East Galveston Bay Fishing Report

Sep 27, 2023
FAIR. 87 degrees. Scattered catches of speckled trout over shell and working birds. best bite of live shrimp and soft plastics. Grass shorelines holding some nice redfish. Drains and Bayous seeing improved flounder catches. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperature 85 degrees, water clarity still very good. Fishing continues to improve in East Galveston Bay, as we venture into fall and hopefully cooler temperatures in the next couple of weeks. Off the shore reefs have resulted in good catches of trout and redfish, when the wind allows us to effectively target the areas of the reefs that are holding fish. The redfish bite continued to improve this week resulting in solid slots, as well as some large bulls stretching our line on most early morning outings. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks with 12-18 inch leaders have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and the Deadly Dudley, Slammin Sammy Chartreuse Tail Bay Chovey has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads fished with & without a popping cork at various depths. Until next time. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Stingaree’s and Siever’s Cut are holding fish against the shorelines coming out into the bay using popping cork with live shrimp, 12-16 inches on the leader. Hannah’s Reef, Potluck Reef, and Fat Pat’s all holding fish early. Keep a watch on the birds and the restless bait. The big Poppa Pure Pearl DSL working early. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Sep 20, 2023
FAIR. 86 degrees. Birds are beginning to work over schools of speckled trout. Anglers are finding better numbers of speckled trout, redfish, and flounder fishing near marsh drains. Still some fish over shell reefs in open water. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperature 84 degrees, water clarity very good. Fishing continues to improve in East Galveston Bay with shorter days, cooler weather, and some good tide movement. Off the shore reefs have worked well again resulting in good catches of trout and redfish, with a few black drum, when you are able to find active bait in the area. We have found a few birds working as well and the trout have been actively eating shrimp underneath them. The redfish bite continued to improve this week when we were targeting them, resulting in solid slots, as well as some large bulls stretching our line on most outings. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks with 12-18 inch leaders have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and the Deadly Dudley, Slammin Sammy Chartreuse Tail Bay Chovey has worked well with ¼ oz jig heads fished with & without a popping cork at various depths. Until next time. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. The cuts that come through the Intracoastal waterway, Siever’s and Stingarees, are holding fish against the shorelines coming into the bay, using live shrimp with a popping cork on a 12-16 inch leader. Hanna’s Reef, Potluck Reef, Fat Pat’s all holding fish early. Keep a watch on the birds and the restless bait. The big Poppa Pure Pearl DSL working earlyReport provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Sep 13, 2023
FAIR. 85-88 degrees. Flounder and redfish catches improving around bayous and drains on the outgoing tide. Scattered trout under working birds near the back of the bay. Best bite has been on live shrimp or soft plastics. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperature 85 degrees, water clarity remains good in East Bay. After dodging the recent storms fishing continues to improve in East Galveston Bay. Reefs off the shore are producing good catches of trout and redfish, and a few black drum when you find active bait in the area. The redfish bite has improved as well this week resulting in solid slots, as well as some large bulls stretching the line. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks with 12 -18 inch leaders have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and the Deadly Dudley, Slammin Sammy Chartreuse Tail Bay Chovey has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads fished with or without a popping cork at various depths. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. The cuts that come through the Intracoastal waterway, Siever’s and Stingarees, are holding fish against the shorelines coming into the bay, using live shrimp with a popping cork on a 12-16 inch leader. Hanna’s Reef, Potluck Reef, Fat Pat’s all holding fish early. Keep a watch on the birds and the restless bait. The big Poppa Pure Pearl DSL working earlyReport provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Sep 6, 2023
FAIR. 85 degrees. Anglers are finding speckled trout on the reefs in the back of the bay. Scattered action on trout under working birds. Flounder catches are picking up along the south shoreline bayous and drains. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperatures 85 degrees, water clarity good. The morning winds have given anglers a break the last few days, starting out from the Northeast at less than 8 mph providing the opportunity to fish pretty much anywhere increasing catching rates of trout and redfish. Off the shore reefs have worked best for us, resulting in good catches when you find active bait in the area. Shorelines near deep water are producing catches of redfish. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks with an 18 inch leader have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and the Deadly Dudley, Slammin Sammy Chartreuse Tail Bay Chovey has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads fished without a popping cork at various depths. Please remember to drink plenty of water and utilize plenty of sunscreen, as we are still in the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water, and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned, as after 10 A.M., you really begin to feel the effects. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. The cuts that come through the Intracoastal waterway, Siever’s and Stingarees, are holding fish against the shorelines coming into the bay, using live shrimp with a popping cork on a 12-16 inch leader. Hanna’s Reef, Potluck Reef, Fat Pat’s all holding fish early. Keep a watch on the birds and the restless bait. The big Poppa Pure Pearl DSL working earlyReport provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Aug 30, 2023
