Guided Beachfront and Bay Fishing Expeditions

Fishing Galveston Bay:

From Trout to Redfish

by Guy Focke, Saltwater Adventures Fishing Guide

Fishing Galveston Bay for Trout and Redfish

There is no better way to say this: Speckled Trout and Redfish are fun to catch. A Redfish can give an angler a fight for up to 25 minutes. Saltwater Adventures has caught many large trout on expeditions that have become "Wall Hangers" for our clients.

When to Fish

I fish for Speckled Trout and Redfish in the Summer, Fall and Spring. In the early spring and fall you can find large numbers of Speckled Trout feeding under flocks of seagulls. The trout are chasing the bait fish under the surface, which push the bait to the top of the water. The seagulls then pick the bait off the surface. This is one method of locating Speckled Trout in Galveston Bay. (Redfish are also found under the birds and near the underwater shell pads as well.)

Speckled Trout can be a finicky fish to catch a times. At Saltwater Adventures we like to throw bass assassins at these fish. Typically we use a 1/4 to 1/2 ounce lead head with a shock leader tied to a swivel. The swivel is to prevent the bass assassins from spinning.

Fishing The Slicks

The other method I like to fish for Speckled Trout and Redfish is known as "Fishing The Slicks". If you have ever been in the Galveston Bay Complex and have seen what looks like slick spots on the water, these can be feeding fish. Fishing the slicks can produce large number of Speckled Trout or Redfish.
At times the fish under the slicks can average from 18 inches to 24 inches. You need to key on small slicks that have just formed on the surface of the water. This can mean that the fish just started to feed.

What Are These Slicks?

What produces the slick? The slick is produced by feeding fish. The fish are feeding below the surface on small shrimp or shad. As these fish are eaten, some of the bait fish goes through the Trout's or Redfish's gills and causes a slick on the surface of the water.

People also refer to this as trout regurgitating its food. The trout stuff themselves with shrimp or shad and then starting spitting the bait fish out.
Another way to locate a slick is by smell. If you should smell what we call a watermelon scent, chances are feeding fish are near by.

Speckled Trout and Redfish fishing make for a great day on the water. When Fishing the Bay, Remember Conservation

Remember the minimum length to keep trout is 15 inches and 10 fish per day, and redfish is 20 inches to 28 inches and 3 per day. Please be conscientious to Texas Conservation Laws and obey them at all times. We want to catch Speckled Trout and Redfish for a long time.