Does anyone know if there is any good shark fishing in or around Galveston?? If so, what are they being caught on, and what size are they? They dont have to be huge, we would just like to catch some! I would prefer not to have to get a guide.

Thanks, Brandon

Good Mornin' Brandon...My best guess would be any of the Gulf side fishing piers along the seawall: The Flagship, 61st Street, 90th Street, and any of the rock groins in between. The Galveston jetties would be good too...South jetty on the Galveston side, and North jetty on the Bolivar side. Look forward to catching Black-tips, Scalloped Hammerheads, Bull Shark (mean SOB!) If you go to Bolivar (North jetty), further down and beyond Rollover pass there a couple more big piers. Check with the locals in any case, they'll be an excellent source of info and technique.

Good luck...Catch something big!

Thanks Leonardo

But, everything you suggested, is what we tried and had no luck at!

Am I doing somthing wrong??

Brandon...I think the only thing you could do wrong would be to not go fishing!

Fishing for shark, bull reds, big drum, stingrays, and other denizens of the deep is all pretty much the same. It requires good, relatively heavy tackle...generally speaking, something in at least the 30#+ class...about a 3 to 5 oz. weight (a good surf sinker will do...with stainless tines; the copper ones break off easily)...about a 6/0 saltwater hook, with 2 to 3 feet of quite heavy stranded stainless leader...80# to 100# (as much for durability as anything else)and at least a 1/0 barrel swivel. I don't use snaps for this kind of rigging and I double crimp everything. I recommend a Palomar knot for the tie-up. Put the sinker above the swivel like a slider...use an anti-jamming bead between the swivel and the sinker. Just about any good firm cut bait works fine (contrary to popular belief, hardhead is an excellent choice)...a nice chunk of it. I always scale my bait where applicable and of course, leave the skin on. Before you handle any of the rigging/bait just before you start fishing be sure to wash your hands really good in salt water, and avoid contact with any lotions, sunscreen etc. I've found that deep water is best...like the channel side of the jetties or the "T-Head" of the piers.

The secret (which you already know...) to catching fish is first...go fishing!

Good luck! Go catch a fish!

Leonardo

I cant get away that often, nor can I afford it. I do fish about 3/4 of the time when I hit the coast!! Maybe you can put me on some shark, or reds!! If so I wouldnt mind paying for it!!

But [QUOTE] [to catching fish is first...go fishing!

/QUOTE]

That is what I do!!

Brandon...Keep on Keepin' on! While it's true that if you keep doing the wrong thing you'll keep getting the same results...no fish...I don't think you're doing the wrong thing. Thinking in terms of arbitrarily going fishing at any given time with the expectation of catching shark may not be realistic, but it's not unreasonable. I fish EVERY weekend (50F withstanding)...I've caught five black tips in the past twelve months...and I'm not "fishing for shark" (dont'cha just love saltwater fishing...it's like a box of...)anyway, if your focus really is to catch'em, just keep on doin' what you're doing...hit those T-heads and jetties (fish the channel sides), you'll pick 'em up!

If you get bloodthirsty about all this (LOL) consider hiring a guide...tell 'em what you're up to...may be a little pricey, but like you said it's not something you'll be doing everyday.
Again, visit with the locals (bait camps,etc,) they'll be glad to help in terms of technique and where to fish.

It sounds to me like you have "fishing disease", and if you don't catch something soon you're gonna need professional help! LOL LOL

Let me know how you do. Have Fun!

Brandon...here's a couple web sites I picked up on at another TFF post. Take a look. Really good stuff!

http://groups.msn.com/TEXASSHARKFISHING/homepage.msnw

or

www.coast-shark.com/

Good Luck!

Another great place is the San Luis Pass Pier, just 20 miles south. Great place for sharks, maybe the best near Galveston for fisherman with out a boat, and right now you couldn't go a night without catching a handful of bull reds. The Shad have been coming in thick every night for a while, and lots of sharks follow. Last few times I've seen several just swimming under the lights, only about 2 footers though. 91st pier is another decent spot. If you have a kayak, anywhere on the beach while do fine.

Use cut bait like shad or mullet, cownose stingray, ladyfish, whiting-those are my favorite.

The guys on http://www.extremecoast.com/ are serious sharkers

I fished the 21st street jetty on the seawall with a buddy on monday and we caught about 8 black tip shark...The water was green but the waves were kicking high..They were all keepers...We kept 2 and released the rest..We used large mullet and small piggies..Most of the bites were on mullet though...If you go to the west part of the island and walk past the second sand bar you should get into a lot of sharks...Watch your toes and your stringer...Tight lines

Hey Goldfishboy, do you cast staight off the jetty with the mullet, or do you cast off the side of the jetty, parallel with the shore?

Thanks for all the information. I will give some of it a try.

Brandon

Seaag, I usually cast it off the end..It depends on which way the tide was rolling in...I usually try and cast with the tide flow..the funny thing is that I was not really trying to go for sharks but there were so many that they kept taking the bait before anything else could...If the water is clear you can catch anything..I usually fish off the jetties if i Don't feel like wading or the tide is too high to get to the 2nd or 3rd sand bar.... if I've been catching alot of smacks off those jetties also..Most arround 17-20 inches with the occasional huge sucker..Smacks have usually been off the end fishing with a cork and live shrimp..Or towards the end about 20 feet parallel to the shore..Right before the rocks in the little jetty gut next to the jetty..A whole bunch of rat reds too..

Goldfishboy, thanks for the info. I usually fish the piers, but have started fishing those little jetties on the seawall. I've found they can be very productive. The other day I was fishing with mullet and cast straight off, thinking bigger fish would be in deeper water, but saw like 3 small sharks bust the surface closer to shore after the mullet.

Go get'em Brandon!