Around Houston: Fishing Spots & Offshore Fishing Guides

Drop a line or head out with an expert guide service for bass, catfish and more at 30+ fishing piers and lakes Around Houston.

From the depths of lake waters to slow-moving creek streams, the areas around Houston are plentiful with fishing opportunities—including in Baytown, Brazosport, Clear Lake and the Bay Area, Conroe, Galveston, Pearland, Port Arthur, Sugar Land, The Woodlands and Tomball.

Most importantly, for the realities of 2020, hitting the waters and dropping a line is a great way to escape the house and get out into the world, while enjoying some peaceful nature.

Of course, it’s also important for you to consider any health precautions before heading out. Our picks below may have certain requirements or restrictions at this moment and these things can change quickly, so be sure to contact your destination ahead of time with any questions or concerns.

Fishing License Requirements & Exceptions

Before you head out, make sure you know if a fishing license is required to drop a line in these waters. Broadly, fishing licenses are required for most fishers in public waters (which includes natural waterways and any land or water bodies that are not privately owned). Licenses are not required for anglers that are under the age of 17 or born before 1931.

Guide services are also a great way to fish without a license, as the guide’s license will cover their clients while on the waters. You can double check requirements or purchase a fishing license online by clicking here.

Fishing Piers, Lakes & Guide Services Around Houston

Baytown

• Goose Creek Trail – Stretching for more than five miles from north of TX-146, all the way to the Fred Hartman Bridge, this trail is broken into five segments that feature nature viewing, paddling opportunities and more. Along the trail, fishers and crabbers can find great opportunities to drop into the waters at Goose Creek Park, W.C. Britton Park, and Bayland Park, which offers scenic views of the Fred Hartman Bridge. Click here for more information.

Brazosport

• Bastrop Bayou Public Fishing Area – This 200-foot lighted fishing pier hangs over Bastrop Bayou in Freeport, offering a nearby public boat ramp as well. Drop a line to catch speckled trout, redfish and croaker at this location. Click here for more information.
• Quintana Beach County Park – This 52-acre beachfront park provides access to a pedestrian beach, a lighted fishing pier, and the west jetty for an ideal fishing spot to catch black drum, redfish, ling and Spanish mackeral, among other types. License is required. Click here for more information.
• Surfside Jetty County Park – Across from Quintana Beach, this county park also offers jetty access, along with a public boat ramp to get into deeper waters. Dip in for some saltwater fishing from a half mile-long jetty to hook redfish, sheephead, shark and spotted sea trout. License is required. Click here for more information.
• Surfside Crabbing Pier – Fed by Swan Lake on the marsh side of Bluewater Highway, this crabbing pier makes a great spot to drop a chicken neck in the water and scoop up native crabs. License is required. Click here for more information.
• Fishing Guide Services – The Brazosport area offers direct access to the deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico—and all the larger fish that come with it. Guide services are a great way to find transport to these waters with area experts that know where different types of fish can be found. Plus, if you do not have a fishing license, then you’ll be covered by the guide’s license while on the waters. Fishing guide services in Brazosport include A-1 Deep Sea Charters, Action Charters, Alexander Guide Service, Blue Fin Charters, Johnston’s Sportfishing, Prima Donna Offshore Charters, Reel Threel Saltwater Charters, South Texas Salt Life Adventures, Texas Saltwater Adventures

Clear Lake, Kemah, League City, Nassau Bay & Seabrook

• Clear Lake Park – This 59-acre public park is centrally located in the Bay Area, offering extensive park amenities that include fishing piers and boat launch for prime fishing opportunities. Click here for more information.
• David Braun Park at Lake Nassau – On the shores of Lake Nassau, this public park features an extensive boardwalk that makes for a great, relaxing fishing spot as you can also take in sailboats and motor boats off in the distance. The area also features playgrounds, sports fields and more. Click here for more information.
• Pine Gully Park – Among the playgrounds and tree forts in the 52 acres of Pine Gully Park, a 1,000-foot fishing pier lets you drop a line for the day, or take a break and enjoy the 6-mile hiking trail loop. Click here for more information.

Conroe

• Lake Conroe Park – Located on the southern shores of Lake Conroe, this 13-acre public park provides fishing pier access for $2 per person (free for ages 5 and under, 65 and over) as well as other amenities and scenic lake views. Fishers will most commonly find largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and bluegill, particularly deeper into Lake Conroe. Click here for more information.
• Sam Houston National Forest – The expansive public forest edges the coastlines of Lake Conroe to the west and Lake Livingston to the east, providing multiple access points for year-round fishing and boat ramps larger excursions in lake fishing. License is required. Click here for more information.
• Fishing Guide Services – The Conroe area offers great fishing opportunities in the vast waters of Lake Conroe, as well as nearby Lake Livingston. Guide services are a great way to find transport to these waters with area experts that know where different types of fish can be found. Plus, if you do not have a fishing license, then you’ll be covered by the guide’s license while on the waters. Fishing guide services in Brazosport include Bradley’s Guide Service, Catch A Trophy Fishing Guide Service, Catfish Killer Guide Service, Phillip’s Guide Service, Texas Guide Service, The Fish Dude’s Guide Service, Wet Hook Guide Service