FAIR. 90 degrees. Scattered catches of speckled trout over mid bay reefs on soft plastics and live shrimp. The back of the bay is fair for speckled trout over shell. Waders finding a few fish early along the shorelines. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperatures 89 degrees, water clarity good in East Bay. The break in the wind has allowed anglers to fish anywhere they choose, improving catches of redfish and trout. Offshore reefs have produced non-stop action when you find active bait in the area. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks with an 18 inch leader producing the most bites for our anglers,and Deadly Dudley, Slammin Sammy Chartreuse Tail has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads fished without a popping cork. We are eagerly anticipating cooler temperatures as we head into the Fall months and look forward to the fishing only getting better over the next few months. Please remember to drink plenty of water and utilize plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water, and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned, as after 10am,you really begin to feel the effects. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Little Hanna’s Still holding speckled trout early and an occasional flounder, or redfish. The drains are holding lots of fish early in the day. Yates Bayou drain is holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Siever’s Cut holding redfish near grass lines. Look for birds and slicks in Hanna’s, Deep Reef, Moody’s Reefs. Gas wells A1 to Eagle point are holding some trout biting live croaker. Goat Island is holding redfish, with the occasional speckled trout, under a popping cork with shrimp or Carolina rigged live mullet finger mullet. Look for birds, slicks, and restless bait. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Aug 23, 2023
FAIR. 89 degrees. Scattered catches of speckled trout and redfish over open bay reefs when winds allow. Best bite on soft plastics and live shrimp, and of course live croakers. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Water is stirred up again in a good portion of East Bay due to the west and southwest winds, the further east you venture the darker the water gets. Winds have been out of the west to southwest in the 8-10 mph range in the mornings, increasing to 12-18 mph as the day progresses, limiting off the shore reef tactics. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and Slammin Sammy Chartreuse Tail has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads fished with or without a popping cork. Catches of our targeted species of keeper trout are down this week compared to the last couple of weeks. Redfish are still feeding around grass lines and schooling and if you find them you can catch them pretty quickly. On live bait trips, a popping cork with live shrimp and mullet have been getting a good deal of action, fished on a 24 inch leader. Please remember to drink plenty of water and utilize plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water, and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned, as after 10 A.M, you really begin to feel the effects. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Little Hanna’s Still holding speckled trout early and an occasional flounder, or redfish. The drains are holding lots of fish early in the day. Yates Bayou drain is holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Siever’s Cut holding redfish near grass lines. Look for birds and slicks in Hanna’s, Deep Reef, Moody’s Reefs. Gas wells A1 to Eagle point are holding some trout biting live croaker. Goat Island is holding redfish, with the occasional speckled trout, under a popping cork with shrimp or Carolina rigged live mullet finger mullet. Look for birds, slicks, and restless bait. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Aug 16, 2023
FAIR. 89 degrees. Fish continues to be limited by west and southwest winds. Shorelines and reefs adjacent to the shorelines are producing scattered catches of speckled trout. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 89 degrees, water clarity is murky due to the west, southwest winds and the further east you venture the clarity decreases. Winds have limited off the shore reef tactics once again this week. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks have still been producing the most bites for anglers. Early morning trips using Purple Reign continue to work well with ¼ ounce jig heads fished in the upper portion of the water column. Please remember to drink plenty of water and utilize plenty of sunscreen, as it just plain hot out, and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned, as after 10am, you really begin to feel the effects if you are not used to it. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Little Hanna’s Still holding speckled trout early and an occasional flounder, or redfish. The drains are holding lots of fish early in the day. Yates Bayou drain is holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Siever’s Cut holding redfish near grass lines. Look for birds and slicks in Hanna’s, Deep Reef, Moody’s Reefs. Gas wells A1 to Eagle point are holding some trout biting live croaker. Goat Island is holding redfish, with the occasional speckled trout, under a popping cork with shrimp or Carolina rigged live mullet finger mullet. Look for birds, slicks, and restless bait. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Aug 9, 2023
FAIR. 89 degrees. The Bolivar pocket is the best chance for speckled trout. East Galveston bay is off-colored due to increased southwest wind.Bite is slow for speckled trout over reefs. Best catches coming from those wading early. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 88 degrees, water stirred up again in East Bay due to the West, Southwest winds, as the further East you venture the darker the water gets. Winds have been out of the West to Southwest in the 8-10 mph range in the mornings, increasing to 12-20 mph as the day progresses, limiting our off the shore reef tactics. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and Purple Reign has worked well with ¼ oz jig heads. Catches of our targeted species of keeper Trout and Redfish are down this week compared to last week. Please remember to drink plenty of water and utilize plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water, and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned, as after 10 a.m., you really begin to feel the effects. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Little Hanna’s Still holding speckled trout early and an occasional flounder, or redfish. The drains are holding lots of fish early in the day. Yates Bayou drain is holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Siever’s Cut holding redfish near grass lines. Look for birds and slicks in Hanna’s, Deep Reef, Moody’s Reefs. Gas wells A1 to Eagle point are holding some trout biting live croaker. Goat Island is holding redfish, with the occasional speckled trout, under a popping cork with shrimp or Carolina rigged live mullet finger mullet. Look for birds, slicks, and restless bait. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Aug 2, 2023
