Private 6 Hour Fishing Trip In Galveston
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Six-hour inshore fishing trip targeting redfish, trout, and sharksPrivate charter accommodates up to two guests with Captain MikeLive bait available for additional charge to enhance catch rates
When you're looking for a solid day on the water in Galveston, Captain Mike knows exactly where the fish are biting. This private 6-hour inshore adventure gives you and one other angler exclusive access to some of the best fishing spots along the Texas coast. No crowded boats, no rushing to keep up with strangers – just you, the captain, and miles of prime inshore waters loaded with hungry fish. Whether you've been fishing these waters for years or you're just getting your feet wet, Mike's got the local knowledge to put you on fish and make sure you head home with some great stories and hopefully a cooler full of dinner.
Your day kicks off bright and early from one of Galveston's top-rated marinas, where Captain Mike will have the boat prepped and ready to roll. The beauty of a 6-hour trip is you've got plenty of time to hit multiple spots without feeling rushed. Mike starts by reading the conditions – wind, tide, water temperature, and recent fish activity – then plots a course to the areas that are producing the best action. You'll be targeting classic Texas inshore species like redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead, and summer flounder, with the possibility of hooking into some beachfront sharks when conditions are right. The boat stays within the protected bays and nearshore waters, so you're not dealing with rough seas, but you're still covering serious ground to find where the fish are holding. Mike provides all the rods, reels, tackle, and artificial baits you'll need, though many anglers opt for the live bait upgrade since nothing beats a frisky shrimp or mullet when the fish are being picky.
Captain Mike runs a versatile operation, switching up techniques based on what the fish want on any given day. You might start the morning working shallow grass flats with soft plastics rigged on jig heads, targeting trout and redfish cruising the shallows looking for baitfish. When the action slows, he'll move to structure fishing around jetties, piers, or oyster reefs where sheepshead and flounder like to hang out. The captain keeps a selection of conventional and spinning gear on board, from light tackle perfect for trout fishing to heavier setups that can handle a big red drum or an angry shark. Live bait fishing is where things really get exciting – when you've got live shrimp under a popping cork or a frisky finger mullet on a Carolina rig, you never know what's going to grab it. Mike's been fishing these waters long enough to know which spots produce at different tides and times of day, so he's constantly adjusting the game plan to keep you in the action. Don't worry if you're new to some of these techniques – he's patient and will walk you through everything from proper hook sets to fighting fish without breaking them off.
Summer flounder are one of the customer favorites on these Galveston trips, and for good reason. These flatfish are master ambush predators that bury themselves in sandy bottoms near drop-offs and channel edges, waiting for unsuspecting baitfish to swim by. The best fishing for flounder happens during moving tides when they're actively feeding, typically in 8-15 feet of water. What makes them so fun to catch is their aggressive strike – they don't just nibble, they slam the bait and take off. Plus, flounder are excellent table fare, with firm white meat that's perfect for frying or grilling. The Texas coast produces some quality doormat flounder, with fish pushing 20+ inches showing up regularly during peak season from late spring through fall.
Sheepshead fishing is like solving a puzzle every time you drop a line. These black-and-white striped fish have small mouths and incredible bait-stealing abilities that'll drive you crazy until you figure out their game. They love hanging around structure – pier pilings, jetty rocks, oil rigs – anywhere they can find barnacles, oysters, and crabs to munch on. The key is using small hooks, fresh bait, and developing a feel for their subtle bite. When you do hook up, sheepshead are surprisingly strong fighters that will test your drag system. They're also fantastic eating, with sweet, flaky meat that rivals any offshore species. Captain Mike knows exactly which structures hold the biggest schools and what baits work best on any given day.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of Texas inshore fishing. These spotted beauties are aggressive predators that roam grass flats, channel edges, and shell reefs looking for shrimp, mullet, and other baitfish. What makes trout fishing so addictive is their willingness to hit both live and artificial baits. You might catch them on live shrimp under a cork in the morning, then switch to topwater plugs in the evening and watch them explode on the surface. Speckled trout are also great indicators of water quality and ecosystem health, so when you're catching good numbers of quality trout, you know you're fishing clean, productive waters. The best trout fishing in Galveston typically happens during cooler months when schools of fish move into the bays to escape rougher offshore conditions.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Texas inshore fishing, and Galveston's marshes and flats hold some world-class specimens. These copper-colored bruisers are built for power, with broad tails that can peel drag and test your tackle to the limit. Reds are opportunistic feeders that cruise shallow flats looking for crabs, shrimp, and small fish, often with their backs out of the water in just inches of depth. The sight fishing opportunities are phenomenal – watching a 30-inch red drum slowly cruise through clear water, then presenting a perfectly placed cast and watching the fish turn and attack your bait is pure adrenaline. Redfish also have no daily bag limit
Get ready to chase redfish and trout aboard this restored 24' Kenner center console that's built for serious Gulf Coast fishing. Captain Mike's boat packs a 250HP Honda engine that'll get you to the hottest inshore spots around Galveston fast, cruising at up to 40 knots when you need to beat other boats to the honey holes. The GPS and fish finder combo means less time searching and more time with lines in the water targeting everything from sheepshead to flounder, plus those hard-fighting beachfront sharks that'll test your drag. This 1998 hull got a complete makeover in 2017, so you're fishing from a solid platform that can handle 2 anglers comfortably. The center console design gives you 360-degree casting room and easy access to tackle, perfect for working live bait around structure or drifting the flats. Six hours gives you plenty of time to hit multiple spots and dial in what's biting.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our Galveston flats with their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spots near the tail. Most run 18-30 inches, perfect eating size, though we hook into 40+ inch bulls regularly. They cruise super shallow water - sometimes with backs exposed - around oyster reefs, grass flats, and marsh edges. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action. What gets people hooked is their powerful runs and that explosive topwater strike in skinny water. Plus, they're fantastic on the table with mild, sweet meat. My local secret: look for nervous water and mullet schools getting pushed around. Throw a gold spoon or topwater plug ahead of moving fish and hang on tight.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of Galveston inshore fishing, running 14-24 inches with plenty of 2-5 pounders mixed in. These spotted beauties love grass flats and shallow bays, especially around drop-offs and shell beds. They're most active during cooler months and low-light periods - early morning and evening bites are prime. In winter, they school up in deeper channels, making for fast action. What makes them popular is their willingness to hit artificials and their excellent table fare - tender, flaky white meat that's perfect for any recipe. The key is working topwater plugs and soft plastics slowly over grass flats. When they're shallow, you'll actually see their backs out of the water while feeding.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of Galveston with their black and gray stripes and human-like teeth. Most fish we catch run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, though 8-pounders show up around the jetties and oil platforms. They're structure lovers - any pier pilings, bridge supports, or barnacle-covered surfaces attract them. Spring spawning season from February to April is hot, but they bite year-round. What guests love is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with incredible mouth strength. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in the Gulf with sweet, white meat. Pro tip: use small hooks with fresh shrimp and set that hook hard the second you feel weight. They'll steal your bait all day if you hesitate.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are unique flatfish that lie camouflaged on sandy bottoms with both eyes on their left side. Around Galveston, most run 15-20 inches, but we see some pushing 5+ pounds. They're active ambush predators that love structure like reefs and channel edges in 10-40 feet of water. Fall months from September through November are prime time when they're most aggressive. What makes them special is their "chameleon" ability to change colors to match the bottom. The meat is excellent - flaky white fillets that taste great fried or grilled. My go-to trick is using a slow drift with live croaker or mullet on a circle hook, keeping the bait right on bottom where they're waiting.
Galveston