[Brady Bunch]

I bite my nails as I type this question as to the responses I might get.

Me and the old man are goin out Saturday but he doesnt want to go more than 30 miles. We will be in a 21 fter so size is a bit of an issue, but my question is...is anyone willing to give a few good spots away? Im not asking for hot spots as some of these guys would give their wife away before they hand over a location. Ive seen the laminated maps at Academy and such and intend to pick one up but from what I recall there is no reefs/rock piles or structure until about the 35 mile range (correct me if Im wrong), and we want to get out past the first rigs. Any help would be appreciated as were both kinda new to the offshore fishing. Thanks in advance.

 

[Crossroads]

where are you departing from

 

[Brady Bunch]

where are you departing from

HA!! that might help huh?

We will be heading out of Freeport most likely but Galveston is an option too.

 

[bg]

You should really get a Hilton's Atlas. There is a wreck just inside of the Fogg that we always got good fish off of (wreck 19) in there. Not a whole lot of bottom structure inside 30 miles, though.

Here's some spots to try. I don't make any promises that they are any good -

N28 38.058 W95 12.108
N28 35.380 W95 05.739
N28 35.970 W95 04.097
N28 44.021 W94 56.470
N28 40.775 W94 56.407

 

[Brady Bunch]

Thanks a million BG.

 

[texasair]

Buy some squid, a box of spanish sardines, and some bycatch or chum, and some ribbon fish. Seems like a lot of bait but your gonna be way out and can't buy more. Pick a rig. Tie off to it. Drift a couple of whole ribbons off the boat with the current. one with a little weight, the other unweighted. Chum every once in a while. Fish the bottom with 8-16 oz of weight depending upon current. and fish the upper and mid part of the column near the platform with lighter weights. try squid or cut up ribbon fish on bottom. spanish sardines anywhere else. chum some more. At the same time put your smallest hooks and small pieces of bait, or little speck rigs, or sabiki's and jig around and maybe catch some small bait.

The live bait will increase your chances sometimes.
There are plenty of rigs that can produce good fish inside of 20-30 miles that will be within the range of a small boat on a calm day.
On your way out to the rig don't pass an anchored shrimper without stopping and throwing some baits around it. The crew will usually be asleep during the day.
For a newbie the above will usually produce fish. fishing structure takes time, and some experience.
Be safe.
Tex

 

[Omanj]

Inside 30 miles - Freeport

One thing about fishing the rigs is that sometimes the fish are on the upcurrent side of the rig and tying off puts you away from them. If you have a chance, get the direction the current is flowing on the surface (away from the rig) and then work the upcurrent side first before tying off the rig. Another trick (if it is calm) is to chum the fish away from the rig so they do not take your line into the rig. Good luck.

 

[Mike in Woodlands]

Fishing the rigs is more likely to be successful. And don't skimp on the bait! I don't like to tie up to the rig till after at least 4 drifts on each side, as well as try to work the up current side of the rig. If you have enough anchor rope, look for bait up currrent, then anchor so your baits can drift back to the fish up current.

Also carry lots of water. going to be really hot out there this weekend.

 

[Ernest]

Out of Galveston

2829.817/9413.200 - rig (pulled a 26 inch snap on the surface late in August). There are a hand full of rigs in the area that you can see from this location.
2856.510/9419.083 - rocks
2857.100/9420.116
2856.265/9419.423
2856.165/9419.478

Probably not a whole lotta keeper snaps at these locations this late in the year, but if one anchors up and chums, there is normally some real solid action on kings, spanish, and possibly some ling. Bull reds can also be there in schools - Fed. waters, no boxing/tagging bulls.

 

[BigJake]

Weeds

I am not sure exactly what you are going to be targeting, but for the month I have made four trips and have caught many dolphin within even 15 miles! Try some good size weed patches, there are some decent dolphin in close. I think that the water is going to be a bit unsettled this weekend, but you might find some other kind of debris out there. I dont know, just a thought. Good luck and tight lines.

 

[Brady Bunch]

BG and Ernest, thanks for the coordinates. We didnt get to try them but will next time. We hit up 2 shrimpers with no luck (10-11:00) and quite a few rigs with no luck. We also saw quite a few other people having no luck as well. I did manage to pull in a 4.5' shark and dad caught a big 25" skipjack but other than that it was slow, not even the angelfish were biting. We did manage to come up on a school of fish bustin the top so I threw a cigar at them, no takers, tied on an arti no takers then whipped out the ol trusty gold spoon...no takers oh well next time. Thanks again.