we were from out of town and didn't know. All she said then was "oh so you don't know better". We found the water to be off color, but we fished anyway, caught some, and had lots of fun.

Brad was good enough to bring all the fishing gear we needed for the trip.

Alan brought along a throw net, to try to catch some live bait.

This was his first time doing this, but he did catch some Mullet for bait.

Brad caught a nice croaker.

Alan catches a Croaker.

Linda has a fish on, but it gets off.

Nolana with a fish on that gets off.

This is what I learned about surf fishing. First you select a nice tasty bait like squid. Put it on your hook.

Wade out in the surf, get the weight and bait behind you.

And let it fly.

Walk back in, letting line out as you do.

Put the rod in the rod holder, and wait for a bite.

Reel it in.

Take a couple pictures.

And let it go.

Brad caught the fish of the day a Black Drum.