Going to be at Galveston state park for a week. Have very little experience with saltwater, definetly can not afford guided trip. So any advice would be appreciated. Also I saw there was a few small freshwater ponds in the state park. Are they worth messing trying? I appreciate any info.

You can fish the small ponds, or the bay towards the back of the park. I would just wade in the bay a little bit or fish off the shore at the other two places and treat them as you would the saltwater. In the bay a few weeks ago, I just had a Carolina rig with about a half oz. weight and used a number 6 treble hook and had some luck. Same thing on the pier you can get the double drop rig, throw a couple number 6 treble hooks on and then use probably a 3 or 4 oz. spider weight and cast out. Have fun, I will be there Friday fishing off the pier mostly and in the bay some.