Hey everybody,
I'm new to bull red fishing in the Galveston area. How long does the run last so I can pull some out of the surf? Got my first one last week when the surf was extremely rough, went yesterday when it was flat, and nothing (maybe too chilly?). Any tips would be great!

Welcome to TFF, BD.

Tell us what you've tried so far. Baits, rigs, etc.

Basically just posted up with the surf rods about a half mile from the SLP bridge (Galveston beach side). I've been using a homemade carolina rig that I modified a little bit and threw dead mullet, live finger mullet, and dead squid. I was really suprised I didn't pick up a bull or at least a shark yesterday. Is it getting too cold for them in the surf?

You were at beach access 61, near the bait shop? In that spot...unless it's changed in the 2 yrs since I've been there....on a low tide, the fish are usually in the 2nd gut, high tide....1st gut. ( as with most surf fishing) I see a lot of folks fish too far out while surf fishing. At that particular spot, I usually stand in shin deep water to cast.

You just hit them at the wrong place and time, it seems. The strikes can be very light and sometimes a bull will pick it up, feel the weight and drop it. This is the problem I run into when I have to use heavy weight. I cured most of it by getting a heavy surf rod with a very fast tip. I now watch the rod tip and have caught more that way, than by feel on big reds.

Next time, try the pass itself. But CAREFUL in there...the currents have killed people in SLP. I rarely go out past my knees there.

+1 on what OF said. I'd try the pass but like he said be careful, been quite a few people killed by the current there and I've had some friends pulled under. Try to fish with a friend there and where a PFD.

Yeah, I hear yall loud and clear. I know first hand the current/holes/guts can be wicked out there. I always wear a life jacket whenever I get into the water and toss a line (even if it's like a lake, bay or surf). My Dad taught me well, and I hope everyone passes it on. (Oldfrog) I have one line out by the second sandbar, the second line is a lighter test, and I get it out in the second gut by the third sandbar (trying to mix it up, fishing sunrise til sunset). And thank you Oldfrog for all of your posts. I've been looking at this forum for a few months before I joined, and you've had some great posts. I'm perpindicular to the toll booth, Galveston side. big_country, sorry you've had friends pulled under.

We caught over 2 dozen yesterday about 400yds off the beach no weight large cut mullet and crab, might be getting too cold for the sharks caught a few good sized ones last month though.