A guide & boat will run around $550 for the first 2 people for a half day trip. Half day is usually 5-6 hours. I have never been with a guide and got skunked (almost one time - but we did catch 3-4 trout as I recall). They do morning and afternoon trips, kinda depending on what the bite is like and of course the tide. If that is something you might want to do, I will try and get you some names & numbers.

Thanks RJS. Have fished recently out around Tiki Island, Bayou Vista, Offetts Bayou and a diversion channel way back up the bay. I know you once lived on Tiki Island or a least had a place there. Do you still hang out there or do you now live in Houston. I really enjoy your stories about St. Joe & Gainesville and that country up there. Having lived in Cooke County for nearly 20 years and making deliveries all over that country brings back memories. I believe i mentioned one time that 2 of my boys worked for Joe and Bryan Wallace for several years. That was about 5 years or so ago. We just sold a boat we bought from Bryan several years ago. Keep the stories coming. You’ve had a mighty interesting life.

Fishing here is like most other places. Some days are good, some are not. The key, as always is, knowing where the fish are. Often times you can catch a few in the surf, a lot of people fish the jetty at the ferry landing and the pocket on Frenchtown Rd. near the ferry. Going on into Port Bolivar on Frenchtown Rd. lots of people fish the bridge where the tide flows in and out of Horseshoe Marsh. On the gulf side there is another jetty around 15th, 16th. There is a sign on Hwy. 87 going East from the ferry pointing the way to the North Jetty. Most of my fishing has been from a boat. If you can afford it, going with a guide will be much more productive since they know where the fish are.
Live shrimp is always good, as is finger mullet, mud minnows and sometimes croaker. Along the beach and on the bay the water is quite shallow and a lot of people wade fish, but not so much in January due to the cold water. In January we can have some pleasant days, but also some downright nasty weather.
Good luck, welcome to the forum and welcome to the Bolivar Pennisula. Be glad to help anyway I can.

You are learning already. You can nearly always find those sheepshead up near a jetty, around rocks and especially on a oyster reef

If your interested in hiring a guide out of P. O. call Capt. Marty & Capt. Matt’s “Fish of a Lifetime” guide service. Father & son team. Nice folks and they will shore nuff put ya on some fish

ADD: The Bolivar Peninsula (across the bay from Galveston) has 30 some miles of beautiful beaches upon which you can drive, have a nice fire and camping is permitted. There is a $10 charge for a beach sticker. There are several areas for fishing in addition to surf fishing and this time of year the beaches are nearly deserted. You will however have to deal with some pretty chilly weather. I think you’ll find Texas has some mighty fine folks and there are a whole lotta places I would rather be FROM. Just sayin (to quote RJS).

For any of you folks looking to buy a really nice (like brand new) Sea Eagle STS10 10’ inflatable with EVERY accessory they make for it, a 55# thrust MinnKota trolling motor and a AGM battery, I have one for sale. Due to the effects of cancer, I have only used this boat 4 times. As I said, it is in absolutely 100% perfect condition. But I’m not gonna give it away. I’ve got a lot of money tied up in it and I’m not going to let it go for a few hundred bucks. If your interested PM me and we will go from there.

Have been on many, many guided trips, mostly in Texas and NEVER had a guide that didn’t have a filet knife, cleaned our fish and bagged them up in zip locks. Must be a Fla. thing.

We had that same issue in one of our ponds on the ranch in N. Texas. No way could we catch them on rod & reel, but caught the dog out of them on a trot line. Don’t remember what we used for bait, but all of the above should work

I understand. Sounds like you do a lot for the kids. We appreciate what you do. Keep up the good work and good luw

Hogwaller, see where you captain for a high school team.’Do you by chance fish THSBA (Texas High School Bass Assn.) tournaments. A mighty fine and worthwhile organization. Great for the kids who not only fish for prizes but also for scholarship money. Two of my boys are directors in 3 different divisions, one of which I believe would be close to you.
If you do then you know what I’m talking about. If not,
message me back and I will give you a contact number or of course you can look it up on line. Good luck

kscatfisherman,
Sorry I haven’t sent any more pics. I was trying to find several I have on the computer, but didn’t find them yet. Will search again tomorrow afternoon and get back to you. Thx for your patience. I know some folks don’t like giving out their emails, and if you don’t care to do that, I will still send thru the forum. I appreciate your interest.

kscatfisherman, this is going to take forever if I have to send one at a time. Could I just email them directly to you without going through the forum?

Need to stop & eat supper, then I will send one more

Need to stop & eat supper right now. Then I will send one more