Houston & Galveston Area Fishing and Kayaking
Freshwater Fishing and Kayaking
The Houston area offers excellent freshwater fishing and kayaking opportunities, with numerous lakes, rivers, and bayous to explore.
Top Freshwater Locations
- Lake Conroe: A popular destination for bass fishing, including largemouth bass, white bass, and hybrid striped bass. The lake's calm waters make it ideal for kayak fishing.
- Lake Houston: Known for catfish, crappie, and bass. Multiple access points make it easy to launch a kayak and explore the quieter coves.
- San Jacinto River: Great for kayaking and fishing for bass, catfish, and gar. The river's winding channels provide peaceful paddling through nature.
Freshwater Species
Common catches include largemouth bass, catfish (blue, channel, and flathead), crappie, white bass, and sunfish.
Saltwater Fishing and Kayaking
The Galveston Bay system is one of the most productive estuaries in the United States, offering world-class saltwater fishing and kayaking.
Top Saltwater Locations
- Galveston Bay: The largest estuary in Texas, perfect for targeting speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. Wade fishing and kayak fishing are both popular here.
- West Galveston Bay: Known for excellent redfish and trout fishing, especially in the shallow flats. Kayakers can access areas that larger boats cannot reach.
- East Bay: Offers consistent fishing for speckled trout and redfish. The protected waters are ideal for kayak fishing.
- Christmas Bay: A pristine, shallow bay system that's a kayaker's paradise. Target redfish, trout, and black drum in the grass flats.
- San Luis Pass: Fish the jetties and surf for a variety of species including Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, and sharks. More challenging conditions for experienced kayakers.
- Galveston Jetties: Shore and kayak access to fish for sheepshead, redfish, speckled trout, and flounder around the rock structures.
Saltwater Species
Target species include speckled trout, redfish (red drum), flounder, black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, and seasonal species like tarpon and cobia.