FAIR. 89 degrees. Speckled trout catches have been better over shell reefs when the wind allows. Best bite on live natural baits and soft plastic lures. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 88 degrees, water looking great in East Bay, with the winds finally giving us a break. Winds have been out of the South in the 5 -7 mph in the mornings, which has allowed us to fish anywhere we choose. We have been starting out over shell beds, close to drains where we find bait pods. When we find no bait, we make a handful of casts and move on. As the day progresses we have ventured out to the reefs in the middle of the Bay, and fish till mid-morning. This has really increased our catching this week, including Trout, Redfish, Flounder, and Sand Trout. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and Blue Moon has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads, in the upper portion of the water column. We only found a few birds working this week, but the Fish are still chasing and feeding on shrimp, so if you can find them the action can be fast and furious. On our live bait trips, live croaker has worked well in helping us pull in some giant bull redfish. Please remember to drink plenty of water and bring plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water, and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned, as after 10am, you really begin to feel the effects. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Little Hanna’s Still holding speckled trout early and an occasional flounder, or redfish. The drains are holding lots of fish early in the day. Yates Bayou drain is holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Siever’s Cut holding redfish near grass lines. Look for birds and slicks in Hanna’s, Deep Reef, Moody’s Reefs. Gas wells A1 to Eagle point are holding some trout biting live croaker. Goat Island holding redfish, with the occasional speckled trout, under a popping cork with shrimp or Carolina rigged live mullet finger mullet. Look for birds, slicks, and restless bait. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jul 26, 2023
FAIR. 88 degrees. Speckled trout fishing remains on the slow side. Some big redfish schooling in the middle. Water conditions are fair. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 88 degrees, water clarity varies, as previous weeks, the further west you venture the clearer the water becomes. Winds have been out of the southwest and west all week in the 8-18 mph increasing as the day progresses. This limits reef fishing efforts. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and Blue Moon has worked well with 1/4 ounce jigheads, in the upper portion of the water column. Birds are still working in the bay, as fish are still feeding on shrimp, so if you can find them the action can be fast and furious but does not last very long and then they are gone. On our live bait trips, live croaker has worked well in helping us pull in some giant bull redfish. Please remember to drink plenty of water and bring plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water, and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned, as after 10am you really begin to feel the effects. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Little Hanna’s holding speckled trout, and an occasional flounder, or redfish, Yates Bayou drain still holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Siever’s Cut holding redfish near grass lines. Hanna’s, Deep Reef, Moody’s Reefs look for birds and slicks. Gas wells A1 to Eagle Point, holding some trout with live croaker. Goat Island holding Redfish under popping cork with shrimp or Carolina rigged live mullet finger mullet. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jul 19, 2023
FAIR. 88 degrees. Action over open bay reefs is slow. Those wading protected shorelines early, catching a few speckled trout and redfish. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 88 degrees and water clarity varies. As previous weeks, the further west you venture the clearer the water becomes. Winds have been out of the southwest all week in the 10-22 mph range, increasing as the day progresses. This has hampered reef fishing efforts, compared to last week. Catches of trout and bull redfish early in the day chasing bait, over shell, but once the sun rises the bite ends. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks have been the best bait, and Big Poppa Pearl has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads. Birds are still working in the bay, as fish are still feeding on shrimp, so if you can find them the action can be fast and furious, but short lived. Please remember to drink plenty of water and bring plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water, and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned, as after 10 a.m. you really begin to feel the effects. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Little Hanna’s holding speckled trout, and an occasional flounder, or redfish, Yates Bayou drain still holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Siever’s Cut holding redfish near grass lines. Hanna’s, Deep Reef, Moody’s Reefs look for birds and slicks. Gas wells A1 to Eagle Point, holding some trout with live croaker. Goat Island holding Redfish under popping cork with shrimp or Carolina rigged live mullet finger mullet. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jul 12, 2023
