Best Inshore/Nearshore Fishing on US Gulf Coast
 

OK guys, I need some informed opinions. Where is the best inshore and nearshore fishing (20 ft boat) on the US Gulf Coast, more or less averaged over the year and including all sport species? Baffin Bay, Galveston Bay, Sabine, Calcasieu, Vermillion Bay, Fourchon/Grand Isle, Venice, Mobile, Pensacola/Destin, further south in Florida? Other? What would your top three be?

Venice
GI
Calcasieu

In that order

This

I agree!

Grand isle. 15 minutes from the dock u catch all the snapper u want

Venice
Fourchon/ cocodrie

Boca grande in fla is pretty intense with the tarpon fishery

Yep

In that order. Pretty much sums it up.

Definetly not vermillion bay

What meaux fishing said. However, if you want some completely different species, go to the FL Keys. Permit, snook, tarpon, and bonefish. Tons of grouper, hogfish, and all kinds of fish and plenty of them. Florida regulations just suck and they won't let you keep hardly any fish. You can also catch sailfish 4 or 5 miles offshore and they get thick out there sometimes.

My opinion as well

Venice
Cocodrie
Grand isle
Jupiter fl, 5 minute run and you are catching sails out of a 20' boat

1.Venice,2.Empire.3.Buras Over the last 10 years I have fished across the coast and no place matches these for consistency.The fishing in this area is nothing short of incredible.Just my experience.

Grand Isle and Venice at the top. But if you are looking at the entire Gulf Coast, then you gotta think about the Lower Keys.