Half Day Galveston Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fivehour inshore charter targeting redfish, trout, flounder, and black drumSmall group experience accommodates up to three guests with provided equipmentLight tackle fishing includes drift fishing, trolling, and popping techniques
Looking for a top-rated fishing experience that won't eat up your whole day? This five-hour inshore charter around Galveston is perfect for small groups who want quality time on the water without the commitment of a full day trip. Captain from Extremecasting Fishing Guide keeps things simple and productive, targeting the best inshore spots where Redfish, Trout, Flounder, Black Drum, and Sheepshead hang out. With space for just three guests, you'll get personalized attention and plenty of chances to land some solid fish. All the tackle's provided, so just bring your license, snacks, and sunglasses - and get ready for some good fishing.
This half-day charter hits the sweet spot for anglers who want focused fishing without burning a whole day. Your captain knows Galveston's inshore waters like the back of his hand, steering you to productive flats, drop-offs, and structure where fish actively feed. The small group size means everyone gets hands-on instruction and plenty of rod time. You'll be drift fishing over grass beds, working lures around oyster reefs, and maybe doing some light trolling when the bite calls for it. The relaxed pace makes this trip ideal for families introducing kids to saltwater fishing or friend groups who want to catch up while chasing some quality fish. Since you keep what you catch, there's real motivation to put some dinner in the cooler.
The captain brings all the rods, reels, and lures you'll need for a successful day, though you'll cover bait separately. Light tackle is the name of the game here - sensitive enough to feel those subtle trout bites but with enough backbone to handle a bull redfish. You'll learn drift fishing techniques over grass flats, where the boat moves naturally with wind and current while you work soft plastics and spoons through the strike zone. Popping cork rigs are customer favorites for trout and redfish, creating noise and commotion that draws fish from a distance. When structure fishing around docks and oyster bars, expect to use jigs and live bait presentations that get down to where flounder and black drum patrol. The captain adjusts techniques based on conditions - if the wind's up, you might anchor and fish vertically, but on calm days, drifting lets you cover more water and find active schools.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Galveston inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters typically run 20-28 inches in the shallows, with their distinctive black spot near the tail making them easy to identify. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, especially around oyster reefs and grass flats during moving tides. When a red hits your lure, expect a strong initial run followed by bulldogging fights that test your drag system. They're also excellent table fare when kept within slot limits.
Speckled Trout provide steady action throughout the year, though cooler months often produce the biggest specimens. These spotted beauties love soft plastics worked slowly over grass beds, and their paper-thin mouths require a gentle touch when fighting them. Most fish range 14-20 inches, with occasional "gator" trout pushing 24+ inches during winter months. Trout are considered some of the best eating fish in Texas waters, making them a favorite target for dinner-focused trips.
Southern Flounder are the masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand and mud waiting to ambush prey. Fall months bring the best flounder fishing as these flatfish migrate toward the Gulf. They typically range 15-22 inches and provide surprising fights once hooked, using their flat bodies to create maximum resistance. Live bait fished on bottom near structure produces consistent results, though skilled anglers can catch them on jigs and soft plastics.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, with fish commonly reaching 20-40 pounds around Galveston's deeper channels and oyster reefs. These bottom-feeders have powerful jaws designed for crushing shellfish, making them formidable opponents on light tackle. They're most active during cooler months and provide arm-burning fights that can last 15+ minutes. While larger drum are typically released for conservation, smaller "puppy" drum make excellent table fare.
Sheepshead are the opportunistic feeders that show up around any structure holding barnacles and small crustaceans. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth perfectly designed for picking shellfish off pilings and rocks. They're notorious bait stealers, requiring quick reflexes and sharp hooks to connect consistently. Most sheepshead run 12-18 inches and are considered premium table fare with their firm, white meat.
This world-class half-day charter delivers everything serious anglers want: productive fishing spots, quality instruction, and the chance to take home a fresh catch. The intimate group size ensures everyone gets personalized attention from an experienced captain who knows exactly where fish hold throughout the seasons. With all tackle provided and the flexibility to target multiple species based on conditions, you're set up for success from the first cast. Galveston's inshore waters consistently produce fish year-round, making any day a good day to get on the water. Don't wait - this customer favorite books up quickly, especially during prime fishing seasons.
Your fishing adventure starts aboard our reliable 25-foot TranSport center console, powered by a smooth 300 HP engine that gets you to the productive spots quickly. The spacious deck comfortably handles your group of three, with a helpful T-top providing shade during those sunny Galveston days on the water. We've equipped this boat with GPS and a quality fishfinder, so locating schools of redfish, trout, and flounder becomes much easier. The live bait tank keeps your bait fresh and lively, which makes all the difference when targeting those finicky inshore species. Whether we're drift fishing the back lakes or working the jetties, this center console design gives you plenty of room to move around and fight fish without getting tangled up with your buddies.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of Galveston's inshore scene, commonly running 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. You'll hear them coming - they make drumming sounds that you can actually feel through the hull. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning around oyster beds and muddy flats. These bottom-feeders love shallow water but can adapt to depths up to 100 feet. What guests love most is their strong, determined fight and the fact that smaller fish under 15 pounds make excellent table fare. The key to landing them is using fresh crab or cut bait right on the bottom - they won't chase anything too far up in the water column. Their powerful jaws can crush oysters, so don't be surprised when they put a serious bend in your rod.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of Galveston inshore fishing, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and signature black spots near the tail. Most slot fish run 20-28 inches, but we also target the big bull reds that can push 40+ pounds in deeper water. They love ultra-shallow flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges where they cruise looking for crabs and shrimp. Fall is prime time when they're most aggressive, but we catch them year-round. What gets guests hooked is their powerful runs and tail-walking fights, plus that distinctive "thump" when they hit your lure. The meat on smaller fish is sweet and firm, perfect for blackening. My secret: look for nervous water or tailing fish in skinny water, then make a quiet approach and cast ahead of their direction of travel.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are one of Galveston's most popular inshore targets. They typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, with their distinctive spots and torpedo-shaped bodies making them easy to identify. These fish love grass flats and shallow waters, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. Spring and fall produce the best action when water temperatures are in their comfort zone. What makes them so appealing is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus their tender, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. Pro tip: work your lures slowly along the grass edges at dawn or dusk - that's when they're most active and likely to strike topwater plugs or soft plastics.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of Galveston waters with their distinctive black and gray stripes and eerily human-like teeth. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, though we occasionally see 20-pounders around the jetties. They're structure lovers, hanging tight to dock pilings, bridge supports, and any barnacle-covered surface where they can scrape off their favorite food. Spring spawning season from February through April is when they're most active and easiest to target. Guests love them for their excellent white, flaky meat and the challenge they present - they're notorious bait thieves. Here's the trick: get your bait as close to the structure as possible and set the hook hard the moment you feel them nibbling, because they'll steal your shrimp faster than you can blink.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise that bury themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms throughout Galveston Bay. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, though we occasionally land some real doormat-sized ones pushing 20+ pounds. They're ambush predators with both eyes on their left side, waiting for shrimp, crabs, and small fish to swim by. Fall and winter are prime time when they move through our inshore waters heading to spawn offshore. What makes them so popular is their excellent eating quality - sweet, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. My go-to tip: when drift fishing, let your bait hit bottom then slowly work it up in one-foot intervals until you find where they're suspended.
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