If you come face to face with a shark in the ocean, you'd better have him on the business end of a sturdy rod and reel. An adrenaline-filled experience, these are the fishing trips you'll remember for the rest of your life.
Galveston, Texas, is an ideal place for shark fishing
It's not uncommon to catch as many as 15 to 40 sharks a day during the warmer summer months of June, July, August, and September on the Gulf Coast. Sharks are found along all coastline in the U.S., but Florida and Gulf Coast states see the majority of these formidable creatures.
Sharks have outstanding senses of smell, taste, hearing, and sight, the ability to detect minute changes in water pressure and electromagnetic fields, and other attributes that make them nearly invincible in the sea. Yet they are quite vulnerable to a baited hook and are easily caught.
The Bait
Sharks definitely prefer fresh, not frozen, bloody or oily fish. Freezer burnt bait or day old carcasses will only draw in pinfish or Nurse Sharks. Rotten bait will actually keep the sharks away.
Recommended Galveston Charter Fishing Guides
Your best bet when shark fishing, particularly if you're a beginner, is to go with a guide. The last thing you want to happen is to lose a hand when you're wrestling in these big guys.
Your charter fishing guide will typically have all the equipment and bait you need for an action-packed, thrill-of-a-lifetime fishing trip. Before booking your trip, always check with your guide to see what is included or not included in his particular excursion.
We are proud to recommend these qualified charters for your next guided fishing trip:
Captain Greg Ball, Wave Dancer Charters, Galveston, TX
Now offering 6-hour offshore Big Shark Hunting Trips (May-September)
Captain Mike Short, Get Hooked Charters, Galveston, TX
Offering high adrenaline shark fishing excursions to spear fishing trips to overnight tuna trips
- Directory Listing
- "Exclusive Interview with Captain Mike Short"
"...we were on a shark hunting trip off the beachfront and we were catching big sharks one after another and had probably 20 sharks swimming all around the boat. We were actually able to hand pick the shark we wanted each time and chunk the bait right out in front of them."
Captain Jason Woods, Rod Bending Charters, Galveston, TX
Several boats, groups welcome, family friendly
Captain Dan Green, Fishin Addiction Charters, Galveston, TX
Fishing the back bays for trout, near shore for sharks and bull reds
Captain Kevin Roberts, Captain Kevin Roberts Guide Service, Galveston, TX
Corporate and large party trips can be accommodated
A little further southwest, but still on the Texas coast:
Captain Jack McPartland, Treble J Charters, Rockport, TX
10% discount on full-day trips for active military
A word about shark attacks
You're actually in more danger on the way to the beach. Every year across the globe, nearly one million people die in automobile accidents. More than 42,000 of those deaths occur in the United States. Shark attacks resulting in deaths occur much less frequently than car wrecks, but they get much more publicity.
A greater percentage of beachgoers are injured by jellyfish, stingrays, or hardhead and gafftop fishes, which have poisonous spines. They are more likely to cause harm than a shark.
You have a better chance of dying from a bee sting, a dog or snake bite, or lightning than from a shark attack.
Peanut allergies are a greater threat than sharks.
There's a better chance you'll win the lottery than be bitten by a shark.
Let's go fishing!
Catching a shark is an incredible experience; even a four-foot sandbar shark provides plenty of thrills on its way to the boat. Once you’ve done it, you may never look at other types of fishing the same way again.
Resources:
How to Avoid Shark Attacks, Florida Museum of Natural History
Related:
Fishing in the Playground of the South - Galveston, Texas
