Full Day Rockport Fishing with Bar W Outdoors
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour inshore fishing trip targeting redfish, trout, and black drumExpert guide Bryce Wickliffe provides local knowledge and personalized instructionMaximum two guests for intimate experience in Rockport coastal waters
Looking for a serious day on the water? Guide Bryce Wickliffe knows these Rockport flats like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some quality fish. This isn't just another cookie-cutter charter – it's eight solid hours targeting the species that make this stretch of Texas coast legendary. Black drum, redfish, speckled trout, and flounder are all on the menu, and Bryce has the local knowledge to make it happen. Whether you're dragging artificial lures through the grass beds or working live bait around structure, you'll be fishing the spots that produce consistently. The boat accommodates up to two anglers, so you're not fighting for deck space or competing with a crowd. Just you, your fishing partner, and a guide who's dedicated to putting fish in the box.
Your day starts early when you meet Bryce at the dock, and from there it's all about reading conditions and adjusting tactics. Rockport's shallow water system offers incredible diversity – one minute you're working a deep channel for drum, the next you're sight-casting to tailing reds in knee-deep water. The beauty of an eight-hour trip is having time to hit multiple spots without feeling rushed. If the trout bite is hot on the first flat, you can milk it. If conditions call for running to protected water, there's plenty of time to make moves. Bryce keeps a variety of tackle rigged and ready, from topwater plugs for early morning action to soft plastics for finicky afternoon fish. The approach changes with tides, weather, and what the fish are telling you. That's what separates a top-rated guide from someone just running through the motions.
The inshore fishing around Rockport revolves around understanding structure, tides, and seasonal patterns. Bryce knows where the shell reefs hold winter trout, which grass flats fire up when the water temperature hits that sweet spot, and how to read bird activity to locate baitfish concentrations. You'll learn to work different presentations – maybe starting with a MirrOLure for trout, switching to a Johnson Gold Spoon for reds, then dropping down to a Carolina-rigged live shrimp when things get tough. The water clarity here lets you see fish reactions, so you'll actually watch how different lures trigger strikes. Structure fishing for black drum means working around old oil wells, bridge pilings, and oyster reefs where these bruisers stack up. For flounder, it's all about transition zones where sand meets grass, and Bryce knows every productive drop-off and channel edge. The gear stays light enough to feel every bite but heavy enough to handle fish that can push thirty inches.
Black drum are the heavyweight champions of this fishery, with mature fish regularly tipping scales over forty pounds. These copper-colored bulldogs school up around hard bottom and structure, making for some serious arm-burning fights. They're most active during cooler months, and when you hook into a big one, everything else becomes secondary. The fight happens in slow motion – long, powerful runs that test your drag system and endurance. Summer flounder, or "doormat" flounders as locals call the big ones, lurk in sandy potholes and channel edges. They're ambush predators that slam bait with surprising violence for a flatfish. The key is keeping your offering near bottom and being ready for that distinctive thump-thump bite. Sea trout, particularly the speckled variety, are the bread and butter of Rockport fishing. These spotted beauties range from schoolie-sized fish perfect for the dinner table to gator trout that stretch over twenty-five inches. They're incredibly structure-oriented, holding tight to grass beds, shell reefs, and drop-offs. What makes speckled trout special is their willingness to hit artificial lures – topwater plugs at dawn, soft plastics during the day, and suspending baits when they're holding in the water column.
Redfish might be the most exciting species you'll target on this trip. These bronze-backed fighters are aggressive, incredibly strong, and absolutely stunning when they light up during a fight. Reds cruise shallow flats looking for crabs and shrimp, often with their backs out of water as they root around in the mud. The sight-fishing opportunities are world-class – spotting a school of bull reds in two feet of water and making the perfect cast is pure fishing poetry. They hit hard, run fast, and their initial surge can catch even experienced anglers off guard. The larger fish, called bull reds, are catch-and-release only, but they provide some of the most memorable battles you'll ever experience on light tackle.
Bar W Outdoors has built a reputation on consistently putting clients on fish, and this full-day option gives you the best chance at experiencing everything Rockport has to offer. Eight hours allows for weather delays, location changes, and those magic moments when the bite turns on and you want to capitalize. Bryce's local expertise means you're not just buying time on the water – you're investing in decades of knowledge about how this ecosystem works. The intimate two-person capacity ensures personalized instruction and plenty of one-on-one guidance. Whether you're looking to improve your technique, learn new presentations, or just catch fish in one of Texas's most productive inshore fisheries, this trip delivers. Don't wait for the perfect conditions – book your date and let a seasoned guide show you why Rockport consistently ranks among the top fishing destinations on the Gulf Coast.
Your fishing adventure takes place aboard a brand-new 2025 Fat Cat BoatWorks 25' tunnel hull boat, perfectly built for Rockport's shallow bay waters. This specialized fishing machine gets you into those skinny water spots where the big redfish and speckled trout hang out, places other boats simply can't reach. The tunnel hull design cuts through choppy water smoothly while staying stable when you're fighting fish. With room for just 2 anglers, you'll have plenty of space to cast, move around, and land your catches without getting in each other's way. The shallow-water capability means accessing prime fishing grounds in the back bays and flats where trophy redfish cruise. This high-performance vessel handles like a dream whether you're drifting over grass beds for trout or poling up on redfish in knee-deep water. Built tough for full days on the Texas coast, it's the ideal platform for serious fishing in Rockport's diverse inshore waters.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our Texas coast, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some bulls pushing 90 pounds. You'll find them on oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow water around structure where they crush shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring spawning season is prime time when they school up and become much easier to target. These fish put up a serious fight and make that distinctive drumming sound you can actually feel through the boat. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent eating with firm, white meat. My go-to trick is using fresh blue crab on a circle hook - it stays on the bottom where they feed and doesn't get picked off by bait thieves like catfish.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of Texas inshore fishing, easily spotted by their copper-red color and distinctive black spots near the tail. Most fish run 20-30 inches, but we regularly see bulls over 40 inches that'll test your tackle. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs are exposed - around oyster reefs, grass flats, and muddy areas. Year-round fishing is good, but spring and fall are exceptional when they're most active. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights, plus they're excellent table fare when kept within slot limits. The trick is staying quiet and making long casts with topwater plugs or soft plastics - these fish spook easily in shallow water.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are one of our most popular inshore targets, typically running 14-24 inches with plenty of spots covering their silver sides. They love grass flats, shallow bays, and areas with good current flow where shrimp and baitfish gather. Early morning and evening are prime times, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. These fish are scrappy fighters that make great table fare with delicate, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also willing biters that'll hit everything from live shrimp to soft plastics. Pro tip: work your lures slowly near the bottom in 2-4 feet of water, and don't be afraid to fish at night under lights where they come up to feed.
Paralichthys DentatusThese flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying on sandy bottoms with both eyes on one side watching for prey to swim by. Most run 15-20 inches, but we see some real doormat-sized fish pushing 5-6 pounds. They're ambush predators that love structure transitions where baitfish travel - think channel edges, drop-offs, and around jetties. Fall months from September through November are peak season when they're most active. What makes them special is that explosive strike when they come off the bottom, plus they're some of the best eating fish in these waters. Here's the key: use a slow drift with live mullet or croakers, and always give them time to fully take the bait before setting the hook.
Rockport