By Captain Bryan Brawner
Spring can be kind of frustrating when trying to find a decent time to get out on the water with the fronts, north winds, low tides, and fog; all happening weekly. Timing trips right before a cold front can be a prime time to get out on the water for a good bite, but the weather usually leaves a short window for fishing and is favorable to those who mainly wade fish. We have had to reschedule a couple of classes as we need good visibility and calmer waters for optimum use of teaching time. Now the weather patterns are leaning toward a quicker return to SE winds after fronts, and the water temperature is staying in the mid to upper 60’s. This should leave a lot more favorable days for classes and fishing out of the boat.

I expect for fish to be good on some of the south shoreline shell areas throughout late spring. Also, wading around marsh drains on higher tides will produce solid specks. If available, it is hard to go wrong with a live shrimp under a popping cork. Lots of the time there are no dependable sources of live bait. It increases your catch and fishing options by using more artificial presentations with shrimp imitations like Gulps and Vudu shrimp.You just have to keep them moving with more action. And of course it is hard to beat Down South Lures which Seapony Bait has in stock in Winnie.

As my long term customers can attest to, I don’t blow smoke and try to run trips in bad weather or if I expect poor conditions. I would rather have them back on a good day with a good experience. I received the text below this weekend …….

“Capt Brawner, thanks for the recommendation! Took your advice and had a good time Thursday afternoon in the surf. Caught a half dozen cats, 4 specs and even 2 young bonnet head sharks.“

When the north wind howls, take advantage of excellent surf fishing on Bolivar beaches while the water is blown out slick and beaches are wide.

As the weather stabilizes, there will be a lot more days that we will be able to run classes as we cover all areas on the bay and don’t need wind pumping out of any one direction. I have a few days still available for classes between the middle of April and mid May now and some weekdays available for fishing charters.

This time of year we can run trips where the whole family can be successful with a large variety of fish. Email for questions and availability. Now is the time to book an East Bay Class with the prime fishing just around the corner.

For exact fishing locations and techniques, I am conducting one-on-one classes of the Galveston East Bay System. We will spend a half-day trip exploring that bay and the techniques and timing of fishing there. Bring your hand-held GPS and a map and note pad and I will further your knowledge of the bay and patterns for fishing in all of the seasons of the year. These classes include everything from locations to tackle and lure selection; thus have a lot of content. So, I limit them to 2 persons max at a time. Call 409-256-1265 for more information. We cover a lot of area and burn a lot of gas.

Text or call 409-256-1265 for availability of trips and to reserve your fishing adventure.You can also e-mail me [email protected] for updated fishing conditions and trip availability.

Check my website www.galvestoncoastalfishing.com for prices and more information.

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Captain Bryan Brawner

[March 23, 2021]