FAIR. 88 degrees. Southwest winds have hampered anglers' efforts over open bay reefs. Those wading protected areas are finding a few speckled trout and redfish. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperature is 87 degrees. Water clarity varies, west of Yates Bayou being the cleanest looking water. Winds have been out of the south most of the week in the 10-20 mph range, other than when storm clouds have rolled by. Speckled sea trout, sand trout, redfish and black drum are excellent over oyster reefs in 6-8 feet of water. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks are the ticket, or purple/chartreuse with ¼ ounce jig heads, with the majority of our fish being caught in the upper portion of the water column. On early mornings with good bait activity we have been able to locate trout around drains, but for the most part these areas fizzled out on us within the first hour or so. Birds are still working in the bay, as fish are still feeding on shrimp, so if you can find them the action is fast, but short lived in most cases. Our artificial trips have once again produced better fish and more numbers as well versus throwing live shrimp. Please remember to drink plenty of water and bring plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Little Hanna’s holding speckled trout, and an occasional flounder, or redfish, Yates Bayou drain still holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Siever’s Cut holding redfish near grass lines. Hanna’s, Deep Reef, Moody’s Reefs look for birds and slicks. Gas wells A1 to Eagle Point, holding some trout with live croaker. Goat Island holding Redfish under popping cork with shrimp or Carolina rigged live mullet finger mullet. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jul 5, 2023
FAIR. 88 degrees. Scattered catches of speckled trout being caught on open bay reefs with live shrimp, croakers, and soft plastic lures. Waders fishing early and late in the day picking up a few solid trout and some redfish. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 87 degrees, water clarity varies, west of Stingaree cove being the cleanest looking water. Winds have been out of the Southwest most of the week, switching more to the South on Saturday, in the 6-12 mph range. This week fishing over oyster reefs in 6-8 feet of water produced some excellent catching for our valued fishing clients, including speckled sea trout, sand trout, redfish and black drum. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks have still been the ticket for us, and white ice has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads, with most of the fish being caught in the upper portion of the water column. Birds are still working in the bay, as fish are feeding on shrimp, so if you can find them the action is fast, but short lived in most cases. This week our artificial trips have produced better fish and more numbers as well vs throwing live shrimp. Please remember to drink plenty of water and bring plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC.
Jun 28, 2023
FAIR. 88 degrees. Happy Fourth of July! Open bay water is off-colored due to southwest winds. Best catches of trout and reds, coming from protected shorelines and deep bayous on live shrimp and soft plastics. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 85 degrees, water clarity good in most places within East Galveston Bay. Surface water temps 86 degrees, water clarity varies depending upon what part of the bay you are in. Winds have been out of the Southwest most of the week, in the 12-25 mph range, making it difficult to fish the open water reefs on most days, and has muddied up the water in a number of areas. When the conditions allow, we have been catching solid trout and bull reds over reefs, making for some great fun. When the wind is up, we have been limited to fishing drains, grass lines, and protected shell beds. This week we have been throwing blue moon artificials, as well as shrimp imitation lures under popping corks, with both working well when we locate baitfish and shrimp in the area. Birds are still working in the bay, but this week they only produced small trout when we found them. Live shrimp has produced Reds and trout, on our live bait trips, but catching slot reds has been more difficult than previous weeks for us in East Bay. Please remember to drink plenty of water and bring plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou and Siever’s Cut are still holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Hanna’s Reef and Deep Reef are holding fair numbers of speckled trout early on shrimp under a popping cork or twitching artificial paddle tails. Look for birds, baitfish and slicks- watermelon smell in the air look down and you may find a slick. Deep Reef, Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jun 21, 2023
FAIR. 87 degrees. Open bay water is off-colored due to southwest winds. Best catches coming from protected shorelines, few speckled trout and redfish on soft plastic and live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 85 degrees, water clarity good in most places within East Galveston Bay. Winds have been out of the Southwest most of the week, in the 12-25 mph range, making it difficult to fish the open water reefs on most days. When the conditions allow, we have been catching solid trout and bull reds over reefs, making for some great fun. When the wind is up, we have been limited to fishing drains, grass lines, and protected shell beds. This week we have been throwing White Ice artificials, as well as shrimp imitation lures under popping corks, with both working well when we locate bait fish and shrimp in the area. Birds are still working in the bay, but this week they only produced small trout and plenty of gafftop when we found them. Please remember to drink plenty of water and bring plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou and Siever’s Cut are still holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Hanna’s Reef and Deep Reef are holding fair numbers of speckled trout early on shrimp under a popping cork or twitching artificial paddle tails. Look for birds, baitfish and slicks- watermelon smell in the air look down and you may find a slick. Deep Reef, Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jun 14, 2023
