5.0(1 Reviews)Premium 5 Hour Inshore Adventure on Galveston Bay
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fivehour private inshore fishing trip on Galveston BayTarget redfish, speckled trout, flounder and black drumAll fishing gear and equipment provided by captain
Looking for a solid day of fishing on Galveston Bay? This 5-hour inshore charter out of Kemah puts you right in the heart of some of Texas's best fishing waters. Captain Blake and the crew at Galveston Trophy Charters know these flats, channels, and structure spots like the back of their hand. You'll start early at 6:30 AM when the fish are most active, and with everything included in your $500 trip for two anglers, all you need to bring is your fishing license and maybe some snacks. The boat's rigged and ready, tackle's sorted, and your captain will put you on fish from the moment you leave the dock.
Kemah sits perfectly positioned on Galveston Bay's upper reaches, giving you access to productive grass flats, oyster reefs, and deeper channels where gamefish patrol year-round. Your captain will read the conditions – wind, tide, water clarity – and adjust the game plan accordingly. Some days you'll work the shallow flats targeting redfish cruising in skinny water, other days you might drift deeper structure for black drum or work moving water for speckled trout. The beauty of a 5-hour charter is having time to hit multiple spots and try different techniques. Early morning typically produces the best bite, especially during warmer months when fish feed before the sun gets high. Your captain comes equipped with quality rods, reels, and a tackle box full of proven baits and lures that work in these waters. Live bait, artificial lures, bottom rigs – whatever the fish are wanting that day, you'll have it covered.
Inshore fishing in Galveston Bay means adapting to what the fish and conditions throw at you. Your captain will have medium to medium-heavy spinning rods spooled with braided line for sensitivity and strength around structure. Depending on the target species and location, you might be throwing topwater plugs at first light for trout, bouncing live shrimp under popping corks near oyster reefs, or slow-rolling soft plastics across grass flats for redfish. When the bite calls for it, you'll drop down with Carolina rigs and fresh cut bait for black drum and sheepshead around pilings and structure. The key is staying mobile and reading the water. Your captain knows when to work shallow and when to hit deeper drops, when to fish moving water during tide changes, and which spots produce during different seasons. Circle hooks keep fish healthy for release, and your captain will handle all the rigging while explaining techniques so you can focus on fishing and learning.
"Blake was wonderful! He was extremely attentive, very personable, detail oriented and he knew his stuff! We'll definitely fish with him again!" - Mike
Spanish Mackerel show up in good numbers during warmer months, typically from late spring through early fall when water temperatures climb. These silver rockets hit fast-moving lures with authority and put up a fantastic fight on light tackle. Look for them around structure, channel edges, and areas where baitfish are active. They average 1-3 pounds but make up for size with pure speed and aggressive strikes. Anglers love them because they're willing biters, great table fare when fresh, and provide non-stop action when you find a school.
Black Drum are the bulldogs of Galveston Bay, with fish ranging from keeper-sized "puppy drum" around 16-20 inches up to massive bulls pushing 30+ pounds. They feed primarily on crabs and shellfish around oyster reefs, bridge pilings, and bay bottom structure. Best targeted with fresh cut bait on bottom rigs, these fish provide a steady, powerful fight that tests your drag system. Peak season runs from late winter through spring, though quality fish are available year-round. What makes them special is their size potential and the fact that bigger drum are often found in surprisingly shallow water.
Sheepshead are the bay's most finicky biters, but that's exactly what makes them such a prized catch among experienced anglers. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth perfectly designed for crushing barnacles and small crabs off structure. They require precise presentations with small hooks and fresh bait, typically fiddler crabs or live shrimp. Found around any hard structure – docks, pilings, jetties – sheepshead provide excellent eating and a real test of angling skill. Winter months often produce the largest fish as they stage for spawning.
Redfish are Texas's signature inshore gamefish, and Galveston Bay holds some real bruisers. Slot-sized fish between 20-28 inches are perfect for the dinner table, while oversized bulls provide trophy potential and incredible fights in shallow water. Reds feed aggressively on crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish across grass flats, oyster reefs, and marshy shorelines. They're catchable year-round with peak action during fall months when they school up for their spawning runs. What makes redfish special is their willingness to eat various baits, their fighting ability, and the fact that you might spot them tailing in skinny water for sight-fishing opportunities.
