Target Redfish, Trout & Drum on Matagorda Bay
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour private bay fishing trip targets trout, redfish, and drumExpert guidance with bait and fish cleaning services includedAccommodates up to four guests in Matagorda and San Antonio Bays
When you're looking for world-class inshore fishing without burning a whole day, this 4-hour guided trip in Port O'Connor hits the sweet spot. Starting right at first light, you'll be working the productive waters of Matagorda Bay and San Antonio Bay with a seasoned captain who knows exactly where the fish are holding. At $600 for up to 4 anglers, this top-rated trip covers everything - bait, tackle, and they'll even clean your catch so you can head home with fillets ready for the fryer. These Texas bays are legendary for their redfish, trout, and drum populations, and you'll quickly see why Port O'Connor has earned its reputation as one of the Gulf Coast's premier fishing destinations.
Your morning kicks off before sunrise when the fish are most active and the bay is glass-calm. The captain will have the boat loaded and ready, so you can grab your coffee and get straight to the productive spots. Matagorda Bay and San Antonio Bay offer incredible diversity - from shallow grass flats where reds cruise looking for crabs, to deeper drop-offs where big trout suspend over oyster reefs. The beauty of a private charter is flexibility. If the trout bite is hot on the east shoreline, you'll stay there. If the drum are schooled up in the deeper water, that's where you'll focus. This isn't a cookie-cutter trip - your captain reads the conditions, tides, and fish movement to put you on the best action of the day. With just 4 hours, every cast counts, and these guides know how to make them productive.
All your tackle is provided, rigged, and ready to fish. You'll be using medium-action spinning rods perfect for the bay environment - sensitive enough to feel light trout bites but with enough backbone to handle a bull red's initial run. The captain keeps a full selection of proven baits: live shrimp when they're available, fresh cut mullet for the drum, and an arsenal of soft plastics in colors that match local baitfish. Depending on conditions, you might be drifting live bait over shell beds, working topwater plugs along grass lines, or bouncing jigs through deeper channels. The technique changes with the tide, wind, and what the fish are telling you. Wade fishing isn't typically part of this trip - you'll be covering water efficiently from the boat, hitting multiple spots to find where the fish are most active. The guides provide rod holders, tackle boxes, and a clean, organized setup so you can focus on fishing instead of fumbling with gear.
Black drum are the powerhouses of these bays, and Port O'Connor consistently produces some of the biggest specimens on the Texas coast. These bruisers typically run 15-40 pounds, with occasional giants pushing 50-plus. They're most active during cooler months from October through March, when they school up in deeper channels and around structure. What makes drum fishing so exciting is the initial hit - they inhale bait like a vacuum, then make bulldogging runs that test your drag and patience. They're excellent table fare when kept in the slot, with firm white meat that's perfect for blackening or grilling. The key is finding them holding near oyster reefs or shell drops where they're feeding on crabs and small baitfish.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of bay fishing here. These beautiful fish range from schoolie 14-inchers up to trophy "gator" trout exceeding 25 inches. They're most aggressive during spring and fall transitions when water temperatures are in that sweet 65-75 degree range. Trout are structure-oriented, holding near grass beds, oyster reefs, and drop-offs where they ambush shrimp and small mullet. What anglers love about trout fishing is the variety of techniques that work - from slow-rolling soft plastics to working topwater plugs at dawn. They're also fantastic eating, with flaky white meat that's perfect for ceviche or simply sautéed with lemon and butter.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Texas inshore fishing, and these bays hold healthy populations year-round. Slot-size reds (20-28 inches) are the target, offering the perfect combination of fight and table fare. Spring through fall sees the most consistent action, when reds move shallow to feed on crabs, shrimp, and mullet. What makes redfish so special is their aggressive nature - they'll slam topwater baits with explosive strikes that get your heart pumping. Bull reds over the slot provide catch-and-release excitement, often exceeding 35 inches and putting serious bend in your rod. These copper-colored beauties are ambush predators, using grass beds and structure to surprise their prey. They're incredibly hardy fighters, making multiple runs and using their broad tails to their advantage.
This half-day trip offers the perfect balance of productive fishing time without the full-day commitment. At $600 for up to 4 people, you're getting professional guidance, quality gear, fresh bait, and fish cleaning service - everything needed for a successful morning on the water. Port O'Connor's bay system is one of Texas's most productive, and starting at first light puts you in prime position for the best bite of the day. Whether you're introducing kids to bay fishing, planning a quick guys' trip, or want to experience these world-class fisheries without the time investment of a full day, this customer favorite delivers consistent results. The guides at Barely Legal Outdoors know these waters intimately and take pride in putting clients on fish. Don't miss out on some of the best inshore fishing Texas has to offer - book your spot and get ready for a morning you'll be talking about long after you're back on the dock.
Your fishing adventure starts aboard our brand new 2024 Mowdy Bay Boat, a sleek 25-footer that'll get you to the hot spots fast with its powerful 300 HP Suzuki outboard. This modern bay boat cuts through the water at up to 46 knots, so you'll spend more time with lines in the water and less time getting there. Built for serious anglers, she's equipped with GPS navigation to pinpoint productive areas and a quality fish finder to locate schools of trout, redfish, and drum hiding in the shallows and structure. The boat comfortably handles up to 4 anglers, giving everyone plenty of room to cast and fight fish without getting tangled up. Whether you're working the grass flats for speckled trout or sight-casting to tailing reds in skinny water, this well-designed platform puts you in position for success on Matagorda and San Antonio Bays.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our bays, running anywhere from 5 to 30 pounds with some bruisers pushing 90. You'll find them cruising shallow mudflats and oyster beds where they crush crabs and shellfish with those powerful jaws. They're built like tanks - black to gray with that distinctive drum family look. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them much easier to locate. What makes them special is the fight - they're pure muscle and will test your tackle. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are great table fare with flaky white meat, but the big ones get tough. Here's the key: use fresh crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom. They won't chase anything, so put it on their nose.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water game, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters typically run 18 to 30 inches in our bays, with that signature black spot near the tail. They love cruising 1 to 4 feet of water around oyster reefs, grass beds, and mud flats - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Year-round fishing here, but fall and spring are peak times when they school up. What makes them special is their willingness to eat almost anything and fight like crazy in skinny water. The smaller "slot" fish are fantastic on the table with mild, flaky meat. My go-to trick: look for nervous water or tailing fish, then cast ahead of them with a gold spoon or soft plastic. Let it sink and work it slow.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are one of the prettiest fish in our bays with those distinctive black spots covering their silver sides. Most run 14 to 24 inches and put up a scrappy fight that's perfect for light tackle. You'll find them over grass flats in 2 to 6 feet of water, especially around drop-offs and channel edges. They're most active during cooler months when they school up in deeper holes, but we catch them year-round. What guests love is how they hit - aggressive strikes on topwater plugs and soft plastics. The meat is delicate and flaky, making them excellent eating. Pro tip: work your lures slow and steady. Specks have soft mouths, so don't horse them in or you'll pull the hook right out.
Port O'Connor