Galveston

• 61st Street Fishing Pier – A longtime prime spot in Galveston to drop a line, the popular 24-hour pier also features a bait and tackle shop, viewing deck, light bites and drinks. License is required. Click here for more information.
• Galveston Fishing Pier – Hop on the decks of this boardwalk to fish for puffer, tarpon and more at this Galveston pier that has serviced fishers for nearly fifty years. A bait and tackle shop on-site can stock you up, while you can also take a break and unwind with delicious food and drinks at Jimmy’s Place. Click here for more information.
• Galveston Island State Park – This sprawling complex that stretches from the beach into the bay features plenty to do, including fishing for spotted seatrout, sandtrout, redfish, croaker, flounder and more. On-site facilities also include a fish-cleaning shelter for visitors’ convenience. No license is required when fishing from shore. Click here for more information.
• Seawolf Park – The one-time immigration center of the region now features two naval vessels available for touring as well as one of the island’s most popular fishing piers, located on the east end of Pelican Island. Click here for more information.
• Fishing Guide Services – Hitting the piers in Galveston is a great way to unwind, though getting deeper into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico will yield some of the larger fish in the sea. Guide services are a great way to find transport to these waters with area experts that know where different types of fish can be found. Plus, if you do not have a fishing license, then you’ll be covered by the guide’s license while on the waters. Fishing guide services in Galveston include Galveston Sea Ventures, Angler Charters, Aqua Safari Charters, Circle H Outfitters & Charters, Fishing Galveston TX, Frazier’s Guide Services, Galveston Fishing Charter Company, Galveston Fishing Guides, Get Hooked Charters, In The Zone Fishing Charters, Kapt. Keepers Charters, Out Cast Charters, Rod Bending Charters, Texas Saltwater Adventures, Wave Dance Charters

Pearland

• Brazos Bend State Park – Dip into these waters located south of Pearland for largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish and more. A license is not required to fish in these waters. Click here for more information.

Port Arthur

• Pleasure Island Pier – Drop a line into the waters of Sabine Lake from this popular fishing pier, or take to the miles of coastline, for speckled trout, redfish and flounder. Click here for more information.
• Sabine Lake – Public boat ramps are available at several spots in Port Arthur, giving fishers a chance to get onto the waters of Sabine Lake for speckled trout, redfish and black drum, as well as oyster shells at the lake’s south end during the warmer months. Click here for more information.
• Sea Rim State Park – At this stretch of state park along the Gulf coast, visitors can fish along the surf or in the marsh areas. The park also loans out fishing equipment to visitors and a license is not required to fish these waters. Click here for more information.
• Fishing Guide Services – Casting into the waters around Port Arthur can be a relaxing retreat on its own, but if you want to get into deeper waters and bigger hauls, then a guide might offer more success. Guide services are a great way to find transport in these waters with area experts that know where different types of fish can be found. Plus, if you do not have a fishing license, then you’ll be covered by the guide’s license while on the waters. Fishing guide services in Port Arthur include Sabine Lake Guide Services, Sabine Lake Lodge, Captain Randy’s Guide Service, Golden Hook Guide Service, Lucky Lindy Charters

Sugar Land

• Cullinan Park – A top destination in the Greater Houston area for all-things-nature, Cullinan Park spans more than 750 acres, offering birding, hiking and fishing opportunities. Bookended by White Lake and Pumpkin Lake, both of which have fishing piers, the park is also bisected by Red Gully and Oyster Creek. Click here for more information.
• Eldridge Park – This 43-acre community park features a fishing pier over a 5-acre pond, stocked by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on a semi-regular basis. Click here for more information.
• Sugar Land Memorial Park – Among its network of hiking and biking trails, this expansive park features a lake that offers fishing opportunities for Florida largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish for those with licenses. Click here for more information.

The Woodlands

• Alden Bridge Park – The scenic pond at Alden Bridge Park offers a chance to drop a hook for bluegill and bass that inhabit the waters here, as well as the occasional catfish. Click here for more information.
• Bear Branch Reservoir – More experienced fishers (and those with a license) will find large bass lurking in these waters near Kuykendahl Road. By boat or kayak is the best way to get into the reservoir, though there is a lot of weeds, plants and other muck that might make paddling challenging at times. Click here for more information.
• Creekwood Park – Home of the annual fishing derby in March, this pond belongs to one of The Woodlands’ very first public parks and offers up bass, catfish and more. Click here for more information.
• Northshore Park – On the north side of Lake Woodlands, the waters near the Lake Woodlands Drive bridge are known to foster channel catfish, bass, crappie and others. Head out on a boat for some deeper waters and other catches. Click here for more information.
• Southshore Park – This popular park is known for its lake serpent that pokes through the water’s surface, but you can also head to the spillway and dam area to fish for catfish, white bass, crappie and gar in these catch-and-release waters. Click here for more information.
• Tamarac Park – Near the Woodlands Parkway, this park features two ponds that can sometimes offer up bass, catfish and perch. Click here for more information.

Tomball

• Burroughs Park – In Tomball, this popular park spreads across hundreds of acres, featuring a 7-acre fishing lake that is stocked with rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass. Catch-and-release is encouraged. Click here for more information.
• Spring Creek Park – Along the banks of the sprawling Spring Creek, fishers can drop a line in these waters or take a break and enjoy the peaceful natural environment with hiking trails. Click here for more information.
• Theis Attaway Nature Center – This four-acre nature preserve features a pond that attracts wildlife, with a walk-out pier that offers a chance for a relaxing afternoon of fishing. Click here for more information.

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