FAIR. 85 degrees. Scattered catches of trout taken on live shrimp and soft plastics over the open bay reefs. Winds may limit this action the coming week. Fair catches of redfish and trout on the shorelines and up in the deeper bayous. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperature is 85 degrees, water clarity good in most places for East Galveston Bay. There is a good number of baitfish, and shrimp and the predators have been close by. Grass lines up in the marsh and in and around drains have produced redfish, flounder, and black drum utilizing live shrimp, under a popping cork, as well as paddle tails and ¼ ounce jig heads. Purple with Chartreuse worked well for us this week. Open water reefs are producing, but the fish are hard to find, but once you find them you can really get into some good action if the timing and tides are right. This week the best catches were on artificial shrimp imitation lures under a popping cork and a 12 inch leader. This produced bull reds as well as a number of solid trout over the past week. Do not ignore the birds either as redfish and trout are mixed in with the Gafftops. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou and Siever’s Cut are still holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Hanna’s Reef and Deep Reef are holding fair numbers of speckled trout early on shrimp under a popping cork or twitching artificial paddle tails. Look for birds, baitfish and slicks- watermelon smell in the air look down and you may find a slick. Deep Reef, Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jun 7, 2023
FAIR. 84 degrees. Decent numbers of speckled trout being caught over open bay reefs, such as Hanna's and Deep Reefs, using live shrimp and soft plastics. Birds working in the eastern end of the bay. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 84 degrees, water clarity very good in most places within East Galveston Bay. Good number of baitfish and shrimp over shell and grass lines, as well as open water reefs and the predators have been close by. We have been utilizing live shrimp, under a popping cork, as well as paddle tails and ¼ ounce jig heads on our artificial only charters. However, this week our success rates increased on shrimp imitation lures under popping corks and proved more successful than our live bait only trips for catching the targeted species. Blue Moon/Chartreuse worked well for us again this week, as well as white ice. We are still catching good numbers of Trout, Reds, and Black Drum up and close to the shoreline, as well as open water reefs. This week the winds have been kind to us allowing us to fish pretty much anywhere on the bay we chose too. There has been good tides and tide movement this week, and the afternoon falling tides have produced best for us on our chartered trips. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou drain and Siever’s Cut are holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Hanna’s is great early on the same, or a twitching artificial. Look for birds, moving bait, and small slicks. Slicks have a fishy watermelon smell, so be sure to let your nose help guide you to fish. Deep Reef, Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Look for schools of redfish under birds. Pearl, Chartreuse, big papa pure Pearl, and Strawberry are great colors. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
May 31, 2023
FAIR. 83 degrees. Decent numbers of speckled trout being caught over open bay reefs, such as Hanna’s and Deep Reefs, using live shrimp and soft plastics. Birds working in the eastern end of the bay. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperatures are 84 degrees and the water clarity is good in most places. There continues to be a large amount of freshwater in the Bay system, however trout can be caught without running too far from the launch spot in Stingaree Canal. Winds have been less than 15 mph for the most part, this creates the opportunity to fish most anywhere increasing success rates over the past week. There is a good number of baitfish or shrimp over shell and grass lines attracting the predator fish. Trout, redfish and black drum are biting live shrimp under a popping cork, as well as purple with chartreuse paddle tails and 1 ⁄ 4 ounce jig heads. Fish close to the shoreline, with larger catches coming off open water reefs. Tide movement as well as major feeding times are producing the best catches. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou drain and Siever’s Cut are holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Hanna’s is great early on the same, or a twitching artificial. Look for birds, moving bait, and small slicks. Slicks have a fishy watermelon smell, so be sure to let your nose help guide you to fish. Deep Reef, Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Look for schools of redfish under birds. Pearl, Chartreuse, big papa pure Pearl, and Strawberry are great colors. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
May 24, 2023
FAIR. 82 degrees. Drift fishing open bay reefs has been good for speckled trout on soft plastics and live shrimp under popping corks. Wading early morning and late evening is best for speckled trout and the occasional redfish. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperatures are 80 degrees and the water clarity is decent in most places for East Galveston Bay but as you progress further east the water clarity decreases. The large amount of freshwater that entered the bay system due to all the rains up north of us did not seem to hamper the overall bite, so we were able to fish our regular spots in East Bay. Winds have been westerly over the past few days limiting the areas we have been able to target effectively. Good number of baitfish, and shrimp can be found so the predators have been close by. Grass lines up in the marsh and in and around drains have produced redfish, flounder, and black drum utilizing live shrimp, under a popping cork, as well as purple and chartreuse paddle tails and ¼ ounce jigheads. When the winds allow open water reefs produce some trout action and this bite should only improve as we progress into the summertime pattern. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou drain and Siever’s Cut still holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Hanna’s Reef is great early in the morning for redfish on same or twitching artificials. Look for moving bait and birds and slicks, small slicks could be just getting started. Deep Reef, Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Look for schools of redfish under birds. Pearl, Chartreuse, big papa pure Pearl, and Strawberry are great colors. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC. Anticipate heavy traffic this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. This week is National Safe Boating Week, for more information check out Texas Parks and Wildlife online and search for “Boating Safety Tips.” Happy Memorial Day!
