On This Water

Texas · Galveston Bay

Redfish are the hunt — push West and East Bay grass as the wind lets water back in. Heat is the clock — first light or last light.

Largest Texas estuary. Trinity, East, West, and Christmas bays. Wind often moves more water than the tide table. Home water for drum, sheep, trout, and reds.

  • Extreme water temperature. Fish stress quickly — keep them wet, or don't boat them.
7.9OF 10

Today

high confidence

Morning line

Galveston 7.9 this morning. 9 mph SSW. Clear · 0%. Wind versus the table: -0.3 ft. YOLO day is Wednesday, August 26. Scores are 1–10, not a bite.

Mail it
-0.30.30.81.31.8HLHLHLHLNOWSun 7 PMMon 7 PMTue 7 PMWed 7 PMThu 7 PM
incoming · 0.59 ftNOAA hourly · ft MLLW

Wind

NOAA

NESW9MPH

From SSW · gust 16

Sky

0% rain

Clear

Clear · 0%

A 20% shower chance is not a cancel. A soaker is.

Moon

91% lit

Waxing gibbous

mid range · 91%

Water

NOAA 8771450

Water

91.8°

48°92°

Today’s range 1.5 ft

incoming

0.59 ft MLLW

River

USGS 08066500

1,430 cfs

Trinity Rv at Romayor, TX

Discharge into this bay. High water stains the flat.

Wind vs table

Observed − predicted

-0.29 ft

Observed minus predicted. On this coast the wind often is the tide.

Clock

NOAA 8771450

  • HighTue 5:49 AM · 1.53
  • LowTue 9:26 PM · 0.05
  • HighWed 5:46 AM · 1.50
  • LowWed 10:12 AM · 1.39
  • HighWed 1:14 PM · 1.43

Monthly YOLO day

Wednesday, August 26 · 8.5

Best remaining dry day this month with a real wind forecast. waxing gibbous · spring · tide range ~1.4 ft · wind to 20 mph · Clouds · 6%

Next two weeks

Pulling the 14-day strip…

Where

  • West Bay grass

    grass flat · field manual · skinny

    8.4

    Flooded grass on a rising tide. Windward mudline for reds; leeward clear for trout.

    • grass flat on a incoming tide is a classic match.
    • In-play: Redfish, Speckled trout.
    skiffwadekayakflyspin
  • Christmas Bay

    grass flat · public structure · skinny

    8.4

    USGS GNIS 1354478. Smaller, clearer pocket. Kayak and wade water. San Luis influence.

    USGS GNIS 1354478

    • grass flat on a incoming tide is a classic match.
    • In-play: Redfish, Speckled trout.
    kayakskiffwadeflyspin
  • TX - Galveston Island SP bayside trails

    grass flat · saved map · mid

    8.4

    Camp + 3 paddling trails into Carancahua Cove. · flats · GULF ATLAS! - FISH

    • grass flat on a incoming tide is a classic match.
    • In-play: Redfish, Speckled trout.
    skiffkayakwadeflyspin
  • Christmas Bay

    grass flat · saved map · mid

    8.4

    Upper coast's only true seagrass flat, coastal preserve. Fall tailing reds. Kayak launches off CR 257. Camp Follets = gulf camp + bay fish, one island. · 4 - FLATS ZONES - NO WADE REQUIRED (green) · Texas coast — corridors, jetties, flats

    • grass flat on a incoming tide is a classic match.
    • In-play: Redfish, Speckled trout.
    skiffkayakwadeflyspin
  • Galveston Island SP - Carancahua Cove trails

    grass flat · saved map · mid

    8.4

    Camp + 3 marked paddling trails (Dana Cove, Oak Bayou, Jenkins Bayou). Reds and drum in skinny water 400 yd from the tent. · 4 - FLATS ZONES - NO WADE REQUIRED (green) · Texas coast — corridors, jetties, flats

    • grass flat on a incoming tide is a classic match.
    • In-play: Redfish, Speckled trout.
    skiffkayakwadeflyspin

When

  • Incoming water

    10.0

    Tue 1:00 AMTue 7:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Outgoing water

    10.0

    Tue 2:00 PMTue 11:00 PM

    Water is moving, but the clock is against you — heat or dark.

  • Incoming water

    10.0

    Tue 11:00 PMWed 7:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Outgoing water

    10.0

    Wed 7:00 AMThu 12:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Incoming water

    10.0

    Wed 11:00 PMThu 8:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

Launch and beach access

Cited to TPWD, Texas GLO beach-access plans, and NPS. 2WD/4WD is the county plan, not a guess.

  • Seawolf Park

    TPWD / Galveston Parks — public ramp & pier

    Pelican Island. Ramp, pier, jetty-adjacent. County park fees.

    Official source
  • San Luis Pass County Park

    Brazoria County / GLO beach-access system

    Follets Island. Ramp and beach. Current at the pass — wade with respect.

    Official source
  • Galveston East Beach

    City of Galveston / Texas GLO beach access

    Drive-on beach. 2WD when packed; 4WD after rain. GLO + city plan, not a TPWD ramp.

    Official source
  • Galveston 61st Street / Offatts Bayou

    City of Galveston / TPWD-listed launch

    West Bay and Offatts. Trailer traffic. The bay side of the island.

    Official source

Legal water

No-take and closed water cited to the agency that owns it. Only the Keys box is FKNMS.

No FKNMS polygon in this box. Mainland Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, and the Bahamas are not Keys sanctuary closures.

Why — and who

  • Tide is incoming from NOAA.
  • Observed water is close to the astronomical prediction — the table is telling the truth today.
  • Water 91.8°F. Heat is the locator: early, late, deeper.
  • Clear · 0%. Sky is workable.
  • Wind 9 mph SSW. Castable. Sight-fishing is on if the sun is out.
  • Waxing gibbous moon — mid tide range. Marsh and passes usually want the extra current of a spring.

Redfish

Sciaenops ocellatus

5.2

Thermal window

91.8°

48°92°

Present, not peak. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Texas (Sep 1 2025–Aug 31 2026): 3/day, 20–28 in slot. One over 28 in per license year with a Red Drum Tag.

Speckled trout

Cynoscion nebulosus

5.2

Thermal window

91.8°

44°90°

Present, not peak. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Texas: 3/day, 15–20 in slot. One over 28 in per license year with a Spotted Seatrout Tag (plus bonus). Soft mouth + slot = measure every fish.

Black drum

Pogonias cromis

3.4

Thermal window

91.8°

46°88°

Off-season here. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Texas: 5/day, 14–30 in. One over 52 in allowed as part of the bag.

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

3.4

Thermal window

91.8°

48°84°

Off-season here. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Texas: 5/day, 15 in minimum.

Jack crevalle

Caranx hippos

5.8

Thermal window

91.8°

64°94°

Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. Water 92°F is the hot edge for this fish. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Generally unregulated. Still, do not leave a pile.

Regs citedTPWD Outdoor Annual · Sep 1, 2025–Aug 31, 2026 · rolls in 8 days. Texas bag and season roll every September 1. The stamp is the book we cited, not a license.