Half-Day Inshore Charter in Port O'Connor
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Half-day inshore fishing targeting Black Drum and Jack CrevalleCaptain Justin provides all equipment and expert guidance includedSmall group experience with maximum two guests per trip
Captain Justin Dudley's half-day inshore charter puts you right in the middle of some of Texas' most productive fishing waters. Based out of Port O'Connor, this trip targets seasoned anglers who know what they want – solid fish, smart tactics, and a captain who understands how to put you on them. You'll work the bays, channels, and flats where Black Drum, Jack Crevalle, Redfish, and Spotted Seatrout cruise year-round. With all gear provided and a maximum of two anglers, you get personalized attention and plenty of room to fish without bumping elbows.
This isn't a babysitting trip – Captain Justin designed this charter for anglers who've got their basics down and want to refine their techniques. You'll spend four solid hours targeting multiple species across different structures and water depths. The morning starts early, hitting prime feeding times when fish are most active. Port O'Connor's location gives you access to protected bays when the wind's up, or you can push out to the surf and nearshore reefs when conditions allow. Captain Justin reads the water and adjusts the game plan based on tides, weather, and what the fish are doing that day. Expect to move between spots – successful inshore fishing means staying mobile and adapting to what's working.
Captain Justin provides top-shelf rods and reels matched to the species you're targeting. For Black Drum, you'll use heavier tackle with circle hooks and fresh bait – these fish can push 30+ pounds and will test your drag system. Jack Crevalle fishing calls for different gear entirely – medium-heavy spinning setups that can handle their blistering runs and brutal head-shaking fights. Redfish and Trout fishing often involves lighter tackle, letting you feel every head shake and run. Live bait, cut bait, and artificials all have their place depending on conditions. You'll work everything from shallow grass flats to deeper channel edges, adjusting your presentation as the captain calls the shots. The key is staying focused and ready – inshore fish can appear and disappear quickly, and the bite windows don't last forever.
Black Drum are the heavyweight champions of Port O'Connor's inshore waters. These fish cruise the shallows and deeper channels, feeding on crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. Spring and fall bring the biggest fish, with bulls pushing 40+ pounds showing up in surprisingly shallow water. They're not the fastest fish in the bay, but once hooked, they use their broad sides and stubborn nature to make every inch of line hard-fought. The fight is all about endurance – they'll make long, powerful runs and try to wrap you around any structure they can find.
Jack Crevalle earn their reputation as one of the hardest-fighting inshore species pound-for-pound. These silver bullets show up in schools, often busting bait on the surface and creating feeding frenzies that get your heart racing. Summer months bring the biggest concentrations, though you can find them year-round in Port O'Connor. They hit artificials hard and fight dirty – expect screaming runs, aerial jumps, and a battle that'll leave your arms burning. A 15-pound Jack will fight harder than most 25-pound fish.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Texas inshore fishing, and Port O'Connor holds some true giants. These copper-colored fighters love structure – oyster reefs, grass beds, and channel drop-offs. Fall and winter often produce the biggest fish, with bull reds over 35 inches putting up fights that rival anything swimming in these waters. They're smart, spooky, and absolutely beautiful fish that tail in shallow water and crash baits with aggressive strikes.
Spotted Seatrout provide consistent action throughout the year, with different patterns for each season. Spring and fall bring the largest fish, often called "gator trout" for good reason. They're ambush predators that love grass flats, channel edges, and areas with good current flow. Trout fishing requires finesse – light tackle, subtle presentations, and the ability to feel that subtle tick when they inhale your bait. Port O'Connor's grass flats hold some of the most beautiful trout on the Texas coast.
Summer Flounder round out the target species list, offering a different kind of challenge entirely. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand and mud bottoms waiting for prey to swim by. They require patience and technique – slow presentations along the bottom, feeling for that subtle weight that indicates a fish mouthing your bait. Once hooked, they fight with surprising power for a flatfish, making strong runs and using their broad bodies to create maximum resistance.
