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Port guide / Upper Texas Coast / Texas
Kemah fishing guide
Kemah sits where Clear Lake drains into upper Galveston Bay, so the water runs from brackish Clear Lake, Taylor Lake and Clear Creek out to the open bay. Unlike Texas City, there is no long dike to walk out on; this is a marina and boat town where most fishing is by bay boat, kayak or guide. Trout, redfish, black drum and flounder are the main targets, live shrimp under a popping cork is the standard rig, and the bait, fuel and ramps are spread around the lake shore in Clear Lake Shores and Seabrook.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Kemah. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Clear Lake, TX (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Eagle Point, Galveston Bay, TX (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Galveston Bay (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Kemah. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- Checking the latest reports.
Report sources: Captain Experiences Kemah guide reports (opens in a new tab) Coastal Angler Magazine (opens in a new tab) Captain Experiences Texas guide reports (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Kemah. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled trout | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Redfish | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow |
| Black drum | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Southern flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Blacktip shark | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
Speckled trout
Peak: May, June, July, August
Local guides keep finding specks with live shrimp under popping corks, with some drum mixed in.
Redfish
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
One of the top targets for Kemah guides, fished in Clear Lake and out on Galveston Bay.
Black drum
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Listed first among the species Kemah guides target most, and a common bycatch on live shrimp rigs.
Southern flounder
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Kemah guides run both rod and gigging trips for flounder, but Texas closes the fishery November 1 to December 14.
Sheepshead
Peak: May, June, July, August
Taken around structure in this part of the bay, often while fishing for drum.
Blacktip shark
One of the five most targeted species for Kemah charters, around from March through November.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Red snapper, Texas state waters
Open year-round for private recreational anglers in Texas state waters.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal waters (private anglers off Texas)
Opened May 22, 2026. As of October 23, 2026 it remains open, and TPWD will set the closure date by monitoring harvest.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal waters (for-hire boats)
Closed January 1 to May 31. The 2026 for-hire season closed October 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
Closed January 1 to August 31. The 2026 season opened September 1 and closed October 1, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
The season opens September 1 each year. The 2026 to 2027 season closed October 14, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, federal waters
Closed January 1 to February 28 and June 1 to July 31, so open March 1 to May 31 and August 1 to December 31.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Shallow-water grouper, federal waters beyond 20 fathoms
Closed February 1 to March 31 seaward of the 20-fathom contour.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Southern flounder, Texas waters
Flounder fishery is closed November 1 to December 14 (bag limit is zero).
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Bay
Clear Lake
The lake behind Kemah, home water for Clear Lake guides; Marina Bay Harbor is the one place on the lake to buy live shrimp by boat.
- Bay
Taylor Lake
Smaller lake off Clear Lake that local guides list among their inshore waters.
- Channel
Clear Creek
The creek feeding Clear Lake, part of the home water for Clear Lake inshore trips.
- Bay
Upper Galveston Bay
The open bay beyond Clear Lake, the fourth of the waters Clear Lake guides list for inshore trips.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highway 146 Bridge boat ramp (Seabrook side) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 3333 N Hwy 146, Seabrook, TX 77586 |
| Walter Hall Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 807 SH 3 N, League City, TX 77573 |
| Bayshore Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 5437 FM 646, Bacliff, TX 77518 |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (3)
Showing all 3 shops
- MarinaLive bait
Marina Bay Harbor Ship Store
Bait: live shrimp, frozen bait, finger mullet, squid, shrimp, croaker
323 W 6th St, Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565
Says it is the only place on the water at Clear Lake selling live shrimp; also sells ethanol-free fuel and ice, and opens at 6 a.m. Friday to Sunday.
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Eagle Point Fishing Camp
Bait: live shrimp, live croaker, dead bait
101 1st Street, San Leon, TX 77539
Full service camp in San Leon, south of Kemah, with a boat ramp, gas dock, tackle shop and RV park, open since 1929.
- Bait shop
April Fool Point Marina bait house
815 Avenue O, San Leon, TX 77539
Seasonal bait house at April Fool Point Marina, next to Topwater Grill on Galveston Bay.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Clear Lake Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Galveston Flounder Company (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Salty Hooker Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Reel Smooth Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Second Chance Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Terry's Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Boyd's One Stop Bull Red Tournament (opens in a new tab)
fall; the 2026 leaderboard is posted on the Boyd's tournaments page
CCA Texas STAR Tournament (opens in a new tab)
Summer, coastwide (late May to Labor Day)
2026: May 23 to September 7
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Kemah, asked and answered
Where can I buy live shrimp near Kemah?
Marina Bay Harbor's ship store at 323 W 6th St in Clear Lake Shores sells live and frozen bait and says it is the only place on the water at Clear Lake with live shrimp. Eagle Point Fishing Camp in San Leon carries live shrimp and croakers.
Where is the closest public boat ramp to Kemah?
The Highway 146 Bridge ramp on Clear Lake is at 3333 N Hwy 146 in Seabrook. Galveston County also lists Walter Hall Boat Ramp in League City and the Bayshore Boat Ramp in Bacliff.
What do guides catch out of Kemah?
Black drum, flounder, redfish, speckled trout and blacktip sharks are the five species Kemah guides target most. Live shrimp under a popping cork has been producing specks with drum mixed in.
When is the best time for speckled trout around Kemah?
May through August is the peak on the nearest guide calendar for this part of Galveston Bay, with fair fishing in March, April, September and October.
Can I keep flounder in November around Kemah?
No. Texas closes the flounder fishery November 1 to December 14 with a bag limit of zero.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Kemah
Sources for this guide (14), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/fishing-reports/locations/texas/kemah (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/texas/kemah (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/texas/san-leon/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- galvestoncountytx.gov/our-county/advanced-components/list-detail-pages/facility-directory- (opens in a new tab)
- marinabayharbor.com/fishing-charters-and-guides/ (opens in a new tab)
- marinabayharbor.com/ship-store/ (opens in a new tab)
- startournament.org/ (opens in a new tab)
- topwatergrill.com (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits/flou (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/red-snapper/ (opens in a new tab)
- boydsonestop.com/tournaments (opens in a new tab)
- eaglepointfishingcamp.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/2025-2026-and-2026-2027-gulf-america-rec (opens in a new tab)
- howsyourriver.com/access_sites/highway-146-bridge-1 (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Kemah
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.