Learn Inshore Fishing with Bay Feather's Expert Guides
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 6hour airboat redfish trip for up to 4 guestsExpert guides provide all gear and beginnerfriendly instructionAccess shallow back bays unreachable by regular boats
Looking to get your feet wet in the world of inshore fishing? Port Mansfield's back bays are calling your name. Bay Feather Outfitters runs a top-rated 6-hour private airboat trip that's perfect for folks just starting out or anyone wanting to dial in their shallow water skills. Your crew of up to 4 people gets the whole boat to yourselves, plus all the gear and know-how you need to chase redfish, trout, flounder, and snook in waters that regular boats can't even dream of reaching.
This isn't your typical fishing charter. We're talking about an airboat that glides over grass flats and slides into skinny water where the big reds like to cruise. Port Mansfield's back bay system is a maze of channels, flats, and drop-offs that hold fish year-round, and the airboat lets you cover ground fast while staying quiet enough not to spook anything. Your guide knows these waters like the back of their hand – every oyster bar, every grass bed, every little cut that holds fish when the tide's moving. The flat rate of $750 covers everything: rods, reels, tackle, bait, and most importantly, the kind of local knowledge that turns a good day into a great one. You'll spend the day learning to read water, understanding how tides affect fish behavior, and getting hands-on instruction that'll make you a better angler whether you're casting live shrimp or working soft plastics.
The airboat is what makes this trip special. While other boats are stuck in deeper water, you'll be running right over the grass beds and oyster reefs where redfish and trout do their feeding. The shallow draft means you can get within easy casting distance of fish that are literally inches deep, tailing and feeding in water so clear you can watch them eat your bait. Your guide will teach you sight fishing basics – how to spot fish, how to lead them with your cast, and when to set the hook. You'll work with both live bait and artificials, learning when to use each and why. The tackle provided includes everything from popping corks for trout to weedless spoons for reds in heavy grass. Don't worry if you've never used an airboat before – your captain handles all the driving while you focus on fishing. The ride between spots is half the fun, skimming across flats with birds working overhead and maybe catching sight of dolphins or rays cruising the shallows.
Redfish are the stars of the show in Port Mansfield's back bays. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow flats and oyster bars, especially during moving tides. You'll find them ranging from schoolie-sized 18-inchers up to bull reds pushing 30-plus pounds. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, but winter can produce some of the biggest fish of the year. What makes reds so much fun is their attitude – they eat aggressively and fight dirty, using their broad shoulders to pull drag and try to wrap you up in structure. Plus, they're not boat-shy, so you can often watch the whole fight play out in clear water.
Sea trout are your bread-and-butter fish in these waters, and Port Mansfield produces some genuine giants. The best trout fishing usually happens during cooler months when the big sow trout move shallow to feed. These fish are structure-oriented, hanging around drop-offs, grass edges, and shell beds where they can ambush baitfish. A 5-pound trout is a trophy anywhere, but the Laguna Madre system regularly kicks out fish over 7 pounds. They're also great for beginners because they're aggressive feeders and not too particular about presentation – though the big ones definitely know the difference between a good cast and a great one.
Southern flounder are the masters of disguise in these flats. They bury themselves in sand near drop-offs and channel edges, waiting to ambush anything that swims by. Fall is prime time for doormat flounder as they stage for their offshore spawning run. These fish can be tricky for beginners because they often just mouth the bait instead of crushing it, but your guide will teach you to feel the subtle pickup and when to set the hook. A 5-pound flounder is a serious fish, and the Laguna Madre has plenty of them.
Snook are the wildcards of this fishery. While not as numerous as reds and trout, they're starting to show up more regularly in the Laguna Madre system. These fish love structure and moving water, often hanging around docks, bridges, and mangrove shorelines. Summer and early fall are your best bets, especially during lower light periods. Snook are notorious for their gill-rattling jumps and their ability to throw hooks, making every hookup a heart-pounding experience. Landing one on this trip would definitely be the fish tale you'll be telling for years.
