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I will be fishing in Galveston Bay next week and have been reading about saltwater fishing in the gulf. I see mention of mud and muck bottoms, and was wondering how deep the muck is and if there is a possibilty of getting stuck, as I will be fishing alone?
Thanks,
Adam
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vox clamantis in deserto
Galveston Bay is huge, so it depends on where you're going to fish. Not a particularly helpful answer, but some spots are worse than others. I'm assuming you're going to be wade fishing? If it's any comfort, I've never been in mud so deep I couldn't get out - you shouldn't have a problem.
Generally speaking, bayous and guts up around marshy areas tend to be the muddiest. Areas closer to open water tend to have more hard sand and/or shell.
Reply here or PM me if you'd like and I can point you to some spots you might try.
JBB
Helicopsyche, I would use the simple rule, when it becomes muckey stop,turn around and head back the way you entered. Enjopy your trip and catch some for me while I snow blow and shovel GRRRR.
Philip
i stayed close to shore and didn't wade past my thighs and that was only when the tide was coming up and i was heading back to the car. for me, the worst mud was along the shore near the grass. not deep, but slippery as snot with my felt sandals.
johnb, i went out last week and had no luck -- not even a strike. this was the 8 Mile Rd/Sweetwater Lake inlet area. is there anywhere better you recommend? i'd like a red, but at this point, i'm up for anything that'll take a fly. i have thursday and friday to stalk some fish so i might camp and start early friday if need be.
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take him fishing
Thanks to all.
JohnB
I would love some advice on where to go. I tried to send you an email but your e-mail doens't show up in your profile. You could e-mail me if you would like. My email is in my profile. I only have one day to try for something in the salt (Jan 26) so I will take any advice you have to offer.
Thanks,
Adam
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vox clamantis in deserto
One of the most important things to remember is to slide your feet. That improves your chances greatly for not stepping on a sting ray if they have 'em in Texas. Stepping down on one of those critters can provide a painful and quite dangerous wound. Sliding your feet will cause the ray to scurry off. A ray has an anticoagulant coating on its barb and some are quite allergic to the poisons. A good pair of flats boots are a must, or an old pair of tennis shoes if there are no oysters (they won't protect your ankles).
[This message has been edited by Flats Dude (edited 19 January 2005).]
I am no expert by any means!!!!! But I think Galveston Bay may have some bad spots, but not like the gulf coast areas nearer the mouth of the Mississippi. I think it becomes more dangerous as you move toward Louisiana and Mississippi. Stay in the sand and away from grassy and marshy areas.
I'm a novice fisherman, but Gulf Coast (Louisiana) native.
PerfectLoop, I can't recall the weather last week, was that at the beginning of our current "cold" snap? Right behind fronts is tough, need a few warming days with sun on the water to get the fish active and back on the flats. Temps are rebounding right now, so the upcoming several days may start looking up. Sportsman's is a good spot, easy access. As you are standing at the end of the road, there is a large-ish grass island right in front of you about 100 yds. out. Behind that (on the left of the island - not the bay side) there is a deep gut that usually holds fish. Reds can also get back there in the grass. On the bay side, several hundred feet out, there is a reef made up of oyster shells (I believe it's a part of Confederate Reef). You can work this structure over and pick up trout. Other spots to consider are Galveston Island State Park, Indian Beach/Jumbile Cove, Sea Isle, and the back side (bay side) of San Luis Pass. If you do fish the Pass, be very, very careful as the current there can be strong. This creates some deep guts that can have you over your head quickly.
Adam, Sportsman's - the spot I described above - may be a good bet for you. It is easy to get to, and can be easily waded. It is muddy, but not too bad. You'll need waders and some wading boots, water's chilly. I'll email you directions.
Flats Dude, we have rays - tons of them. Yes, the stingray shuffle is the approach of choice. I've tried the leg armor, not sure if you've seen that sort of thing over your way. It would work, but it is a royal pain in the a** in terms of keeping your flyline clear. Way too many buckles, etc. to get tangled on.
JB
i know where that turnoff is. i'll check it out tomorrow or friday. is the water really that cold right now? last week, similar temps and i was wading in shorts. i guess i'll throw on a jacket and pants to at least block the wind from chilling my legs. thanks!
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take him fishing
Water temp at Galveston Pier 21 right now is 53 deg. Too chilly for me w/o waders.
Thanks, everyone for the help, and the warning about rays. I never would have thought about them.
Adam
i'm about to leave for the coast from west loop at I-10. if you get a chance, pick up Wade and Kayak Fishing Galveston by Ray Crawford. it'll tell you where some spots are and how to get to them. no real fishing reports, but it's still very useful. it also has a chapter on wading safety. good stuff.
well, i'm 0 for 2, skunked again. i need to regroup and figure out what i'm doing wrong here. in an ocean, there are fish and i seem not to be finding the fish.
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take him fishing
I am interested in knowing what brand of inexpensive wading shoes you guys would recommend???
don't get felt-soled. i've had a heck of a time with sliding across the mud like i'm on ice. the combination of the Orvis sandals (which i bought for river fishing earlier this past summer) and neoprene socks is very workable, but those soles are killer on me. i've been eyeballing some Delta Boots lately. 'puncture-resistent' soles and neprene booties.
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take him fishing
If you want something cheap, I would recommend the canvas hodgman lace ups at academy. They look like something your grandfather might have worn when he was a kid, but they support your ankles, have a tough bottom, and are less than $40.
There are lots of good expensive boots out there, my favorite are the Patagonia Marlwalkers. They just redesigned them, so you might be able to get a good deal on the old ones.
On the mud, yeah its nasty, but can be very productive. The gooey mud is often caused by decaying plant matter, which feeds vey small stuff, which feeds bigger stuff, which feeds what we fish for. One of my best spots has mud that's at least knee deep. Yeah, the wading sucks, but that slough absolutely fills up with reds at high tide. I know there are fish in Lake Como in the cold months. Here's a link: [url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/pom/200403.htm:c550a]http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/pom/200403.htm[/url:c550a]
Yes, the Hodgeman (or similar) boots at Academy work great. The Marlwalkers are Cadillac - I just blew out my first pair that I've had for five years or so, and promptly ordered another pair. They are pretty damn good boots. In either case, you might want to get some neoprene gravel guards to keep shell, etc. from getting into your boots. In the summertime, you can wear neoprene socks and fold the top over the boot to accomplish the same thing.
Re: mud, it's where you want to be looking this time of year as it warms more quickly on sunny days.
I have found another reason to wear the gravel guards with my Marlwalkers besides the shells and grit. After wading and then climbing back in the boat we immediately got into fish. Let me tell you that nothing will tick you off more than losing a fish while clearing your line and it gets caught in your laces. The gravel guards have taken care of this problem.