By John Schips
Primary Contributor for www.flannelfishermen.com
Whether you’re a local angler looking to mix things up, or a visiting angler with no idea where to start, this article is meant to provide you with some information about the best saltwater fishing in Texas. We’ll provide our top picks for the best spots as well some information about each.
Rollover Pass
Rollover Pass is a popular saltwater fishing spot, particularly for those residing in or near Gilchrist. Located on the Bolivar Peninsula, the pass has been around for about 60 years now, and has provided anglers with a unique opportunity to have better access to some great saltwater fishing.
One of the reasons Rollover Pass is a favorite among local anglers is that you don’t need a boat to enjoy the day. It’s an excellent spot for bank fishing, or you can throw on a pair of waders to access more specific areas. There’s lots of different species you can catch, including trout, reds, and croaker. It’s also well-known for flounder, with many people considering the best spot to fish for flounder in Texas, especially when they’re on the run in the Fall!
Fishing reports and tidal reports are available online, so you can make sure you know what to expect before heading out. The tidal reports will be particularly helpful if you’re looking to catch some trout, as wading is generally the most popular and effective method of landing a beautiful trout!
Sabine Lake
Sabine Lake is a large saltwater estuary, about 90,000 acres, and is located on the Texas-Louisiana border. While a lot of saltwater fishing spots in Texas are best fished when wading, many prefer to cast from a boat or kayak when fishing Sabine Lake.
Sabine Lake is particularly well known for holding tons of trout, both large and small, and in large numbers as well. Sabine Lake is big enough that you can explore lots of different areas over a few different trips. There are a few specific locations that local anglers will often start with, including Stewts Island, Lighthouse Cove, along the north revetment wall, as well as the jetties.
Stewts Island can be great if you can time it right so that you have an incoming tide at dawn. In these conditions, anglers have reported an influx of mullet followed by groups of large trout. The Lighthouse Cove area has been known to hold some trophies, and if you find yourself neat Sabine Lake in May, you can also have lots of success at the jetties.
Galveston Island
While Rollover Pass offers a unique setting to go fishing in Galveston, there are lots of other spots to fish in the area as well. Galveston Island has lots of variety, so you can hone your skills accordingly.
John Schips, Primary Contributor for www.flannelfishermen.com
If we look at the island itself, its beaches actually offer some of the best surf fishing year-round. With a beautiful setting, lots of amenities nearby, and lots of other fun activities, these beaches were voted by the Travel Channel to be in the Top 5 Best Gulf Coast Beaches in 2013. Moreover, the Galveston Island State Park is one of the better public access spots and does not require a fishing license; however, there usually is a small entrance fee of about $6. In addition to the popular gamefish, fishing the surf presents an opportunity to also land some catfish, shark, croaker, flounder, and king mackerel.
It’s hard to pick a bad spot to fish on Galveston Island, but nevertheless, many visiting anglers choose to get a lay of the land (or water) by tagging along with a charter. Fishing charters aren’t for everyone, but if you plan on doing a lot of fishing in the area, it could be a worthwhile investment just to receive some local advice and learn how varying conditions can affect the fishing.
Practical Considerations
If you’re more used to fishing freshwater locations, it is helpful to consider a couple things when it comes to saltwater fishing in Texas. First, if you’re fishing in the winter, plan for colder conditions than what the local weather report says. The cool breeze blowing across the water can make things feel a lot colder, especially if you’re wading.
Secondly, this is a no-brainer for many anglers, but still worth mentioning. The salt in an ocean environment is typically very corrosive and detrimental to normal fishing equipment, so if you don’t have your own it could be worth purchasing or borrowing some saltwater equipment ahead of time. Of course, not everyone has the budget for this. One of the cheaper items are saltwater fishing pliers (these can go a long way and are good for freshwater conditions, too), but other items like saltwater reels can be a bit more expensive, so may be worth borrowing to begin with.
Conclusion
There are many more good saltwater fishing spots in Texas, but the ones we listed above are arguably the most reliable and best places to start. There are lots of online resources pertaining to these locations, and if you find yourself in one of these areas, do not hesitate to check out a local bait shop and pick the brain of a local angler!
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[1-9-2017]
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