Galveston Bay Fishing | 4 Hour Charter Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore fishing charter in Galveston Bay watersAccommodates up to three guests with captainselected hotspotsHalfday trip ideal for quick fishing adventure
Half-day on the water, full day of stories to tell. That's what you get with our 4-hour Galveston Bay fishing charter - perfect for when you want to get your line wet without burning your whole weekend. Capt. Doc knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on fish at his go-to honey holes. Whether you're squeezing in some fishing before family dinner or just want a taste of what Galveston Bay has to offer, this trip delivers the goods without the marathon commitment.
We keep it simple and focused - four solid hours of fishing the most productive spots in Galveston Bay. No rushing, no cramming too much in. Just good fishing at a comfortable pace. The boat accommodates up to three anglers perfectly, with plenty of room to cast without tangling lines or bumping elbows. If you've got a fourth person itching to join, we can make it happen for an extra hundred bucks - still a steal for the experience you're getting. Capt. Doc runs a clean, well-maintained boat with all the safety gear and fishing equipment you need. We'll hit the structure, work the grass flats, and target the drop-offs where fish love to hang out. The beauty of a half-day trip is we can focus on what's working best that particular day instead of trying to cover every inch of water.
We fish smart, not hard. Depending on conditions and what's biting, you might find yourself working live bait under a popping cork, bouncing jigs along the bottom, or casting artificial lures to visible structure. Capt. Doc provides all the rods, reels, and tackle - everything's matched to what we're targeting. Light to medium spinning gear gets the most use, perfect for feeling every bump and fighting these Bay fish properly. We'll rig you up with circle hooks when using live bait, which hooks fish in the corner of the mouth for easy releases. If artificials are hot, expect to throw soft plastics on jig heads, spoons, and topwater plugs depending on the bite. The key is staying versatile and letting the fish tell us what they want. Wade fishing isn't part of this trip - we stay on the boat and work from structure to structure, maximizing your time with lines in the water.
Southern Flounder are the kings of Galveston Bay, and for good reason. These flatfish are masters of disguise, lying buried in sand and mud waiting to ambush prey. Fall and early winter are prime time for flounder, when they're fattening up before heading to deeper water. You'll find them around shell reefs, drop-offs, and anywhere baitfish congregate. What makes them so fun to catch is the fight - they pull sideways and shake their heads like crazy. Plus, they're absolutely delicious on the dinner table. A good Bay flounder runs 16-20 inches, with the occasional doormat pushing 24 inches or better.
Black Drum might not be the prettiest fish in the Bay, but they're bulldogs when hooked. These bottom-dwellers cruise oyster reefs and shell beds, using their pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and oysters. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially around structure in 6-12 feet of water. They fight deep and steady - no fancy jumps, just pure power trying to get back to the bottom. Slot-size drum (14-30 inches) are perfect for the table, while the big bulls over 30 inches make for great photos before going back to spawn.
Sheepshead are the Bay's convict fish, with their distinctive black bars and stubborn attitude. These guys hang tight to structure - pier pilings, oyster reefs, anything with barnacles and small crabs. They're notorious bait thieves with small mouths and incredible precision, making them a favorite challenge for experienced anglers. Peak season runs from late fall through early spring when they school up for spawning. A good sheepshead pulls steady and fights all the way to the boat. They're also fantastic eating with sweet, flaky meat that rivals any restaurant fish.
Sea Trout are Galveston Bay's most consistent performers, available year-round with peak action in spring and fall. These spotted beauties love grass flats, drop-offs, and areas where fresh and salt water mix. They're aggressive feeders that hit both live and artificial baits with gusto. What makes trout special is their willingness to cooperate - when you find one, there are usually more around. They fight with quick runs and head shakes, and their distinctive spotted pattern makes them a photo favorite. Keeper trout run 15 inches and up, with the occasional wall-hanger pushing 6-8 pounds.