Crevalle Jack bring raw power to your inshore fishing adventure. These silver torpedoes roam Galveston Bay in schools, ambushing baitfish with explosive surface attacks. When hooked, jacks make blistering runs and use their broad sides to leverage against your drag. They hit topwater lures, live bait, and fast-retrieved artificials with bone-jarring strikes. While not typically kept for eating due to their strong flavor, crevalle jack provide some of the most exciting action available to inshore anglers. Summer months see the largest schools, though smaller groups patrol the bay throughout the year.
Our Blazer Bay 2400 with a Suzuki 300 outboard is built for serious anglers who want to get after the fish in Galveston Bay's productive waters. This 24-foot bay boat cuts through chop with ease and gets you to the hotspots fast, whether you're targeting redfish in the shallows or chasing speckled trout along the drop-offs. The wireless trolling motor lets us slip into skinny water without spooking fish, while the GPS and fish finder help pinpoint structure and baitfish schools where the action happens. With plenty of casting room for two anglers and a stable platform for fighting fish, you'll have everything you need to load the cooler. The boat's shallow draft opens up backwater areas where big drum and slot reds love to feed, giving you access to some of the bay's best fishing spots that deeper hulled boats can't reach.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our bay, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some giants hitting 50-plus. These gray-black bruisers have powerful jaws made for crushing oysters and crabs along the bottom. You'll find them on muddy flats, around oyster reefs, and near structure in 2-15 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them easier to target. They're bottom feeders, so fresh crab, cut bait, and slow-moving jigs work best. The smaller ones under 15 pounds eat great - firm, white meat. Bigger fish are more for the photo. Here's the key: use enough weight to keep your bait on bottom and watch for that subtle tap-tap bite. They're not flashy fighters, but they'll give you a solid, steady pull that'll test your patience.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jack are the bullies of the bay - aggressive, hard-fighting fish with golden sides and attitude to match. They average 3-5 pounds but can hit 20-plus, and they'll test every part of your tackle. These nomads roam both shallow flats and deeper channels, often pushing baitfish to the surface in feeding frenzies. Summer and fall bring the best action when they're actively schooling. They're not table fare, but pure sport - incredible runs and never-quit fighting spirit. Silver spoons, topwater plugs, and anything that moves fast will trigger strikes. Watch for bird activity - when gulls are diving, there's usually jacks underneath pushing bait up. Cast past the school and retrieve fast. They love the chase, so don't slow down once you hook up.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our signature species with that distinctive black spot near the tail and copper-red backs. Most run 18-27 inches, but slot busters over 28 inches provide serious battles. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Look for them on grass flats, around oyster bars, and near shorelines in 1-4 feet. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and winter offer some of the best action. They'll hit topwater plugs, soft plastics, spoons, and live shrimp. The fight is what hooks people - long runs and bulldogging that'll test your tackle. Meat quality is excellent too. Best tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish on calm days. When you spot them, make a quiet approach and cast beyond the fish, then work your lure back through.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of the bay with their black and white stripes, but what really sets them apart are those human-like teeth. They average 1-8 pounds and love hanging around any structure - docks, pilings, reefs, anywhere barnacles grow. These guys are year-round residents, but winter and early spring fishing can be outstanding when they school up. They're famous bait thieves, so you need to stay sharp. Fresh shrimp, fiddler crabs, or barnacles work best on small hooks. The meat is excellent - white, flaky, and mild. My trick: get your bait right against the structure and be ready to set the hook hard the second you feel them nibbling. They'll steal your bait all day if you're not quick enough, but once hooked, they put up a scrappy fight.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are built for speed with their streamlined silver bodies and scattered yellow spots. These fast swimmers typically run 1-2 feet long and 8-11 pounds, but they're fighters that'll test your drag. You'll find them schooling near the surface throughout Galveston Bay, especially around structure and open flats. Spring through fall gives us the best action when water temps warm up. They hit hard on shiny spoons, jigs, or live bait like shrimp and sardines. What makes them popular is that explosive strike and solid table fare - mild, flaky meat that grills up perfect. Pro tip: when you see diving birds working bait, get over there fast. These mackerel push schools of minnows to the surface, and that's when the bite gets hot. Use light tackle and keep your lures moving.
5.0 out of 5.0Blake was wonderful! He was extremely attentive, very personable, detail oriented and he knew his stuff! We'll definitely fish w...
Galveston