I bought an old 14ft boat last summer and was wondering where I can fish around Clear Lake & Texas City area.

We always fish freshwater lakes in the Dallas area so I have reservations about putting it in saltwater and going out even in protected areas around Galveston Bay. What areas are safe for a small boat with a 10HP Johnson? Its a 1957 Crestliner V-Hull with a 1954 Johnson 10HP and trolling motor.

My buddy lives in Clear Lake and we'd like take the boat out and catch some fish this Saturday or Sunday if the weather cooperates. Problem is that I'm clueless about saltwater fishing. I don't know where the boat ramps are or what areas are safe for a small boat. Should I put the boat in on Clear Lake or are there better areas.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Jeff

Jeff, you could fish Moses Lake in Texas City. There's some decent fishing in there and it's like a lake. A small boat would do fine. Another spot that I enjoy fishing is Offats Bayou down in Galveston. You can put your boat in at the ramp on 61st street. Then make a run across the bayou to a spot off the shore from the Moody Gardens. The blue hole is right over there. And, There's a couple of channel markers right there. I enjoy fishing around those. There's a hump just off of the far marker from the shore, and that point nearest Moody Gardens. I've caught lots of sand trout, and specs over there. Also, long reef is just north of that and is between the main channel and the shore. Between long reef and the shore is a shallower channel that will hold fish too.

There is another small body of water that I like to fish right there. It's called lake Madeline. The channel leading to it is right next to Moody Gardens. As you face the docks at Moody Gardens from the water the channel will be to the left. Follow it past the apartments and under the bridge all the way back into the lake. I've caught some good fish back there too. All those area's are fine for small boats, even in the wind.

I haven't fished those spots in offats since right before the hurricane. So, if you go be carefull. There could be debris in some of those area's.

I forgot to mention that there are some decent fishing in Dickinson Bayou too. YOu can put in at the ramp right on Hwy 3 where it crosses the bayou. If you go east from the ramp you head towards the bay. If you head west you head toward I45. I've caught specs, flounder, redfish, largemouth bass, and catfish in the same day in that bayou.

Check out the area behind Galveston State Park...You could launch at Pirate Cove and you should be protected from most everything but a North wind.

Haven't been down that way in years, but when I lived in Houston we used to take my brothers little fifteen foot bass boat and fish Dollar Bay behind the Texas City Dike. Very well protected little bay and almost always caught a nice mess of specks.

I suppose flushing the motor out with fresh water and really cleaning the boat and trailer would be a good idea as well, right?

If you have a tubular trailer ( non galvanized)...dont even think about it. It'll rust out from the inside in 2 years. A painted "C channel will work, but you'll need to spend a LOT of time washing it down thoroughly. Of course, flush the engine for a while....long enough for the thermostats to open up. I let mine run for 15-20 min with the ears on it.

Scratch that. I went down to Galveston this morning for a fishing trip and the ramp on 61st is roped off and shut down due to Ike. But, on a positive note, the Yacht Basin ramp is open. It costs 10 dollars to launch.