One thing that has been on my list for a while is to take my boat to the coast and do some inshore fishing (im in DFW). I have a Mako Pro Skiff 17. The vast majority of my fishing & boating experience is fresh water lakes. I've taken a few guided fishing trips in Florida and South Padre, but I've never launched my own boat in saltwater. Looking for advice and input on the following for a late Oct or early November trip:

Looking for a good place to go. Obviously fishing wise would be great, but also something that is a fairly easy 1st time SW boating experience. Anything South of Corpus is probably more than I want to drive with the family. I'd also prefer to be at least a little outside of Galveston. Redfish, trout, flounder, I don't care that much I'm just looking to fish and take the family out. I have striper & bass gear, abu 5000's, gulp shrimp and popping corks.

Places to launch and general boating advice. Places to go, places to avoid. What about a radio, useful or not?

Saltwater boat/trailer cleaning & flushing. Ive ready to put a water sprinkler under the trailer after loading the boat and move it around. Flushing the motor with fresh water after ever trip. Any other helpful tips? If I find a place I can leave the boat docked overnight for 3 nights is that much more detrimental than pulling the boat out of the water every day and hosing it off and flushing the motor? Anything to coat/spray before I even launch the boat the 1st time? After the trip is over?

Any other good advice is welcome.

Thanks.

Get a hook setter map and head to Rockport. Spend your time in Estes. That or Arroyo city gives you the best chance to just wander up on decent amount of fish.

Rockport has several ramps within a few miles of one another. You can try a different area every day if you want to. Centrally located bait stands if you want live bait. Some rentals, condos and hotels have overnight boat dock. Many boat washes around with rinse-out hook-up for motor. Redfish are starting up good in St. Charles Bay. Easy to follow the shoreline and look for little "creeks" into the marshes. The mouth of many creeks hold Reds, especially if you see the right grass or a "pothole". Google Earth can be a big help here. Just keep hitting the creek mounts along the far shore and you will land Reds. PM me or call if you need a boat tour when you get there or want company to point out spots.

Thanks Pat. We're looking at Rockport places. Do you mean a Hook-n-line map? It looks like you aren't really supposed to run your outboard across Estes if I'm understanding right. But, i guess the trolling motor is good?

BAR, I appreciate the advice, and thats a really nice offer. Still working on the details of the trip, but I'll likely send you a PM at some point.

Peep out the areas around here. Tx City Dike., Bolivar Penn., Jetties, East and West Bay, Dollar Bay, Galveston Ship Channel area, etc.

www.texas-city-tx.org/page/rec.dike