Kids' Inshore Fishing Adventure – Rio Hondo
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore fishing adventure targeting Redfish and Sea TroutKidfriendly trip includes all gear, catch cleaning, and refreshmentsExpert Captain DLS provides handson guidance in calm bay waters
Want to get your kids hooked on fishing? Captain DLS knows exactly how to make it happen. This 6-hour inshore trip from Rio Hondo is designed specifically for young anglers who are ready to experience the thrill of reeling in their first redfish or speckled trout. The shallow bay waters around Rio Hondo offer perfect conditions for beginners – calm, protected, and loaded with fish that love to bite. Your kids will spend the day learning proper casting techniques, understanding how fish behave, and most importantly, having a blast on the water. With all gear provided and Captain DLS handling the technical stuff, parents can relax while their little ones discover why fishing becomes a lifelong passion.
This trip starts early when the fish are most active and the Texas sun isn't blazing yet. Captain DLS keeps things simple but effective – we're talking soft plastic lures worked through grass flats and oyster reefs where redfish and trout love to hang out. The boat stays in protected waters, so even kids who get seasick easily can focus on fishing instead of fighting waves. Your young anglers will learn how to feel the difference between a fish bite and bottom structure, when to set the hook, and how to fight a fish without losing it. Captain DLS has a knack for explaining fishing concepts in ways kids actually understand, turning what could be confusing into something fun and memorable. The 6-hour timeframe gives everyone plenty of opportunities to catch fish without wearing out shorter attention spans. Plus, with only 2 guests max, each kid gets personal attention and coaching throughout the day.
We're fishing smart here – soft plastics rigged on jig heads that mimic the shrimp and baitfish these coastal species can't resist. Captain DLS provides all the rods, reels, and tackle, making sure everything is sized appropriately for younger hands. The boat is equipped with all safety gear, a good sound system to keep spirits up during slower periods, and a cooler stocked with drinks to keep everyone hydrated. We'll be working shallow water structure using light spinning tackle that gives kids the best chance to feel every bite and successfully land their catch. The captain handles boat positioning, reading the water, and finding fish, while kids focus on the fundamentals of casting, retrieving, and hook setting. When someone hooks up, Captain DLS is right there to coach them through the fight, ensuring they experience the full excitement of landing their own fish. At the end of the day, all catch gets properly cleaned and bagged so families can take their fresh fillets home for dinner.
Redfish are the stars of this show, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers live year-round in Rio Hondo's shallow bays, cruising grass flats and ambushing anything that looks like an easy meal. Reds typically run 18-28 inches in these waters, perfect size for kids to handle while still providing enough fight to get hearts pumping. They're most active during moving tides, especially early morning when we'll be targeting them with soft plastics worked slowly along bottom structure. What makes redfish so exciting for young anglers is how they eat – when a red takes your lure, there's no mistaking it. They hit hard, run strong, and put up a determined fight that tests both tackle and technique. Fall through spring offers the most consistent action, but summer mornings can be phenomenal when conditions align.
Speckled trout add finesse to the day's fishing, requiring more subtle presentations but rewarding successful anglers with some of the best eating fish in Texas waters. These spotted beauties prefer slightly deeper grass beds and drop-offs adjacent to shallow flats. Trout in this area average 14-18 inches, with occasional specimens pushing into the 20-inch range that really get kids excited. Unlike redfish, speckled trout have a more delicate bite that teaches young anglers to pay attention to their rod tip and develop feel for what's happening underwater. They're most active during cooler months from October through March, but early summer mornings can produce excellent catches when water temperatures haven't climbed too high. The key with trout is patience and finesse – qualities that serve young anglers well as they develop their fishing skills.
This top-rated kids' fishing experience books up quickly, especially during school breaks and summer months when families are planning their Texas coast adventures. Captain DLS has built a reputation around Rio Hondo for making fishing accessible and fun for young anglers, combining his local knowledge with genuine enthusiasm for teaching kids proper fishing techniques. The 6-hour format gives your family real value – enough time for kids to get comfortable, learn something meaningful, and catch fish they'll be talking about for months. With all gear included, catch cleaning provided, and refreshments on board, this represents one of the best fishing values along the Texas coast. Don't let another season pass wondering if your kids would love fishing – book this trip and find out firsthand why so many young anglers become lifelong fishing enthusiasts after spending a day on the water with Captain DLS.
Your fishing adventure launches from our dependable 21' Shallow Master, perfectly sized for up to 2 young anglers ready to chase Redfish and Sea Trout in Rio Hondo's shallow bay waters. This motorboat cuts smoothly through calm inshore areas where kids can focus on learning the ropes without fighting rough seas. The onboard icebox keeps drinks cold during those hot Texas mornings, while GPS navigation helps Captain DLS find the best fishing spots along the coast. Built for shallow water fishing, this boat gets you right where the action happens – those productive flats and bay edges where fish love to feed. The stable platform gives young fishermen confidence to cast soft plastics and fight their catches safely.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water fishing here along the Texas coast. These copper-colored fighters typically range from 20-35 inches and are famous for that distinctive black spot near their tail. You'll find them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster reefs, grass flats, and muddy bottoms where they root around for crabs and shrimp. They're year-round residents but really turn on during spring and fall when the water temperatures are just right. What makes redfish special is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll make your drag sing. The smaller "slot" fish are excellent eating with sweet, firm white meat. Pro tip from years of guiding these waters: when you see redfish tailing in super shallow water, cast your soft plastic well ahead of where they're headed and let it sit on the bottom. They'll find it.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are one of our most reliable targets here in the shallow bays around Rio Hondo. These silver beauties with black spots typically run 14-24 inches and put up a solid fight on light tackle. You'll find them cruising grass flats in 2-4 feet of water, especially during warmer months when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. They hit soft plastics really well, which makes them perfect for kids to catch. The meat is white, flaky, and mild-tasting - great for the dinner table if you decide to keep a few. Here's a local trick: when you're working those grass flats, make your retrieve just fast enough to keep your lure above the grass. Trout will come up to hit it, and you'll avoid getting snagged in the weeds. They're schooling fish, so where you catch one, there's usually more nearby.
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