Galveston Fishing Charters | Private 5-Hour Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 5hour inshore fishing charter for up to 2 guestsExpert captain guides trips through productive eastern Galveston Bay watersLaunch from scenic Crystal Beach targeting popular local fish species
Looking for a solid day of inshore fishing on the Texas coast? This private 5-hour charter launches from Crystal Beach and puts you right in the heart of eastern Galveston Bay's most productive waters. With spots for up to two anglers, you'll have plenty of room to cast without bumping elbows, plus the undivided attention of a local captain who knows these flats like the back of his hand. The calm, protected waters here make for comfortable fishing even when the Gulf's acting up, and the variety of structure and habitat means you're always just a cast away from your next fish.
Crystal Beach offers the perfect launch point for accessing the prime fishing grounds of eastern Galveston Bay. Your captain will navigate to productive spots based on current conditions, tides, and seasonal patterns that locals have been fishing for generations. The shallow flats, oyster reefs, and grass beds create ideal habitat for our target species, and the protected nature of the bay means you'll spend your time fishing instead of fighting rough water. This isn't a cattle-boat operation – with just two anglers max, you'll get personalized instruction and plenty of opportunities to work different techniques. The captain provides the local knowledge that makes all the difference between a good day and a great one.
Your guide comes equipped with quality spinning gear perfectly matched to our target species and local conditions. We'll be working a variety of techniques depending on what's biting – everything from bouncing live shrimp along the bottom for black drum and flounder to working topwater plugs over grass beds when the trout are schooled up. Soft plastics on jig heads are a year-round producer here, especially when worked along drop-offs and channel edges where redfish love to cruise. Your captain will show you how to read the water, spot feeding birds, and recognize the subtle signs that separate productive water from empty spots. Whether you're comfortable with your own gear or prefer to use what's provided, we'll match the tackle to the conditions and get you dialed in.
Southern Flounder are the ultimate ambush predators, lying buried in sand and mud waiting for baitfish to swim within striking distance. These flatfish can be tricky to locate, but once you find them, they often school up in numbers. Fall and early winter are prime time when they're staging near passes before their spawning migration. A well-placed live shrimp or mullet worked slowly along the bottom is hard for them to resist, and their aggressive strike followed by that characteristic head-shaking fight makes them a favorite target for many anglers.
Black Drum are the bulldogs of the bay, using their powerful shoulders and stub-born nature to test your drag system. These bottom-feeders cruise oyster reefs and shell pads, using their pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish. They're year-round residents here, though spring and fall offer the most consistent action. When you hook into a slot-sized drum, expect a determined fight straight down to the structure – they're not flashy jumpers, but they'll make you work for every inch of line you gain back.
Sea Trout, or speckled trout as most locals call them, are probably the most popular inshore species along the Texas coast. These aggressive predators school up over grass beds and soft bottom areas, feeding heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. They'll hit everything from live bait to artificial lures, and their willingness to bite makes them perfect for anglers of all skill levels. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, with early morning and late afternoon typically producing the best results when they're actively feeding in shallow water.
Redfish are the poster child of Texas inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters are known for their powerful runs and never-give-up attitude. They cruise the flats in schools, tailing in shallow water as they root around for crabs and shrimp. The sight-fishing opportunities here can be incredible when conditions align – there's nothing quite like watching a big red eat your bait in two feet of crystal-clear water. They're less temperature-sensitive than trout, making them a reliable target even during cooler months.
Tripletail are the bonus fish that can make any trip memorable. These unique-looking fish often float near debris, channel markers, or any floating structure, lying on their sides to mimic dead leaves. They're not common catches, but when you do find one, they're absolute dynamite on the end of your line. Their acrobatic jumps and unpredictable fight pattern make them a prize catch, and they're excellent table fare too. Summer months offer the best opportunities when they're most active in our area waters.
Eastern Galveston Bay offers some of the most consistent inshore fishing along the upper Texas coast, and this private charter format gives you the best shot at making the most of your time on the water. With personalized attention from an experienced local captain and access to productive waters that many visiting anglers never see, you're set up for success from the moment you step aboard. The calm conditions and variety of target species make this trip perfect whether you're looking to introduce someone new to saltwater fishing or you're a seasoned angler wanting to explore new water. Remember that deposits are non-refundable, so plan accordingly, but with the quality of fishing these waters offer, you'll likely be planning your next trip before this one's over.
