I've been a freshwater guy my whole life till just recently when I purchased a 22' Ranger Bay boat and since I'm pretty close to the coast I was wondering If I could get some advise on places, bait shops, boat launches, etc.

I live about 70 miles from Galveston, about 90 miles from Freeport and about 200 miles from Port A.

Thanks!!

PS: Is their a website that would list the boat launches along the coast??

I googled (boat launches along the gulf coast) and hit (feeling lucky) and this showed up...
http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsDMRfishinglineProgram052708.htm

So might try googleing ((county-Galveston-etc...) boat launches)
(Galveston county boat launches)...Just feeling lucky again...
http://www.glo.state.tx.us/coastal/access/pdf/03a-Houston-Galveston.pdf

Thanks!!! I guess I just need to get down there and do it...lol. I gotta make sure the GPS is accurate with depth contours, etc and find the ramps close by!!

Thanks!!

Cool interactive map pages, thought I'd share...
https://gisweb1.glo.state.tx.us/website/gisweb.cfm

Beachwatch Interactive Map Tool:
It doesn't tell you names of boat ramps, but at least where they are.

Texas General Land Office Interactive Land/Lease Mapping System
Shows:
This interactive tool displays Original Texas Land Survey (OTLS) boundaries, state-owned lands, upland and coastal leases, oil/gas wells, and the latest coastal imagery.

Academy sells Nautical Maps for $10.00 = Good insurance.

THey have all the boat ramps as well.

When I got started I used the hot spots maps and spent alot of time on the water to find out which spots were effective and actually found a few of my own. It takes alot of time on the water and patience. BE CAREFUL if you are in unfamiliar bay waters becase you never know how deep it is. Make sure you have a good GPS unit and current mapping software. I would help you out with a few areas but I fish from Matagorda to Port Aransas and have never been up to te Freeport / Galveston area. Good luck and be safe.

You might make a call or two to Port A right now....in view of the recent hurricane. Of course the Galveston area is OUT. Too much debris floating in the bays. Coast Guard has it all shut down anyway, I'm sure.

I dont know how Port A fared, since I saw a pic of Bob Hall pier that showed some damage. Call Deep Sea Headquarters in Port A and talk to them about the conditions down there right now. They ought to know something.

BTW, Welcome to TFF and congrats on your new bay boat !