Kinda new around here. Been lookin in from time to time but just registered.
I have a peculiar problem. I have never fished the gulf coast. Done a lot of fishing on the Pacific coast but none as yet here.
I am bound to a wheelchair so access is a major problem. I would like to fish from a jetty or pier. I have no idea of the layout around Galveston, nor what species are available from the shore.
I hope to go down there in late September or October. I have been checking out the internet but most of it is for charter boats and wheelchairs don�t do to well on them (mine weighs 230 lbs.) so it�s the beach or nothing, I guess.
I am hoping, between now and then, for some tips on where to go, what to bring, what gear and bait to use. From the looks of things on the forum there are a lot of things to fish for and more than a few of you that know how to catch them.
Thanks in advance for any tips you might like to share.

TSE

I admire your drive to fish in spite of your handicap.

I don't fish Galveston and am not familiar with it. You might check with the Chamber of Commerce and they can probably point in the right direction. Many piers have their own websites with lots of info, including handicap accessibility.

I know Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas, as well as portions of the jetties and Charlies Pasture (also in Port A) would be accessible to wheelchairs.

Good luck and keep us informed on your successes.

Thanks Land Pirate, I will check with the Chamber tomorrow morning. When I was a kid all I needed was some water, a rock to stand on and a 6 foot string with a hook. Now I almost have to have a support group, but I will manage. Actually, I am amazed that I can still remember all those things I did when I was young.
Thanks again,
TSE

You could be like all the hip-hop/rap artist and get your own entourage. Just a suggestion. LOL.

the paved surface of the long quintanna jettie in freeport comes to mind for your situation.

i'd say start with the major fishing piers (like 61st) but I dont know how many are still operating post-hurricane.

you might check out Sea Wolf park (Pelican Island) - its a state park where they have a couple of older battleships for touring. There is a pier there (nominal fee). Were this Nov, that would be the place to be for flounder but you can usually find something that will hit. It's also less crowded than the major surf-side piers.

San Luis pass has (or had) a very good pay pier on the south side. This place can be VERY good when the bite is on.

Wish I still lived there - I'd hook you up. Hit em hard, man...

Thanks 2112, that place looks very promising. At least on the map. I should be able to get into some deeper water, if I can get to the end or near it.
TSE

GKR, thanks. From what I have read on the net most of the fishing piers were destroyed in the hurricane. I'll just have to ask around when I get down there. It used to be, in the old days LOL, that you could go into the local tackle/bait shops and get pretty good information on where to go and what to use. Nowdays that doesn't necessarily hold true. Around here, if you are new or unknown, they don't tell you very much.
But at this point everything is worth looking into.
TSE

Land Pirate, you don't know how funny the entourage bit really is. It will look like a small mob when I go fishi9ng. I will have my caregiver, her son, daughter in law and grand daughter to follow along. It will be quite a sight toodling along the jetty.
TSE

TSE you can also use this website http://www.2coolfishing.com/
because its mainly for saltwater fisherman. TFF mainly is for the avid freshwater fisherman. You probably get more info from 2cool than this site.

Thanks Kris. I just looked it up and it seems to be a great site. I'll check it out and get back to you.
TSE

Sad state of affairs Kris. No matter how I filled out the application it was rejected. They even went so far as to reject you as my referer. Maybe they don't want any more members. I dunno.
Thanks
TSE

Try the Packery Jetties in Corpus:

http://static.open.salon.com/files/dsc_39261245719372.jpg

http://nickawaymedia.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=13f03d8896a464ecc94df3e8e05f00ff

I go fishing in Galveston and Freeport pretty much every weekend so let me see what I can add to the others' suggestions.

Seawolf Park is pretty much the ONLY fishing pier in Galveston now. It costs $6/person plus a $6 parking fee. I really DO NOT recommend Seawolf unless you go very early or very late. All of the times I have gone it is so crowded that you spend more time uncrossing lines and getting frustrated than fishing. *pout* It gets so crowded that you're pretty much shoulder to shoulder with your neighboring fisherman. Also, the crowd that visits Seawolf can be very rude. They don't follow rules and get mad if you just asked them to follow the rules. I've had so many bad experiences there, I stopped going. There are some pros with Seawolf though. Their pier is lighted and you can also fish on the rocks during the day and if you have generator/lights you can fish on the channel side as well. I've seen great catches on the channel side at Seawolf. We've caught several LARGE gafftops and 3-4ft sharks from the pier.

I now frequent Surfside jetty and Quintana jetty every weekend. For your special case, I'd suggest Surfside. The jetty is better paved and wider for easier access for wheelchairs. The parking is also better because there is an actual parking lot for vehicles while Quintana you're parking on sand. Last weekend was my first taste with fighting a King! It was such a blast! I love Surfside/Quintana because it's so much more relaxing. You're out in the open and it's just you, the water, and the fish! =D

Thanks Prissy, I'm not much for crowds so I'll probably not go to seaside. I haven't found anything on Surfside yet but still looking. That sounds like it might be good for me. Parking in the sand is OK but my wheelchair will just get bogged down so Quintana is out. It's a bit of a drive because we have to stay in Galveston, but is still do-able. I made some inquiries at the Galveston Chamber of Commerce but haven't heard back yet.
So far I have got some really good tips on where I might go. Now I'll have to work on what tackle to bring or buy.