May 17, 2023
FAIR. 82 degrees. Waders fairing well on topwater and soft plastic lures, for speckled trout up to six pounds. Open bay reefs should be good on live shrimp under popping corks and soft plastics, as long as the winds allow. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperatures are 76 degrees, and the water clarity is fantastic in most places for East Galveston Bay. Marsh Point and further east the water clarity decreases. Winds have been south/southeast at 14-27 mph, for the most part with higher gusts, limiting the areas we have been able to target effectively. There has been good tide movement and good numbers of baitfish with predator fish close by. Black drum, redfish and trout action are good on live shrimp under a popping cork with an 18 inch leader or artificial lures in 3-4 feet of water where fish are feeding over shell. Some topwater action for speckled trout, but the best bite was on ¼ ounce jig head with a paddle tail. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou and Siever’s Cut are holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Hanna’s is great early on the same or twitching artificial. Look for birds and slicks, and for bait moving. Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Redfish look for schools and birds using pearl, chartreuse, big papa pure [earl, and strawberry lures. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
May 10, 2023
FAIR. 77 degrees. Winds have limited access to open bay reefs. Shorelines have been best for speckled trout along with a few redfish. Live shrimp and soft plastics working equally well. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Water clarity is good in most places, thanks to the recent wind direction. Winds have been south to southeast at 10-20 mph, for the most part with higher gusts, over the past week. Early mornings started off with low incoming tides, and we found trout, black drum and redfish, and a few flounder over shell bottoms, where we could find decent baitfish activity, and the bite was better when we had good current movement. Our best fish this week came off tails with 1/8 ounce heads fished under a popping cork, with a 24-28 inch leader. Most bites were after popping the cork and the bites were aggressive and the fish were active. Good numbers were caught on tails either bouncing off the shell bottoms or cranking faster in the upper portion of the water column. Topwaters will land a few catches, but other tactics are outperforming. Same tactics will produce on late afternoon trips, and the outgoing tides, the fish were just positioned a little differently over the shell and further offshore. Colors that performed the best were Blue Moon, Purple Reign, and White Ice, and the standard size obtained more bites the last few days. With water temperatures on the rise, and the days getting longer, fishing will continue to get better, so grab a friend or a loved one and get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou and Siever’s Cut are holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Hanna’s is great early on the same or twitching artificial. Look for birds and slicks, and for bait moving. Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith point to Moody National Wildlife. Redfish look for schools and birds using pearl, chartreuse, big papa pure [earl, and strawberry lures. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
May 3, 2023
FAIR. 73 degrees. Speckled trout showing up on Hanna's Reef, Pepper's Reef, and Deep Reef. Waders are catching the better speckled trout. A few birds are working the open waters. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. The water clarity is 6-12 inches in most areas of the bay. Winds have been across the board from north to northwest, south to southeast, and south to southwest, depending upon the day. With speeds anywhere from 10 to 20 mph, with higher gusts. Early in the week we started out fishing flats outside the mouths and pinch points of the marsh and found good numbers of trout and were able to pick off a couple of redfish as well. The most successful fishing has been in the afternoon when tide levels are high. Target areas where you can see a good amount of nervous bait activity. After the recent front the trout and flounder moved into the deeper channels and into the lower part of the water column. The best bite has been on artificial lures, with ¼ oz jig heads and the color blue moon. The topwater bite was not as good as we experienced last week, and the artificial under a popping cork yielded a few trout, but more gafftop, which was not the targeted species. Mid-bay reefs only produced a couple bites, and due to the wind, did not venture out to any others. Now that May is here the fishing will only continue to get better for us in the Galveston Bay system. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou and Siever’s Cut are holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Hanna’s is great early on the same or twitching artificial. Look for birds and slicks, and for bait moving. Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith point to Moody National Wildlife. Redfish look for schools and birds using pearl, chartreuse, big papa pure [earl, and strawberry lures. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Apr 26, 2023
