Big Group Fishing Adventure in Matagorda Bay
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Half-day guided fishing for large groups using four boatsTarget redfish and speckled trout in Matagorda Bay watersAccommodates up to 12 guests with expert local guides
Got a crew of 12 that wants to hit the water together? Captain Joe and his handpicked team of trusted guides know exactly how to handle large groups looking for a top-rated fishing experience in Matagorda Bay. This isn't your typical charter where half the group gets stuck watching from the sidelines. With four boats working together, everyone gets prime fishing spots and personal attention from seasoned guides who know these waters like the back of their hand.
Your half-day adventure kicks off with Captain Joe coordinating his team of local guides to spread your group across four boats, ensuring everyone has plenty of elbow room and prime casting opportunities. Whether you're planning a corporate retreat, family reunion, or just got a bunch of fishing buddies who want to chase reds and specks together, this setup gives you the flexibility most single-boat charters can't match. Joe customizes each trip based on what your group wants to target - if half the crew wants to sight-cast for redfish in the shallows while the others prefer drifting for trout, no problem. The guides stay in radio contact throughout the day, sharing intel on where the fish are biting and adjusting the game plan as conditions change. Matagorda Bay's expansive flats and deeper channels give you plenty of variety, from backcountry marshes perfect for stalking reds to open-water structure holding schools of hungry trout.
Captain Joe and his crew use a mix of live bait and artificial lures depending on conditions and what species you're targeting. In the shallower grass flats, they'll have you throwing soft plastics and topwater plugs for redfish cruising the edges. When the trout bite is on, expect to work the deeper drop-offs and shell reefs with live shrimp under popping corks or bounce jigheads along the bottom for flounder. The guides provide all rods, reels, tackle, and bait - they're rigged with quality gear that can handle everything from schoolie trout to bull reds. Matagorda Bay's structure is perfect for this multi-species approach. You've got miles of shallow grass beds, oyster reefs, and deeper channels that hold different fish throughout the tide changes. The guides read the water and weather conditions daily, so they know whether to work the back lakes for protected fishing or head to the main bay when conditions allow.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Matagorda Bay fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 20-28 inches in these waters and put up a battle that'll test your drag system. Fall through early spring offers the best shot at bigger fish, but slot-sized reds are here year-round. They cruise the shallow flats looking for crabs and shrimp, often giving you that heart-stopping visual of their backs cutting through ankle-deep water. What makes them so special is the variety of ways you can catch them - sight-casting in skinny water, working structure with live bait, or even topwater action when they're feeding aggressively.
Sea trout, or specks as the locals call them, are the bread and butter of Matagorda Bay. These spotted beauties range from schoolie-sized 14-inchers up to gator trout pushing 24 inches or better. Spring and fall are prime time when they stack up around shell beds and channel edges, but you can find them year-round if you know where to look. They're perfect for groups because when you find one, there are usually more nearby. The strike is often subtle - just a little tick on the line - but once hooked, they'll jump and shake their heads trying to throw the hook.
Southern flounder are the bay's ambush predators, laying camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting for unsuspecting bait to swim by. These flatfish can surprise you with their size, with solid fish running 16-20 inches and doormat-sized specimens topping 24 inches. Fall migration from September through November is when the biggest flounder move through Matagorda Bay heading to the Gulf to spawn. They hit live shrimp bounced along the bottom or slow-trolled soft plastics, and their bite feels like you've snagged the bottom until they start that distinctive head-shaking fight.
Black drum might not win any beauty contests, but these bottom-dwellers are pure power. Matagorda Bay holds some impressive drum, with fish commonly running 20-30 pounds and true giants pushing 40-plus. They're most active in cooler months and love to cruise shallow flats and oyster reefs looking for crabs and shrimp. The fight is all bulldogging power - no jumps or fancy moves, just steady pressure that'll make your arms burn. Young anglers especially love drum because they're usually willing biters and give everyone in the group a shot at a fish that feels like it's glued to the bottom.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the group, known for their light bites and ability to steal bait without getting hooked. These black-and-white striped fish hang around structure like pilings, rocks, and shell beds, feeding on barnacles, crabs, and shrimp. Winter months bring the best sheepshead action in Matagorda Bay when they school up for spawning. They require finesse and patience, but landing a 3-4 pound sheepshead with their human-like teeth and crafty nature gives experienced anglers a real sense of accomplishment.
