Hello everyone, i recently moved to Houston last fall and now that the weather is warming up and i have a bit more free time im looking at spending more time in Galveston fishing on-shore and sand banks. I want to get all new gear and set ups for fishing saltwater and want to know everyone's recommendations on reels, rods, (or combos) line, bait , etc. Id like to have a strong step up that is at least good enough to pull in a black tip if hooked. Also what are some of the best spots and times to go? ive heard rollover pass and of course the piers but still would like to hear all the options. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

there are a ton of threads covering this that you can reference. word of caution if you fish the passes like Rollover and San Luis. the current(under tow) can be a real killer. do not wade fish these areas with out a PFD.

Ugly Stix are good rods to start with and are pretty cheap. Seawolf Park is a good spot that's a little bit pricey and often very crowded. Like mentioned above, San Luis Pass is good if you're interested in surf fishing. Just be careful out there and I wouldn't recommend wading. Also try Texas City Dike early in the mornings.

In response to your gear questions: http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...alt#Post7788073

Buy yourself an ABU Garcia 6000, 6000C, or 6500C3 and a 7 foot medium-heavy (MH) rod with a blank through trigger, and you can use it in the surf, flats, bay, and even offshore. It will catch everything from small whiting to Kingfish and Dolphin. That set up will also do a great job in fresh water for bass and catfish. Stay away from spin cast and spinning reels. They are for kids and tourists who squeal when they touch live bait.

And the edges of the sand drop offs are very steep in some areas. definitely where a life jacket in the pass.

You may want to visit the Texas City Dike. This is a 5 1/4 mile long stretch of roadway that jets out into Lower Galv. Bay. It's maintained by the City. It offers well kept boat ramps, small fishing piers on the North side, solar powered lighting in areas, Porta Cans, and a beach area. It's the home of famous Mosquito Island (a banana shaped oyster reef) on the far West End just as you go over the levee on left. Boyd's One Stop/Bait Camp and Grill and Lee's Bait Camp are at the base of the Levee prior to getting on the Dike. The Dike has a 25mph speed limit and is patrolled. From March 1st-Nov 1st, their is a charge of $5 a car load to get on the Dike...weekends and holidays only. The South side of the Dike is no place to swim due to ships entering and existing the Turning Basin where the refineries are located. Their is beach access.Beware of the Undertow that is created by other ship traffic. Wear PFD's please, especially for our children sake. The West side of Mosquito Island lies the Deep Hole...Waders Beware.
Their is a wide variety of fish to be caught...Trout,Redfish,Sheepshead,Flounder,Black Drum,Croaker,Jackfish,and the usual trash fish !! Night fishing under lights (w/ personal generator setup) is the norm. If you launch from any of the ramps, be sure to lock your vehicles and all valuables out of sight. At the base of the Dike, the City offers a Childrens Park w/ various rides,shelters, and BBQ pits (I think). Have Fun, Be Safe.
BTW..The City puts on a Fireworks Display for July 4th...it takes place on the Levee. It does get crowded