Private 4 Hour Fishing In Galveston Bay
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore fishing adventure in Galveston Bay watersTarget redfish, speckled trout, and flounder with expert captainPrivate charter accommodates up to four guests maximum
Get ready to hit some of the most productive inshore waters Texas has to offer with Warrior Wave Charters' top-rated 4-hour fishing adventure. Starting from Texas City Dike, you'll spend your day working the flats, structure, and channels of Galveston Bay – waters that have been delivering consistent action for generations of anglers. This isn't just another fishing trip; it's your chance to target some seriously quality fish with a captain who knows every productive spot, grass line, and drop-off in the bay. Whether you're bringing the family for their first taste of saltwater fishing or you're a weekend warrior looking to put some fillets in the cooler, this 4-hour window gives you plenty of time to work different areas and techniques.
Your day kicks off from the Texas City Dike, where you'll meet your captain and get the lowdown on current conditions, tides, and where the fish have been biting. Galveston Bay is a massive estuary system, and your guide knows how to read the water – from the shallow grass flats where reds cruise in packs to the deeper channels where trout stack up during temperature changes. You'll cover a mix of structure fishing around the jetties, working the bay's famous reefs, and maybe some sight fishing if conditions line up right. The beauty of a 4-hour trip is the flexibility – if one spot isn't producing, you've got time to make moves and find active fish. Your captain comes equipped with quality tackle, fresh bait, and the local knowledge that separates a good day from a great day. With a maximum of 4 anglers, everyone gets plenty of room to fish and personalized instruction when needed.
Galveston Bay fishing is all about versatility, and your captain will have you rigged up for whatever the conditions demand. You'll likely start with live shrimp under popping corks – a customer favorite technique that works year-round for trout and redfish. When the bite gets tough, switching to soft plastics on jig heads lets you cover water and work different depths until you find where fish are holding. Around structure like the jetties, expect to throw some cut bait on Carolina rigs for black drum and sheepshead – these fish love to hang tight to pilings and rocks where they can ambush crabs and smaller baitfish. Your guide will have medium-action spinning rods spooled with 15-20 pound braid, perfect for the bay's mix of finesse fishing and having enough backbone when a bull red decides to make a run. The boat's equipped with a good fishfinder, so you'll spend time working specific depth changes and structure rather than just blind casting. When conditions allow, some shallow water sight fishing for tailing reds is hard to beat – nothing gets your heart pumping like watching a 28-inch redfish crush a topwater plug in 2 feet of clear water.
Black drum are the bay's heavyweight champions, and Galveston Bay holds some serious quality fish. These bottom-huggers love structure and can be found year-round around the jetties, reefs, and any hard bottom areas. What makes them special is their size – while you'll catch plenty in the 5-10 pound range, the bay regularly produces drum pushing 20-30 pounds that'll test your drag and your patience. They're notorious for their powerful runs and stubborn fights, often heading straight for the nearest piling or rock pile. Spring and fall are prime time when they school up in large numbers, and there's nothing like feeling that distinctive thump-thump-thump of a big drum picking up your crab bait. Sheepshead are the bay's most finicky biters, earning them the nickname "convict fish" for both their black and white stripes and their ability to steal bait without getting hooked. These fish are absolutely delicious and provide some of the most technical fishing you'll find inshore – they require sharp hooks, light leaders, and lightning-fast hooksets. The best sheepshead action happens around structure during cooler months, and a good day can produce limits of these tasty panfish that fry up better than almost anything else in the bay.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are probably the most popular target species for good reason. These spotted beauties are aggressive feeders that hit both live bait and artificials with authority. Galveston Bay's grass flats and drop-offs hold incredible numbers of keeper trout, especially during spring and fall when they're feeding heavily before spawning season. What makes trout fishing so addictive is their willingness to hit topwater lures – there's no better way to start your morning than watching a 3-pound trout blow up on a She Dog in shallow water. They're also excellent table fare and relatively easy to clean, making them a customer favorite for families looking to take dinner home. Redfish are the ultimate inshore game fish, combining the fight of a much larger fish with the intelligence to keep you guessing. Galveston Bay's reds are famous for their copper-bronze coloration and aggressive feeding behavior. These fish are built for power – broad shoulders and thick bodies that can strip drag off your reel in seconds. They're also incredibly adaptable, feeding in everything from 6 inches of water on the flats to 15 feet around channel edges. The bay holds both smaller "slot" reds that make excellent eating and oversized "bull" reds that are pure adrenaline on light tackle. Summer months often provide sight fishing opportunities where you can watch these fish cruise the shallows in small schools.
This world-class inshore fishing experience gives you access to some of Texas's most productive waters with a captain who's dedicated to putting you on fish. Four hours is the sweet spot for sampling different techniques and areas without wearing out first-time anglers, while still giving experienced fishermen enough time to work productive water thoroughly. The Texas
This 2016 20-foot Seahunt center console is built for serious bay fishing around Galveston. With a reliable 150HP Yamaha pushing you at 30 knots, you'll reach prime redfish and speckled trout spots quickly while staying comfortable in choppy waters. The boat handles four anglers with plenty of casting room, and the GPS keeps you on productive fishing grounds while the fish finder shows what's swimming below. Perfect for working the jetties, grass flats, and drop-offs where flounder hide. The center console design gives everyone easy access to both sides for landing fish, and there's enough deck space to move around when the bite gets hot.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the big boys of Galveston Bay, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters hitting 90+ pounds. These powerful fish love shallow muddy flats and oyster beds around the bay, using their crushing jaws to demolish crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them much easier to target. They're fantastic fighters that'll test your drag, and the smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with mild, flaky meat. Here's a local trick: use fresh blue crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom near oyster structure - the crab scent drives them crazy and other bait stealers usually leave it alone.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing, typically ranging 20-35 inches with that signature black spot and copper-red coloring. These bruisers love super shallow water from 1-4 feet deep around grass flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges where they cruise looking for crabs and shrimp. They're year-round residents but fall and winter months are phenomenal when they school up. Reds are absolute bulldogs that'll peel drag and never give up, plus they're fantastic eating with mild, sweet meat. Pro tip: look for "tailing" reds with their backs out of the water feeding in skinny flats - cast your spoon or soft plastic ahead of them and work it slowly past their nose.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are a staple in Galveston Bay, typically running 14-24 inches and weighing 1-5 pounds. These silver beauties with black spots love grass flats and shallow waters, especially at night when they're most active. They're year-round residents but really turn on during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. Trout are scrappy fighters and make excellent eating with tender, white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. The key to consistent trout fishing here is working topwater plugs and soft plastics over grass beds early morning or late evening - they can't resist a well-presented shrimp imitation worked slowly through their feeding zones.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of the bay with their distinctive black and white stripes, typically running 1-8 pounds though 20-pounders show up occasionally. These crafty fish hang tight to any structure - docks, pilings, jetties - feeding on barnacles and small crabs with their human-like teeth. Early spring through April is peak season when they spawn around structures. They're notorious bait thieves and excellent table fare with sweet, white meat that rivals snapper. My go-to tip: get your bait as close to the pilings as possible and set the hook hard the instant you feel them nibbling - they're masters at stealing bait without getting hooked.
Houston, TX