Full Day Inshore Bay Fishing - Crystal Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full 8hour inshore bay fishing experience in Galveston BaySmall group capacity with dining option at Stingaree restaurantExtended fishing time allows for multiple productive sessions
When you're serious about getting your lines wet and want to make a full day of it, this 8-hour inshore adventure in Galveston Bay is exactly what you're looking for. We're talking about a proper fishing day here – the kind where you lose track of time because the fish are biting and the weather's perfect. Crystal Beach offers some of the most consistent inshore action on the Texas coast, and with a full day on the water, we'll have plenty of opportunities to work different spots as conditions change throughout the day.
This isn't your typical half-day rush job. With 8 solid hours, we can take our time and fish it right. We'll start early when the water's calm and the fish are active, then adjust our game plan as the day unfolds. Pack yourself a lunch or we can swing by Stingaree restaurant mid-day – nothing beats a good meal on the water before heading back out for the afternoon bite. The beauty of a full day trip is flexibility. If the trout are schooled up in one area, we can work them hard. If the redfish are cruising the flats, we'll chase them down. Weather changes? No problem – we've got time to relocate and find fish. Just remember this trip's set up for 2 anglers max, so you'll get plenty of personal attention and rod time. If you've got a bigger group wanting to fish together, give me a call and we'll figure something out.
Galveston Bay inshore fishing is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish want. We'll be working with light tackle – 7-foot medium action rods paired with spinning reels loaded with 15-20 pound braid. For artificials, we'll have soft plastics rigged on jig heads, topwater plugs for early morning action, and spoons when we need to cover water fast. Live bait works magic here too – live shrimp under popping corks is deadly on trout, while cut mullet gets the big reds fired up. We'll be fishing everything from shallow grass flats to deeper channel drops, oyster reefs to open bay areas. The key is staying mobile and letting the fish tell us what they want. Some days they're shallow and aggressive, other days we'll need to slow down and work the bottom structure. That's the beauty of having a full 8 hours – we can try it all.
Sea trout are the bread and butter of Galveston Bay, and for good reason. These spotted beauties are fun fighters that'll test your drag and make some noise when they hit topwater. The best action usually happens early morning and late afternoon when they school up in 3-6 feet of water over grass beds. Spring and fall are prime time, with fish ranging from keeper-sized 15-inchers up to gator trout pushing 5-6 pounds. What makes trout fishing so addictive is the variety – you might catch them on a noisy topwater plug one cast, then need to switch to a slow-sinking soft plastic the next. They're also excellent table fare, which makes bringing home a limit even sweeter.
Redfish are the bullies of the bay, and when you hook into a bull red, you'll know it immediately. These copper-colored fighters are famous for their initial run that'll have you wondering if your drag is set right. We target them year-round, but summer and early fall are phenomenal when they're feeding heavy before winter. Look for them in 2-4 feet of water around oyster reefs, creek mouths, and grass lines. The slot-sized fish (20-28 inches) are perfect for the table, while the oversized bulls provide pure adrenaline before we release them to fight another day. Redfish aren't picky eaters – they'll crush everything from live shrimp to cut bait to flashy spoons.
Southern flounder might not win any beauty contests, but they're masters of disguise and absolutely delicious. These flatfish lay buried in sandy bottom areas, ambushing prey that swims by. Fall is prime time for flounder as they stage near passes before heading to deeper water to spawn. The challenge with flounder is feeling that subtle bite – they don't slam baits like reds or trout. Instead, you'll feel weight or a slight tick, then it's game on. Bouncing a jig and soft plastic combo along the bottom or slow-trolling live bait gets them fired up. A nice flounder dinner is hard to beat, and these fish can surprise you with their size during peak season.
If you're ready to experience what Galveston Bay inshore fishing is really about, this full day adventure delivers exactly that. Eight hours gives us the time to do it right – to find fish, adjust tactics, grab some lunch, and get back after them. Whether you're looking to fill the cooler, test your skills against some hard-fighting reds, or just spend a proper day on the water, this trip has you covered. The bay's loaded with fish year-round, but the best dates fill up fast, especially during peak seasons. Don't wait around – grab your spot and let's get those lines stretched on one of Texas' top-rated inshore fisheries.
Your fishing platform for this full-day Crystal Beach adventure is a reliable 24 VDR motorboat that's built for serious bay fishing. This boat comes equipped with GPS to keep you on the productive spots, VHF radio for safe communication, and a fish finder to locate where the fish are holding. Perfect for up to 2 anglers who want to spend quality time working the waters around Galveston Bay without feeling cramped. The boat handles the bay conditions well and gives you a stable platform for casting to those prime fishing areas. Whether you're targeting redfish in the shallows or speckled trout along the drop-offs, this setup will get you there and keep you comfortable during those long 8-hour fishing sessions. You'll have room to move around while fighting fish and space to store your gear and coolers.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bullies of the flats and one of the most fun fish to target in our shallow bay waters. These copper-colored bruisers typically range 20-35 inches, with those distinctive black spots near their tails. You'll find them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster reefs, grass flats, and muddy bottoms where they root around for crabs and shrimp. They're year-round residents but really turn on during spring and fall. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights - they'll pull drag and make long runs. Plus, the smaller "slot" fish make excellent table fare with firm, mild meat. They're not picky eaters and will hit everything from topwater plugs to live shrimp. Pro tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish in the shallows, then cast beyond them and work your bait back slowly.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are one of our most popular targets in Galveston Bay. These speckled beauties typically run 14-24 inches and weigh 1-5 pounds, though we occasionally hook into much larger ones. You'll find them cruising grass flats and shallow areas, especially at dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. They put up a solid fight with quick runs and head shakes that keep things interesting. The meat is white, flaky, and mild-tasting - perfect for the dinner table if you don't overcook it. Fall and spring are prime times when they school up in the shallows. My tip: work your lure slowly along the grass edges and listen for that telltale "thump" when they hit. These fish have soft mouths, so keep steady pressure but don't horse them in.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are the masters of disguise on our bay bottoms. These flat, oval-shaped fish typically run 15-18 inches, though we catch some pushing 25+ inches on good days. They bury themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms near drop-offs, channel edges, and around structures where they ambush passing prey. Both eyes sit on their left side, giving them that unique "flounder stare" that makes for great photos. Fall is prime time when they're moving toward the Gulf to spawn, making them more active and easier to locate. They're prized for their sweet, white meat that's hard to beat on the dinner table. The trick is fishing slow and staying in contact with the bottom. My go-to method is drifting with live shrimp or bull minnows on a light jig head, feeling for that subtle tap when they inhale the bait.
Bolivar Peninsula, Bolivar Peninsula, TX, United States