I have been going to Florida every year with my 24ft Champion Bay Boat. I live in Dallas and would like to start fishing the Texas coast..Florida is just to far. I would appreciate any information about great areas in Texas for Bay fishing. Thanks Jim B

I have a house in Seadrift, fishing there is very good, but it's not simple.

Here's your real problem, the further you head south, the better the bay fishing gets, but the shallower the bays get too, I do dearly love a champ bay hull, but your lack of shallow water ability will limit you on where you can go.

Nothing in the state matches Arroyo City/South Padre, but you'd be limited to 20% of the bay. Which most of the time is still plenty, you just won't be drifting the sand site fishing reds.

I've taken a bunch of Florida guys out, all of them like TX better once they got their clue ticket punched.

Galveston Bay Complex is probably the best estuary on the coast for numbers of solid trout and reds and flounder. It's the only bay in Texas that is still hanging on to a 10 trout limit and if you learn to catch reds there (mud and shell, marsh, and grass flats) then it's pretty serious in that category as well.

That said there are other good areas, it's really about picking one and just sticking with it and learning it.

My favorites are Arroyo, Port Mansfield, Baffin, East Matagorda, and Galveston Complex. (not in any order).

Honorable mentions go to POC, West Matty, Seadrift, and Rockport.

Also depends on how you like to fish. Obviously the shallow grass flats lend themselves better to sight fishing, and Galveston and some of the deeper bays lend them selves to fishing deeper structure and reading sign / reading the water etc.

How did you like to fish in Fl ?

I'd put Sabine up against any for numbers of the big 3. The fall flounder run is second to none. The jetties are outstanding as well. It's a great place for a bigger bay boat. You can go pretty much everywhere

pat your estimation of south tex fishing is right on the mark- but lets not let too darn many people know!!!

Galveston Bay Complex is the most diverse. probably the heaviestly fished also.

From Dallas, you are only four or five hours away from a ton of the TX coast. Heck, I'd start in Sabine, and work your way down South. You'll not get too far without having a ton of fun and catching a lot of fish.

You won't find snook or tarpon, unless you start in the South and work your way back up.
richg

Galveston bay is good if you don't mind crowds. Millions of folks within an hour drive and they all seam to want to fish the same spot. Tons of things for the family to do if they are not fishermen. Good fishing and lots of deep water. Best to fish during the week. Has great flounder run, but will be standing arm to arm with others. Good winter fishing areas in west bay at a time of year when crowds aren't always so bad. Large enough bay system that you can generally find good remote areas for a wade. Lots of good tidal movement that turns fish on. Tons of Butt Heads to deal with.
Port Mansfield is my personal favorite. Very remote. Fantastic trout, flounder and red fishing. Winter is best time for trout as well. Sumer is rough due to extreme heat. East cut and north cut can be extremely productive. A lot of skinny water and great wading spots. for those that don't fish, Mansfield is hell. Nothing to do but sleep and fish. services are very limited. Last trip there and the only gas station / convenience store had shut down. Reward is great numbers and quality. Usually catch 2 to 3 times the numbers of fish as in the Houston area.

how'd I forget to mention Sabine...LOL. Sabine is awesome...

Everybody has their own good idea, but I like Port O'connor if you're willing to go that far. In general, I've seen bigger average reds in the Galveston complex than anywhere else on the coast (so far) - certainly not the cleanest waterbody though. The cleanest IMO? Lower Laguna Madre at South Padre Island.

Everyone has their favorite spots / areas and as you try some of them you will find certain things about each I'm sure. I started in the Surfside / Freeport area about 38 years ago and fished it religiously for many years. San Luis Pass has also been a favorite as there are many places you can fish with a deeper hull and wade when you like. Just be careful of the tidal movement if wading in the main pass area. Life jacket should be considered!

I am in the process of slowly migrating to the Rockport area and have begun to fish there a bit. I also have a deeper draft boat than most in the area but still have found some great fishing. Made the trip to the land cut once so far and if you get the chance you should have a great time. Definitely a better choice for a weekday trip if at all possible.

As someone else stated you will find good fishing wherever you choose to try eventually. Best of luck and have fun.