Redfish are the Bay's copper-colored warriors, built for power and endurance. These drum family members cruise shallow flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges hunting crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, though winter can produce some monster bulls. What sets reds apart is their fight - they make blistering runs and use their broad sides to pull against you. The distinctive black spot near their tail makes them easy to identify, and their bronze coloration is beautiful in the sunlight. Slot reds (20-28 inches) are excellent table fare, while oversized fish over 28 inches are breeding stock that go back to fight another day.
Four hours is the sweet spot for getting a real taste of Galveston Bay fishing without taking over your entire day. You'll hit multiple spots, learn some techniques, and hopefully boat some quality fish to brag about. The trip works perfect for beginners who want to test the waters or seasoned anglers who just need a quick fix. Capt. Doc's
Our 21-foot Nautic Star 2110 sport is your ticket to productive fishing on Galveston Bay. This nimble boat cuts through the water with ease, getting you to the fish faster and keeping you comfortable all day with its protective T-top. The Minn Kota Terrova trolling motor with I-Pilot lets us position perfectly over structure and drift silently through shallow waters where the reds and trout hide. The Garmin EchoMap 94SV fish finder shows exactly what's below, marking schools and bottom structure so we're not just fishing blind. When conditions get rough or we need to communicate with other boats, the ICOM VHF radio keeps us connected and safe. GPS navigation means we can run straight to proven hotspots and find our way back to new productive areas. Built for inshore fishing, this boat handles the bay's shallow flats and deeper channels with equal confidence.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of Galveston Bay, commonly running 5-30 pounds with some monsters hitting 50+ pounds. You'll find them around oyster reefs, muddy flats, and pier pilings where they crush shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time, especially March and April when they school up to spawn - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. These fish are pure muscle and will test your drag system with long, stubborn runs. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent eating with firm, white meat, while the big bulls are better released. Here's a local trick: use fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig and fish it dead still on the bottom - they'll pick up that scent from way off.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the ultimate sight-fishing target in our shallow waters, typically running 20-35 inches with bronze-colored backs and that signature black spot near the tail. They cruise 1-4 foot flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges hunting crabs and shrimp - sometimes so shallow their backs break the surface. Year-round fishing is good, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action when they're actively feeding. What makes them special is watching them tail in skinny water, plus their bulldogging fights that'll test your tackle. They're also excellent table fare when kept in the slot. Here's my tip: look for nervous water and muddy patches where they're rooting around, then cast your bait well ahead of their path and let them find it.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of Galveston Bay, running 14-24 inches with most weighing 1-5 pounds. These spotted beauties love grass flats, oyster reefs, and drop-offs where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. They're active year-round but really turn on during spring and fall transitions. Summer nights under lights can be magic, while winter finds them schooled up in deeper channels. What guests love is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they're fantastic eating with tender, flaky meat. They're also great fighters with acrobatic jumps. My local secret: work topwaters over shallow grass flats at dawn and dusk - the strikes are explosive and you'll see them coming in the clear water.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of the bay with their black and white stripes, but don't let their looks fool you - they're some of the wariest fish around. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, loving any structure with barnacles like bridge pilings, docks, and rock piles. Spring brings the best action when they move shallow to spawn, but they bite year-round if you find the right spots. What makes them exciting is their human-like teeth and notorious bait-stealing ability - they'll nibble your bait clean off without you knowing. The reward is worth it though - their white, flaky meat rivals snapper. My go-to trick: use the smallest hook possible with fresh fiddler crab, get right against the structure, and set the hook at the first tap.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are one of the bay's most unique fish - both eyes sit on their left side, and they're masters of camouflage on sandy and muddy bottoms. Most run 15-18 inches and around 5 pounds, though we see some pushing 20+ pounds. These ambush predators bury in the sand waiting for shrimp, crabs, and small fish to pass by. They're active year-round in our waters, but fall and winter offer the best action as they move through the bay heading to spawn offshore. What makes them special is their incredible fight - they use that flat body like a shield - plus they're outstanding table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. My tip: drift slowly over structure transitions where sand meets shell, and keep your bait right on the bottom.
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