HI! I'm new to fishing and would love to know where i can fish onland around Galveston /clear lake area. Also, what size rods/reel, hooks, weights i would need. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

"Hi fishingrl" to the TFF. I don't know much about fishin the coast, but there's alot of good folks here and I'm sure some will answer your questions. Anyway just wanted to welcome you.

Start out with a decent baitcaster or spinning reel and a good 6 1/2 ft. rod. A med/heavy action rod will give you flexibility in the use of bait and lures. One stiff enough to handle and work popping corks.

I'm not at all familiar with the Galveston area or the upper coast, so I can't help you there.

If your new to fishing all together, I would start off either in the surf or bay fishing with dead shrimp. Any old rod and reel will do. You may not always get quality fish, but you will catch more. Fish on the bottom with a dual hook leader or under a cork. That should get you started.

A good way to learn is to go out with a guide. They will show you how to present diferent baits.

I have a 18 ft bay boat, all kinds of rigs, and baits. There are still days where we get some dead shrimp,lawn chairs and just go toss a line to see whats biteing. My favorite is wadeing in the gulf at sun rise, find the bait fish and toss a shrimp on a cork into the bait fish. Gulp shrinp also work nice when fishing in schooling bait fish. Once you hit schooling redfish and catch one on every cast for fifteen to twenty minetues, you'll be hooked.

The main thing is you cant catch a fish if your lines not in the water.

wow thanks. but i just went to the store to buy hooks and weights and there are so many varieties. any advice on just the essentials and which size? (i'm trying to catch some reds) also, what brand rod/reel do ya'll recommend?

You can fish at the Sylvan Park Pier in La Porte for some beginning experience because it's a nice place and the water is the calm bay type. I would start there before trekking out to somewhere like the surf or North Jetty on Galveston. The jetties there aren't exactly the widest and unless they've fixed it the north one has a huge gap it in where you have to get down in the water to cross. Surf fishing adds an element that you should worry about later.

Freeport/Surfside has a very nice jetty that's paved you could try too. I fish there a lot as it's the same distance from my place as Galveston.

As for gear here's my suggestion; go to Academy and get one of those ugly stick spinning rods and put a decent spinning reel on it. Baitcasters at this point in your endeavor will only frustrate you and they don't work well when casting into the wind. A lower end Shimano, Daiwa, or Penn reel will work just fine. Gulp Shrimp new penny color in 3 inch is a must, along with popping corks and medium size saltwater hooks (non-shiny ones).

I just bought my son one of those Ugly Stick combos at Academy. For basicly the cost of the stick, you also get a reel. Get the medium/heavy rod one and it should work for almost anything. As devildog says, those 3 inch penny Gulp shrimp under a weighted popping cork work well. I have seen them out fish live shrimp at times.