Captain Justin's seasoned angler charter delivers exactly what experienced fishermen want – quality fishing time with a knowledgeable guide who won't waste your morning. The two-angler limit means you get personal attention and room to fish properly. All tackle, bait, and equipment come included, so you can focus on fishing instead of gear management. Port O'Connor's diverse inshore waters offer something for every angler, whether you want to battle heavyweight Black Drum or test your skills against lightning-fast Jacks. This half-day trip gives you a solid taste of what makes this stretch of Texas coast special, with plenty of opportunities to improve your techniques and land some quality fish.
Hit the flats around Port O'Connor aboard this nimble Maverick 17 HPX-T skiff, built specifically for shallow water fishing where Black Drum and Jack Crevalle like to prowl. The 70HP Yamaha pushes this 17-footer to a solid 36 knots, getting you to the hotspots quickly while staying quiet in skinny water. Perfect for two serious anglers who want to focus on technique without crowds. The fish finder helps locate structure and baitfish while GPS keeps you on productive spots. An onboard icebox handles your catch and cold drinks during those hot Texas afternoons. This shallow-draft skiff slides over oyster bars and grass flats where bigger boats can't go, putting you right where the fish feed along the coastal bays and channels.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the largest fish in the drum family, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of reaching 90+ pounds. These powerful bottom-feeders love oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow bays around Port O'Connor. Spring spawning season from February through April is prime time when they school up and become much easier to target. You'll hear them drumming underwater - that's their mating call. They're incredible fighters with crushing jaws built for shellfish. Keep the smaller ones under 15 pounds for eating; the big ones get tough and stringy. My tip: use fresh crab on a circle hook and fish it right on the bottom near oyster structure. The crab stays on better than other baits and drum can't resist it.
Caranx HipposJack crevalle are the ocean's bullies and absolute tackle-busters. These brassy, golden fish typically run 3-5 pounds but can reach 60+ pounds of pure muscle. They roam our bays, channels, and nearshore waters in aggressive schools, often pushing baitfish to the surface where diving birds give them away. Year-round residents here, but summer and fall bring the biggest schools. Jacks aren't great eating, but they're the ultimate test of your tackle and fighting skills - they just don't quit. When you find feeding schools, work fast with silver spoons or topwater plugs. Cast beyond the school and retrieve rapidly - they love the chase. Watch for bird activity; that's your best clue to finding them. Once hooked, hang on tight because these fish will test every knot and drag setting you've got.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the kings of our shallow water flats, easily identified by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black eyespot near the tail. Most fish we catch run 20-35 inches and put up an amazing fight in skinny water. They cruise oyster reefs, grass flats, and shorelines in 1-4 feet - sometimes so shallow their backs show above water. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring are peak times when they school up heavily. These fish are pure excitement on light tackle, making long powerful runs and never giving up easy. The smaller "slot" fish are excellent table fare with sweet, firm meat. My secret weapon is a gold spoon worked fast over shallow flats. When they're tailing in super skinny water, cast well ahead of them and work the lure slowly back.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout are one of our most popular targets in Port O'Connor's grass flats and shallow bays. These beautiful fish typically run 1-5 pounds with distinctive black spots covering their silvery sides. They love seagrass beds and oyster bars in 2-6 feet of water, especially during dawn and dusk feeding periods. Spring through fall offers the best action, though they can be caught year-round. Trout are fantastic fighters with soft mouths, so you need to play them carefully. The meat is superb - white, flaky, and mild. They school up in deeper channels during cold fronts. My go-to technique is a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds. Work it slowly with gentle pops - the sound draws them in from a distance and the natural presentation seals the deal.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder aren't as common this far south in Texas waters, but we do see them occasionally. These "chameleons of the sea" are masters of camouflage, lying flat on sandy bottoms with both eyes on their left side. Most run 15-20 inches, though big females can hit 26 pounds. They're ambush predators that blend perfectly with the seafloor, waiting to nail unsuspecting baitfish. Fall months from September through November give you the best shot at finding them. They fight differently than most fish - more of a bulldogging battle than flashy jumps. The meat is excellent, flaky and mild. When targeting them, try live mullet or minnows on the bottom near sandy areas. Hook your baitfish through the eye so it swims naturally along the bottom where flounder are waiting.
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