Port Mansfield's back bay fishing is world-class, and this beginner-friendly format gives you the perfect introduction to what inshore fishing is all about. You're getting expert instruction, access to fish-holding water that most people never see, and the kind of personalized attention that only comes with a private charter. The $750 flat rate makes it easy to split costs with friends or family, and with all gear included, you just need to show up ready to fish. Keep in mind that deposits are non-refundable, so pick your dates carefully. Whether you're looking to start a new hobby or just want to experience some of the best inshore fishing Texas has to offer, this trip delivers the goods. Book with Bay Feather Outfitters and get ready to see why Port Mansfield has such a reputation among serious anglers.
This 20-foot Patriot airboat gets you into the shallow back bays where redfish love to hang out. Built in 2023 with a powerful 550HP Chevrolet engine, she'll cruise at 45 knots while staying quiet enough not to spook the fish. The shallow draft design lets you glide over grass flats and oyster bars that would stop regular boats cold. Perfect for up to 4 anglers, you'll have plenty of casting room without feeling crowded. The onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold and any keeper fish fresh during the 6-hour trip. GPS navigation helps your guide find those productive honey holes tucked back in the maze of channels. Whether you're working topwater plugs over shallow structure or drifting live bait along drop-offs, this airboat puts you right where the reds are feeding.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are what Port Mansfield shallow water fishing is all about. These copper-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails cruise the flats in 1-4 feet of water, sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. They typically run 20-40 inches, but the real trophies can push 50+ pounds. You'll spot them tailing in the shallows, especially around grass beds, oyster bars, and muddy flats where they root for crabs and shrimp. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action. What hooks people is watching them cruise in gin-clear water, then that powerful run when hooked - they're bulldogs that'll test your drag. Plus they're great eating when kept in the slot. My go-to technique is sight fishing with gold spoons or soft plastics. Key tip: lead them like a duck hunter and don't splash your lure too close - they spook easy in skinny water.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are perfect for beginners - they're willing biters with beautiful spotted silver sides and a forgiving attitude. Most run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, though bigger ones lurk in deeper holes. You'll find them over grass flats, around oyster reefs, and in shallow bays where they cruise looking for shrimp and small baitfish. Best fishing happens at dawn and dusk, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. What makes trout special is their delicate bite and excellent table fare - soft, flaky white meat that's hard to beat fried up fresh. They're not the strongest fighters, but they make up for it in numbers and taste. The secret is using light tackle and not setting the hook too hard - their mouths are soft and tear easily. A popping cork with live shrimp suspended underneath is deadly, especially when you work it slow over grass beds.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are some of the most aggressive fighters you'll find in these waters. These sleek, golden fish with that signature black lateral line typically run 1-4 feet long, but the big females can push 50+ pounds. They love structure - mangroves, docks, bridges - anywhere they can ambush prey in both salt and fresh water. Spring through fall is prime time, especially around the full moon when they spawn and turn bright yellow. What guests love most is their explosive strikes and bulldogging runs that'll test your drag. They're also excellent eating with firm, white meat. The key to landing one is getting your bait close to cover without hanging up. I always tell folks to cast past the structure and work back - snook will dart out to grab a well-placed live shrimp or soft plastic, but you need to be ready for that initial run toward cover.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise - flat, oval-shaped fish that bury themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms with both eyes on their left side. They typically run 15-18 inches but can hit 33 inches and 20+ pounds. These ambush predators love our shallow back bays, especially around structure where they wait to nail shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish. Fall and winter months are prime time when they move into the shallows to feed before heading offshore. What makes them special is that color-changing ability - they'll match whatever bottom they're on perfectly. The fight's more about the surprise than power, but they make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. My tip: drift with live shrimp on a light jighead and watch for that subtle thump when they grab it.
Port Mansfield