FAIR. 70 degrees. All species are slow due to high winds. Waders are catching a few trout and redfish along protected shorelines and in the bayous. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Fishing is improving after a front move through last weekend. The strong winds and rain muddied the bay creating tougher fishing conditions. Several good speckled trout, flounder, redfish, and black drum are in the marshes where the water is best. The bite has been more consistent in the evening on outgoing tides as the weather stabilizes. Most catches came on flats in and close to drains, as well as flooded grass on the higher tides for redfish prowling for an easy meal. Best artificial bait was 1/4 ounce jig heads with the purple reign color triggering some great action with either a slow retrieve or bouncing off the bottom. Live bait anglers utilized shrimp under a popping cork with a 24 inch leader. The topwater Bite has been decent, but not on fire like last week. This is a good time to get out on the water to beat the crowds. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou (Drain) holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Then Hanna’s is great early on same bait or twitching artificials. Look for birds and slicks, and moving bait. Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Redfish look for schools and birds. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Apr 19, 2023
GOOD. 71 degrees. Wade angers are catching good troutf up to 7 pounds on hard and soft plastic lures. Fish are beginning to show up on the shell reefs, when wind allows, best on soft plastics and live shrimp under popping corks. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. After a windy week with a few days of north winds, and 20 mph gusts out of the east to southeast the water clarity is improving. Artificial and live bait will produce catches depending upon the day and time. The bite has been anywhere from finicky to jerk the rod out of your hand, so it makes for some great times on East Galveston Bay. The best bite has been in the late afternoon, when there is lots of water and a strong incoming tide. Fish are biting ¼ ounce jig heads in Blue Moon, as well as live shrimp under a popping cork on flats and in or around shell on the wind protected shorelines. Topwater bite has been on fire resulting in bigger fish and some great memory making action. We photographed and released all of our solid trout over 20 inches, as we desperately need to practice conservation to improve the population of larger trout. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou (Drain) holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Then Hanna’s is great early on same bait or twitching artificials. Look for birds and slicks, and moving bait. Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Redfish look for schools and birds. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Apr 12, 2023
GOOD. 70 degrees. Nagging strong to moderate northeast winds have limited the open bay reef fishing. Those fishing along the protected shorelines and back marshes catching scattered redfish and speckled trout. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. This week we fished a number of areas in the marsh, as well as a quite a few drains on a stout incoming tide. Water temperatures in East Galveston Bay were in the low 70s, and we had winds that were for the most part, 10-20 mph out of the North to North East. Water clarity is good up around Stingaree Marina to Elm Grove and once you get past Big Pasture Bayou and East, the water gets darker. The redfish caught were up along the grass lines and around pinch points of drains. These areas also produced Black Drum, and Flounder, with the majority of fish coming on Live Shrimp, under a popping cork with an 18 -30” leader. We also caught several fish in the same areas on ¼ ounce jig heads and artificial tails, with White Ice achieving the most consistent bites. Most of Speckled Trout came on artificials bounced off shell beds on protected shorelines, and in channel bends, depending upon the time of day we were fishing, and the top water bite is beginning to heat up in the early mornings. Mosquitos were not as bad this week, but the Gnats were brutal when we were fishing areas up in the marsh. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou (Drain) holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Then Hanna’s is great early on same bait or twitching artificials. Look for birds and slicks, and moving bait. Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Redfish look for schools and birds. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Apr 5, 2023
GOOD. 73 degrees. Winds have dampened the effort in the East Bay. Waders catching a few redfish on soft plastics. Open bay reefs are too rough to fish. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Yates Bayou (Drain) holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Then Hanna’s is great early on same bait or twitching artificials. Look for birds and Slicks, small slicks could be just getting started. Look for bait moving. Watermelon smell in the air don’t pass on them. Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Redfish look for schools and birds. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Mar 29, 2023
GOOD. 70 degrees. Bay reefs should begin to produce speckled trout for those anglers drift fishing. Waders catching scattered trout up to 6 pounds on a variety of mullet imitation plugs. A few redfish in the mix at times. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Yates Bayou (Drain) holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Then Hanna’s is great early on same bait or twitching artificials. Look for birds and Slicks, small slicks could be just getting started. Look for bait moving. Watermelon smell in the air don’t pass on them. Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Redfish look for schools and birds. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Mar 22, 2023
GOOD. 62 degrees. Open bay reefs are too rough to fish due to winds. Late week forecast calls for winds to diminish. Wading the shorelines is the best option for scattered catches of speckled trout and redfish. Soft plastics drawing the most strikes. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter.
