New to West Bay - anybody willing to help?

[Explorer21]

To all West End Anglers,
I joined your website just now, because my wife and I are now part time and new residents on the West end. We are experienced fishermen/women, but not in Galveston Bay. We are hoping someone can provide us with some suggestions or even come and help us out. We have a weekend home in Terramar Beach (close to San Luis pass bridge), so needless to say we are not familiar with the area. We have a 21ft. Explorer HS, but not knowing the waters too well makes it a little difficult to navigate and more important find some places to fish. We are considering a guide, but does anybody else have suggestions for us to get familiar with water. I would rather pay a guide to show us some areas to fish versus showing us where sand bars and oysters reefs are.

Final question. Is there a store we can swing by and pick up some shirts, stickers and cozzies or is it online only?

Thanks and looking forward to being part of your group!

[coachlaw]

I'm thinking you could hook up the Coe himself since you're so close to FWE HQ at Pirates Cove. I wouldn't mind showing you some places myself, but I'm highly preoccupied with my fishing camp rebuild. I'm sure plenty of folks here will be happy to help you out. Welcome aboard!

[Explorer21]

Coach, thanks for the quick reply. Sorry, but who is Coe? Is he the founder of West End Anglers?

[WestEndAngler]

First of all,

San Luis Pass is a tough area to navigate. Although its marked somewhat or was Pre-Ike... Its constantly changing. I'm not familiar enough with the area to be of any help to you but some guys here on the site are. I'd suggest you read Aqua Pimp's article on fishing West Bay...

http://www.fishwestend.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122

As far as learning west bay I'd say jump on the boat with one of us and let us show you around. Plenty of good guys here on the site that would love to show you around. I know the area East of Jamaica really well and can help you out there.

[Explorer21]

West End Angler,
Thanks for the information and the welcome. We are also interested in learning the east side of Terramar which is very close to Jamaica, so maybe we can hook up some time and you can show us around. I will definitely get on Aqua Pimps article and sometimes you just need to jump in and learn to swim

[imhammer]

Welcome Explorer21
If you have a decent GPS, it is not too difficult to navigate the area between Terramar and Confederate Reef. All the coves on the south shoreline offer good fishing as well as the mid bay reefs and the north shoreline. It is trickier to navigate the far west end and the far east end.
I fish mostly the upper and east end of west bay, but there are lots of guys here who fish the south and west ends a lot and can help you learn to navigate it. The pass area can be great fishing in the spring and summer, but you definitelt want to know where you are going as there are lots of obstructions on that end.
I hope to see some reports soon!

[FlatoutFishin]

Just do it!

Welcome, and what kind of schedule you run? Off midweek any, only weekends, ect...I might be available some times.
A good GPS as Chip said and a HotSpot map and your good to go. Warning though...venturing to the Pass will more than likely find you at some point pushing if you go enough, even with these crutches. So always leave well stocked with fundamental survival supplies....
Just some friendly advice!

[Explorer21]

Hammer, we have a lowrance LMS520. When you talk about Confederate Reef and coves on the south end, I will just have to find out where those stops are and put them on my waypoints. BTW, i found out the hard way on Saturday regarding the far west end. Got stuck on a sand bar, close to bird island flats.

[FlatoutFishin]

Hammer, we have a lowrance LMS520. When you talk about Confederate Reef and coves on the south end, I will just have to find out where those stops are and put them on my waypoints. BTW, i found out the hard way on Saturday regarding the far west end. Got stuck on a sand bar, close to bird island flats.

Ouch...been there, done that!Pictures to prove it.

[Explorer21]

Flatout, weekends are best for us and as I mentioned to hammer, we found out the hard way on Saturday. Sounds like I need to stick to the north shoreline and head EAST

[WestEndAngler]

Final question. Is there a store we can swing by and pick up some shirts, stickers and cozzies or is it online only?

Right now its online only. If you live in Houston you can swing by my place and pick some up to save on shipping costs. If your on the Island this weekend let me know what you want and I will bring it down. I stay in Pirates.

Coe-

[majek_maniac]

What sandbars near bird island?? Oh those, the ones EVERYONE gets stuck on sooner or later, sometimes even 007!

Great advice hear from everyone. The way I have learned it best is buy getting a Hot Spot Map and just going out there! That is what I did. Those maps also have many of the well know, productive fishing spots marked on the map and by GPS, broken down by best months of the year. Try those spots, that is what I usually do if I am stumped and dont know where to try.

Most people here, including myself, are more than willing to help and show you around, but nothing beats the adventure and lessons learned by just getting out there. I know many dont enjoy it, but wading really opens your eyes to what the bottom is shaped like and what structures are around if you are up to it.

West Bay can be tricky, but it is also the best bay in my opinion. Once you learn it, it is pretty easy to get around and you can access every style of fishing you want within a 30 min run. Good luck and welcome to West End Anglers!

M.M.

[Explorer21]

Coe, we will be down there on Saturday and heading back Sunday evening, so if all possible, I would like to get together with you and purchase some shirts, stickers and cozzies. How can I get in touch with you this weekend?

Majek, thanks for your input. Can you recommend which hot spot software to purchase for West Bay?

[Explorer21]

Coe, by the way, I would like to purchase 5 stickers, 5 cozzies, 1 XXL shirt and 1 small shirt if you have one, if not a medium will work. Let me know and I will come by and see you in Pirates this weekend.

[WestEndAngler]

Coe, we will be down there on Saturday and heading back Sunday evening, so if all possible, I would like to get together with you and purchase some shirts, stickers and cozzies. How can I get in touch with you this weekend?

Majek, thanks for your input. Can you recommend which hot spot software to purchase for West Bay?

If you have a Garmin Blue Charts... Hot Spots maps are waterproof maps sold at Academy or fishing store they have boating and walk & wade maps of all of West Bay... They show promising spots etc....

Call (I'll PM you my number)

I will bring the shirts, koozies, and stickers down this weekend.

Koozies = 1 for $3 , 2 for $5, 5 for $10
Stickers = same price schedule
T-shirts M, L, XL = $15 XXL & XXXL = $18
Hats = $15