we have fished slp many times in our boat. We have always wondered about going past the bridge into the gulf side. Has anybody here done that? The water looks really shallow on google earth. I was just curious as how risky it is...

anyone?

Been @ the bridge myself many times but that water in the gulf always looked rough. Too choppy and I'd be afraid of getting pushed in to the beach near the pier, but I'm sure it could be done. Anchored up a few times on the gulf side of the bridge and wore the reds out.

I used to run offshore thru the pass. Two ways to go out. Hug the beach on the Galveston side till you pass the sand bar on the right or cut inbetween the the sand bars straight out. You can tell the cut by the lack of white caps. Depending on the size of your rig. If it's an outgoing tide with a incoming wind the waves will stack up rather rough.

SLP is the only place I fish anymore. The channel changes from year to year, but last year you gould get to the surf from either side of the pass. The sand bar was in the middle.

Will have to give it a shot. My boat runs very shallow, 8" or so. I have always wondered about to gulf side

Not something I would recommend you do man. One of those things that is much easier to explain if you know what your doing, but much harder to understand if you dont. Might seem dumb, wait till someone who knows how can show you. Even then I treat the pass with alot of respect.

San Luis Pass is a maneater. Not to be overly dramatic, but a loss of power after going into the surf through the bridge pilings is more likely than not to result in a disaster.
It would be one thing if the "channel" remained a constant. The current propensity of the tide to be lower than normal is another factor. First time out, even with the shallow-running hull, I would follow someone who has done it recently. This is just one more thing that makes saltwater fishing such a different, and dangerous place, compared to the typical freshwater impoundment. For my money, I'd launch out of the Galveston Yacht Basin, go out the jetties and turn right (south). By water, in calm seas, it a much simpler (and safer) propostition. Tight lines ... Boz

Thanks for the info guys. I have fished slp many times in my boat, just never on the gulf side. I know that the currents are crazy there. I have also launched out of the yacht club many times. We love to fish the pelican island bridge late summer for bull reds. I don't know if I am willing to try the gulf side of the pass yet. I did see a guy in a 15-16 ft bassboat head out there last time I was there...I thought he was crazy....

I been out about 20ft passed the bridge on the gulf side, on a strong out going tide, it sure was a good day on trouts.

You don't want to go out there unless it's calm. There's nothing to it. Just ease out between the breakers. You can raise your motor and get past the sand.

There's nothing fun about running in those banks, my in law has done it once and that's after so many times of going out there.that was on a 17' scout.i don't want even think how it would be on a 20' cobia.