Boliver Peninsula-Best Winter Secret

Bolivar Peninsula- Winter’s Best Kept Secret

Just a few miles northeast of Galveston Island lies the strip of land called the Bolivar Peninsula. Anglers largely overlook the peninsula, as they pass by its shores on the way to crowded East Bay hot spots. The fact of the matter is that the peninsula has a lot to offer anglers year round, particularly in the winter months. The peninsula appeals to boaters wade fishermen, and land based fishermen.

Fishing opportunities for boaters are almost endless. Among the most popular places in Bolivar for boaters are the jetties. The jetties serve as a breakwater for the Galveston-Houston Ship channel, while at the same time, providing an ideal structure for attracting forage fish and the predators that feed on them. This structure holds fish year round. Wintertime is extremely productive because of the combination of structure and quick access to the deep water of the ship channel. The best bait in this area is finger mullet, if not available, use Saltwater Assassins, or Stanley Jigs. These soft plastics offer great hook ups if worked slowly. Also, use Mirrolure slow sinking plugs like the MR 19, 38 or 51 series. Color varies depending on water clarity. Light for clear and dark for off-colored water


The Intercostals Waterway runs between the backside of Bolivar and Goat Island. Speckled trout, Redfish and Flounder (Texas Grand Slam as some refer to catchin’ all three the same day). The waterway is an excellent area to fish when those blue northern are upon us. The shoreline is all but protected except for a gusty northeast or southwest wind…………………Be sure and wear wading boots to protect ones legs from our flounders with pony tails???? All year long. ForEverLAST Boots work great. Se them at FTU in Houston or Katy,Texas

Seviers Cove and the Pig Pens are two of the many spots boaters target for winter trout and redfish. Seviers Cut is a land cut in Goat Island with a shallow channel into East Bay. The Pig Pens is located on the bay side of East Bay, just west of Seviers. Soft baits like mentioned earlier along with the famous Corky by Paul Brown, works for those sow trout. Most anglers prefer to wade the latter both early and late afternoon, with an outgoing tide. Be sure and have a good graphite rod and small diameter line, so as not to attract too much attention. Fishing Tackle Unlimited has a tremendous rod called the All-Pro Series Green Rod…………………………….and Sufix Line to spool that great reel in 30lb test.

The Bolivar Pocket is another popular wade fishing spot on the peninsula. The Pocket is located between the old lighthouse and the base of the Bolivar Jetties. This is a prime spot to target as the temperature drops with winter cold fronts…………………………..

The Bay side of Rollover Pass is also a very productive area to wade during the winter months. Mirrolures and the Stanley wedge tail top the list to throw when wading Rollover Bay. Both resemble a mullet, which is a winter meal for that trophy trout that looks for that one good meal for several days………………..

Rollover Pass and the jetties are two of the most productive areas for land-based fishermen. The cooler months of the years are plagued with single tides coupled with minimal tidal movement.
Any trout fisherman will tell you,” Moving water catches moving fish. ”Rollover Pass is just that area. Trophy trout and redfish congregate and feed in that narrow pass. Live shrimp will almost always work for a large stringer of solid fish, but it’s next to impossible to find that time of year. See a white flag. Stop and get ‘em. Live finfish, solid-bodied mullet imitation and large soft plastics accounts for most of the truly large trout pulled from the pass each year at that time…………………..

Bolivar is loaded with good winter fishing locations and deserves a little investigation. With the upcoming hunting season, our fishing brothers have thinned out greatly. This gives those of us who fish year round a little more quiet time to catch that speckled trout or redfish. These prime areas receive less pressure at this time of year. Your brothers that are reading this at the deer camp always have fun outdoors. This writer will be thinking about you…………………


Stop by our booth at the upcoming Houston Boat & Travel Show. The show begins January 6th and ends January 15th. We are located next to Fishing Tackle Unlimited in booth 632. Bring your outdoor photos for us to see and enjoy.
Until next time, good Fishin’ or just as my fishing mentor always use to say, “Have Fun Outdoors”. We love you’ll Pappy and Junior. God bless………
Capt Paul Marcaccio
BOI, U.S.C.G. & T.P. &W.