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Going to Galveston: Plenty of sights to see, fish to catch on Texas coast
BY Luke Clayton, Special to Star Local News
Jamaica Beach, Texas -- Setting on the deck of our rented house “Coral Reef,” overlooking a deep water canal that leads to Galveston’s West Bay.
Life is very good.
It is early morning and the gulls, pelicans and whistling ducks are winging their way toward the shallow weedy estuary on the south side of West Bay. I often write these columns while on story assignments, but truly can’t think of a more tranquil spot to share my thoughts.
We always rent a house on the beach or canal. When factoring in the cost of staying in motels and eating every meal out, we’ve found the houses are a much better value, plus they are homes with all the amenities. Rental rates are deeply reduced during the off season from September through May. Our abode for this fall’s get away is situated in Jamaica Beach, located on the west side of Galveston Island. Jamaica Beach is home to less than 1,000 permanent residents and a fisherman’s dream come true.
Sandwiched between West Bay and the Gulf, one needs only decide upon which species to target.
Bay fishing is great in the fall for trout, flounder and lesser sought species such as Gaff-topsail Catfish, Sand Trout, Sheepshead and Croakers. The annual fall run is going strong along the Gulf’s beach front piers and the North and South Jetties, two long, granite breakwaters that protrude from the island to protect the harbor.
Through the years, I’ve made many fisherman friends along the coast and usually schedule a trip for redfish, trout or flounder with a couple of them.
This year with kids and grandkids along, I did my visiting on the phone and fished in the canal right behind our house. It’s been pretty nice to wake up, down a couple cups of coffee and step out the back door of Coral Harbor and catch fish.
Granted, we haven’t filled the ice chest with bull redfish nor have we limited out on speckled trout or flounder, as most of the flatfish have made their annual run out of the bay systems and toward the deep channels leading out into the Gulf. We have caught a lot of fish that are excellent eating, but whose images seldom grace the covers of fishing magazines or become the targeted species of fishing guides.
When did you last read an article about the fighting ability and palatability of Golden Croakers or Gaff-topsail Catfish or Sand Trout?
These species are all very tasty when dusted with corn meal and fried crispy in hot cooking oil; they will all readily hit a dead shrimp placed near bottom or under a popping cork.
Early yesterday morning, I was sipping coffee and watching my popping cork, waiting for the early-morning trout bite to begin when I watched a boat ease down the canal and pull up to dock two houses down.
A friendly, but obviously tired, young man stepped on the dock and secured his craft to the cleats.
“Morning, buddy, you been floundering?” I inquired knowing full well he had by the flounder gigs in the bow of his boat and the series of lights used for spotting the flatfish at night along the bay’s shallow sandy bottom. I introduced myself and invited Trey Schmidt to join me in a cup of coffee.
After a night floundering, I knew he needed one!
“Had a great night,” Schmidt said as he opened the lid to one of his ice chests and showed off a couple of saddle blanket-size flounder.
“The flounder run is definitely going strong, most of them have pulled out toward the deeper channels and cuts leading out into the Gulf,” he said. “They have been stacking up in these areas in large numbers and fishing is as good as it gets.”
My goal was to stick with fishing in the canal on this trip, but a night of gigging flounder would have certainly tempted me onto the bay. As luck would have it, Schmidt was wrapping up three evenings of flounder fishing and had to return home that afternoon. I vowed to come back soon with the intent of filling an ice chest or two with what I consider the tastiest of saltwater fish, possibly the tastiest of all fish.
The young flounder man and I became instant friends and before he eased his big flounder boat down the canal and to the ramp, we made plans for an all-night excursion.
That’s the way it is with most sportsmen, both hunters and fishermen, that I know.
Friendships are made quickly.
After all, we don’t usually have the luxury of spending a lot of time socializing when flounder are running or ducks flying. There’s no better place to really get to know someone than on the water or in the woods.
It’ll be time to pack up and head back home in north Texas tomorrow.
We often find ourselves planning the next trip to Galveston even before departing. There’s just so much to do and see down on the upper Texas coast. Fall fishing is already under way and usually gets better until really strong cold fronts begin to blow through, usually in mid-November.
If your family is like mine and consists of hardcore hunters, anglers and those that have other interests, consider Galveston as a destination. There is plenty for everyone to enjoy down this way and fall is definitely one of the best times to experience life on the coast. To our way of thinking, renting a home on a canal or the beach for a few days is the best way to make the most of one’s vacation.
Now, back to the fishing.
I just saw the shadows of some big Sheepshead feeding along the concrete dock supports; it’s time to get some shrimp into the water.
Galveston Information
To learn more, go to: g-townsurf.com, click the icon for Galveston Island Real Estate Vacation Rentals or call: 800-445-1396 for info on rental homes. For guided fishing trips, contact Captain Mike Williams at: galvestonfishingguides.com or: 713-723-1911.
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