This world-class fishing experience in Matagorda Bay gives large groups something most charters can't - everyone gets to fish, everyone gets personal attention, and everyone goes home with stories about the one that didn't get away. Captain Joe's team approach means your group stays together while maximizing everyone's chances at hooking up with quality fish. With weekday Monday through Thursday trips
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of Matagorda Bay, commonly running 5-30 pounds with some pushing 90+ pounds. These powerful fish cruise shallow muddy flats, oyster beds, and around structure where they crush crabs and shellfish with their pharyngeal teeth. Spring spawning season from February through April is prime time when they school up in large numbers. What guests love about drum fishing is the serious fight these fish put up - they'll test your drag and stamina. Smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating with firm, white meat. Here in the bay, we target them around oyster reefs and creek mouths using fresh blue crab or cut mullet on the bottom. Pro tip: when you feel that steady thump-thump on your line, don't set the hook right away. Let them chew on it for a few seconds - their mouths are tough and they need time to get it positioned right.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of Matagorda Bay with their copper-bronze sides and distinctive black spots near the tail. These 20-35 inch fighters love super shallow water from 1-4 feet deep around grass flats, oyster reefs, and shorelines. Year-round action makes them reliable, but fall and spring offer the hottest fishing when they're most active. What makes reds special is that explosive topwater bite in skinny water and their bulldogging fight that'll test your equipment. They're also excellent eating with firm, slightly sweet meat. In our bay, I focus on areas where you can see their backs or tails sticking out of the water. The key is staying quiet and making long casts with topwater plugs or soft plastics. When a red hits topwater, hang on - they'll blow up on it and make multiple runs. Don't horse them in shallow water or they'll break you off in the oysters.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of Matagorda Bay fishing, running 14-24 inches with those beautiful spotted sides. These popular game fish cruise grass flats, shallow shorelines, and drop-offs where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. They bite best during cooler months and around dawn and dusk when they move up shallow to feed. What guests love about trout is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they make great table fare with tender, flaky white meat. During winter, they school up in deeper channels, making for hot action when you find them. My go-to technique is working soft plastics or live shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds. Keep your presentation natural and be ready - when trout are feeding, they'll often hit as soon as your bait touches down. The bite is usually a solid thump followed by a quick run.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of Matagorda Bay with their distinctive black and gray stripes and human-like teeth. These crafty 1-8 pounders hang tight around any structure - docks, pilings, jetties, and oyster reefs where they pick off barnacles and small crabs. Spring months are best when they're spawning and more aggressive. What makes them fun to target is their notorious bait-stealing reputation and the challenge of outsmarting them. They're also some of the best eating fish in the bay with sweet, flaky white meat. The key to catching sheepshead is getting your bait right against the structure and being ready for that subtle bite. I always tell guests to keep constant tension on the line and set the hook at the slightest tick - these fish will clean your hook faster than you can blink. Fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs work best.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are unique flatfish that ambush prey from sandy and muddy bottoms throughout Matagorda Bay. These chameleons of the bay change color to match their surroundings, making them masters of camouflage. Most run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, though we've caught some pushing 30+ inches. They're active year-round but really fire up in fall when they move toward deeper channels. What makes them special? Those explosive strikes when they nail a bait, plus they're fantastic table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. My trick for landing more flounder: use a slow, bouncing retrieve with soft plastics or live mullet. Keep your bait moving just above the bottom - they'll dart up to grab it. The bite feels like you snagged bottom, then your "snag" starts swimming away.
Matagorda