Mar 15, 2023
GOOD. 68 degrees. Wader still catching the majority of the speckled trout, with soft plastic lures drawing the most strikes. Open bay reefs when fishable producing sheepshead, black drum, and scattered speckled trout. Live shrimp is the best bait, followed by soft plastics. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Yates Slough’s holding redfish on grass lines close to Siever Cut fish 12-18 inches under cork with shrimp or burner shad black or dark green. Deep Reef to Fat Pat is holding fish under birds on twitch baits and soft plastic. The East Bay reefs are starting to see more action with speckled trout early using artificial twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Mar 8, 2023
GOOD. 69 degrees. Open bay reefs fair for catches of black drum and sheepshead on live shrimp. Waders catching a mix of speckled trout and redfish on soft plastics and mullet imitation plugs. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Yates Slough’s holding redfish on grass lines close to Siever Cut fish 12-18 inches under cork with shrimp or burner shad black or dark green. Deep Reef to Fat Pat is holding fish under birds on twitch baits and soft plastic. The East Bay reefs are starting to see more action with speckled trout early using artificial twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Mar 1, 2023
GOOD. 68 degrees. Waders are catching good numbers of speckled trout and scattered redfish, mostly on soft plastics. Open water reefs still slow for trout, but anglers are catching a few sheepshead and black drum on shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Yates Slough’s holding redfish on grass lines close to Siever Cut fish 12-18 inches under cork with shrimp or burner shad black or dark green. Deep Reef to Fat Pat is holding fish under birds on twitch baits and soft plastic. The East Bay reefs are starting to see more action with speckled trout early using artificial twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Feb 22, 2023
GOOD. 61 degrees. Wading is the key to catching speckled trout, using soft plastics or slow sinking mullet imitation baits. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Yates Slough’s holding redfish on grass lines close to Siever Cut fish 12-18 inches under cork with shrimp or burner shad black or dark green. Deep Reef to Fat Pat is holding fish under birds on twitch baits and soft plastic. The East Bay reefs are starting to see more action with speckled trout early using artificial twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Feb 15, 2023
GOOD. 60 degrees. Waders Are beginning to catch numbers of speckled trout on soft plastics. better size fish on mullet imitation plugs. Back of the bay is fresh. Catches of sheepshead and black drum over shell reefs on live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Yates Slough’s holding redfish on grass lines close to Siever Cut fish 12-18 inches under cork with shrimp or burner shad black or dark green. Deep Reef to Fat Pat is holding fish under birds on twitch baits and soft plastic. The East Bay reefs are starting to see more action with speckled trout early using artificial twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Feb 8, 2023
GOOD. 58 degrees. Waders are still catching fair numbers of speckled trout. Larger fish are being caught on mullet imitation baits. Black drum and sheepshead fair on reefs for those using live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Yates Slough’s holding redfish on grass lines close to Siever Cut fish 12-18 inches under cork with shrimp or burner shad black or dark green. Deep Reef to Fat Pat is holding fish under birds on twitch baits and soft plastic. The East Bay reefs are starting to see more action with speckled trout early using artificial twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Feb 1, 2023
GOOD. 60 degrees. Waders catching a few good trout fish up to 6 pounds. A lot of small trout littered along the shorelines. Best baits are mullet imitation plugs and soft plastic lures. A few drum and sheepshead over open bay reefs. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Smith Point holding redfish and trout look for the birds. Gas wells in East Bay holding black drum on the bottom with shrimp. Deep Reef to Fat Pat is holding fish under birds on twitch baits and soft plastic. Hanna’s Reef has some fish on deeper sides of reefs. The East Bay reefs are starting to see action with speckled trout early on artificials, twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jan 25, 2023
GOOD. 59 degrees. Waders having the best luck with scattered catches of trout on mullet imitation plugs and soft plastics. Open bay reefs are slow. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Smith Pointe holding redfish and trout look for the birds. Gas wells in East Bay holding black drum on the bottom with shrimp. The East Bay reefs are starting to see action with speckled trouts early in the day biting on artificials, twitch bait, or split tails. Deep Reef to Fat Pat is holding fish under birds on twitch baits and soft plastic. Hanna’s has some fish on deeper sides of reefs. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jan 18, 2023
GOOD. 63 degrees. Waders catching scattered speckled trout and redfish on artificial lures. Anglers fishing the open bay reefs catching a few sand trout and black drum. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. The East Bay reefs are starting to see speckled trout action early with twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jan 11, 2023
GOOD. 62 degrees. Speckled trout are fair for anglers fishing near bayou drains on live shrimp and soft plastics. Open bay reefs holding a few redfish and black drum, best on live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. The East Bay reefs are starting to see speckled trout action early with twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Jan 4, 2023
GOOD. 56 degrees. Speckled trout and scattered redfish being caught in deep bayous, and by waders wading the mouths of the bayous. Best on slow sinking mullet type lures and soft plastics. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. They say West Galveston Bay is the winter bay, but East Galveston Bay is winning the name right now. Greens Lake, Carancahua Lake, Fat Pat, Pigpen and Deep Reef holding redfish on popping cork with shrimp or gulp in the grass. Few trout and sheepshead in the causeways, but not enough to mention. Trout are holding in the deeper water sloughs between Jamaica Beach and St Luis pass and waders are finding success in Sportsman Road. Fishing will pick up as the weather warms, but until then fish in water at least nine feet deep. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.

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