On September 13th 2008 hurricane Ike made landfall directly over Galveston Island. Hurricane Ike was a category 2 storm, but as we all found out it caused damage and devastation like a category 4. Hurricane Ike stetched over 500 miles, had howling winds up to 110 mph and a storm surge of 13-20 feet. Residents up and down the gulf coast were greatly effected by this storm, but Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula were the hardest hit. Unfortunately homes, businesses, and even lives were lost due to Ike. Everyone that was effected by this storm will always remember this hurricane and hopefully we all will be better prepared for the next one. My prayers go out to all those who lost everything and to those families that lost loved ones.
It has been over a year since hurricane Ike ravaged the gulf coast and the clean up and rebuilding is still underway. I participated in the clean up of the entire Galveston bay complex from April 2009 through July 2009. I spent every day watching trees, cars, boats, house parts, refrigerators, telephone poles among many other things being pulled out from our bay sytem. The land clean up and rebuilding will probably last for years, but the bays and beach clean up is done. Actually the bays in Galveston are cleaner now than they were before Ike.
As for fishing in Galveston, it has really been excellent since Ike and I see it only getting better. I have been fishing Galveston all my life and Ike didn't effect the fishing that much. I have been catching fish at the same spots that I have always caught them.
You can check out some of my recent catches at www.galveston-fishing.com The fish are healthy and the quality and numbers are still there. As a fishing guide that is great news. Many people might still think that fishing in Galveston is not up to it's past standards, but that is not true. The bays are clean and the fish are ready to be caught. So don't hesitate to visit Galveston Island and spend a quality day on the water fishing.
Capt. Alan Pereyra