Meet your fishing platform for the day – a well-equipped 25' Haynie that's built for serious angling in Galveston Bay's productive waters. This boat handles the shallow inshore zones with ease, getting you to those prime fishing spots where the action happens. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're working structure or stalking redfish in skinny water, while the GPS and fish finder help locate schools and mark productive areas. With room for up to 5 anglers, there's plenty of deck space to work your lines without getting tangled up with your fishing buddies. The Haynie's shallow draft design means you can access those back-bay honey holes that bigger boats can't reach, giving you shots at speckled trout, redfish, and flounder in their favorite haunts. Whether you're casting topwater plugs at sunrise or working soft plastics along the grass lines, this rig puts you in position to make the most of your 5-hour charter on the Texas coast.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of eastern Galveston Bay, ranging from school-sized 5-pounders up to massive 40+ pound bulls. These powerful fish cruise shallow oyster reefs, muddy flats, and deeper channel edges year-round, but spring brings the best action when they school up to spawn. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater - a unique croaking sound they make during mating season. What guests love about drum fishing is the raw power these fish pack. Even smaller ones will test your drag, and the big ones can straighten hooks if you're not ready. The meat quality is excellent on fish under 15 pounds - firm, white, and mild-flavored. Here's the key: use fresh blue crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom. Drum have crushing jaws designed for shellfish, so they can't resist a good crab offering. Keep your drag loose initially - they'll make powerful runs that can snap lines if you're locked down tight.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishery, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spots near the tail. Most range from 18-28 inches, but we catch plenty of slot fish and the occasional bull over 35 inches. These fish love shallow water - often so skinny their backs show above the surface. Look for them around oyster reefs, grass flats, and marsh edges in 1-4 feet of water. They're active year-round, but fall offers some of the best sight-fishing opportunities. What makes reds special is their combination of power and beauty, plus they're fantastic table fare with firm, mild meat. They'll eat almost anything, from live shrimp to topwater plugs. The real thrill comes from watching them crash a surface lure in skinny water. Here's my local trick: when you spot a red tailing in the shallows, cast well past them and work your bait back slowly. These fish spook easily, so patience pays off big time.
Salmo TruttaSea Trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are one of the most popular targets in our bay system. These spotted beauties typically run 14-20 inches, with occasional trophies hitting 24+ inches and 5-6 pounds. You'll find them over grass flats, around shell reefs, and near drop-offs in 2-10 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months and at dawn or dusk when they feed aggressively on shrimp and small baitfish. Guests love specks because they're scrappy fighters with acrobatic jumps, plus they're absolutely delicious - mild, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. These fish have soft mouths, so light drag and steady pressure are key. My go-to technique is drifting grass flats with live shrimp under a popping cork, keeping about 18 inches between the cork and hook. When that cork disappears, don't jerk hard - just lift the rod smoothly and let the fish hook itself.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are unique flatfish that camouflage perfectly on sandy and muddy bottoms throughout eastern Galveston Bay. Most run 15-18 inches, but we regularly see keeper-sized fish up to 25 inches. They're ambush predators that bury themselves in the substrate, so you'll find them in 2-8 feet of water around grass beds, channel edges, and drop-offs. Fall and winter are prime time when they're staging for their offshore spawning run. What makes them special is their excellent table fare - firm, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. These fish are also a blast for kids since they fight differently than other species, staying down and bulldogging. Pro tip: when drift fishing, use light jigheads with live shrimp or finger mullet, and fish it slow right on the bottom. Once you feel that telltale tap, give them a few seconds before setting the hook.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of the most unique fish in our area - they look like floating debris until you get close. These chunky, round-bodied fish average 2-5 pounds but can reach 15+ pounds. You'll spot them floating near the surface around weed lines, channel markers, and floating debris in 10-30 feet of water. Summer through early fall is prime time, especially July and August when they're most active. What guests love about tripletail is their incredible table quality - the meat rivals red snapper or grouper. They're also surprisingly acrobatic for such a stocky fish, often jumping when hooked. The trick with tripletail is sight-casting - once you spot one, approach quietly and cast well away from the fish, then work your bait toward them. Live shrimp or small crabs work best. Here's the key: these fish have razor-sharp gill plates, so avoid grabbing them there. Instead, lip them like a bass or use a net to boat them safely.
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