Full Day Family Fishing in Rockport Waters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour private inshore fishing trip for up to six guestsTarget redfish, flounder, and black drum with provided gearFamilyfriendly experience suitable for all skill levels
Looking for the perfect family fishing adventure on the Texas coast? This 8-hour guided trip with Bills and Gills Guide Service puts you right in the heart of Rockport's best inshore fishing grounds. Your group of up to six anglers will spend a full day targeting redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and southern flounder in the shallow bays and grass flats that make this area famous. Captain Bills provides all the gear you need – rods, reels, bait, and tackle – so you can focus on making memories and landing fish. Whether you've got seasoned anglers in the family or kids who've never held a rod, this trip is designed to keep everyone engaged and excited throughout the day.
Your day starts early when you meet Captain Bills at the launch. The boat is rigged and ready with everything from light tackle spinning gear to heavier setups for bigger fish. Rockport's inshore waters offer incredible variety – one minute you're drifting over oyster reefs looking for black drum, the next you're working the grass flats for tailing redfish. The captain reads the conditions and adjusts the game plan accordingly. Maybe the trout are biting on topwater lures near the jetties, or perhaps the flounder are stacked up in the sandy potholes. With eight hours on the water, there's plenty of time to hit multiple spots and try different techniques. The boat stays in protected waters, so even when it's breezy outside, you'll find fishable areas that keep everyone comfortable.
Bills and Gills runs top-rated equipment that's perfect for Rockport's diverse fishery. You'll be using medium-light spinning rods paired with quality reels spooled with braided line – ideal for feeling those subtle trout bites and handling the powerful runs of bull reds. The tackle box includes everything from soft plastics and spoons to topwater plugs and live bait rigs. Depending on what's working, you might be bouncing jigs along the bottom for flounder, casting spoons at schooling trout, or sight-casting to redfish cruising the shallows. The captain teaches proper techniques as you go, showing kids how to set the hook and helping experienced anglers fine-tune their presentations. Live shrimp and croaker are go-to baits, but artificial lures often produce the most action. The boat's equipped with a shallow-water anchor system, allowing precise positioning over productive structure without spooking fish.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Rockport's inshore scene, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 20-28 inches and put up battles that get everyone's adrenaline pumping. Fall through early spring offers the best action, when schools of reds patrol the grass flats and oyster bars. They're aggressive feeders that hit both live bait and lures hard, making them perfect for family trips where you want consistent action and memorable fights.
Speckled trout provide steady action year-round, with prime time hitting during cooler months when they school up in deeper holes and around structure. These spotted beauties range from keeper-sized 15-inchers to trophy specimens pushing 25 inches. Trout are excellent table fare and respond well to a variety of techniques, from slow-trolling live shrimp to working soft plastics along drop-offs. Their subtle bite teaches young anglers to pay attention to their rod tips.
Black drum offer a different kind of excitement with their bulldogging fights and hefty builds. These bottom-dwellers love oyster reefs and mud flats, where they root around for crabs and shrimp. Drum fishing peaks in winter and early spring, when fish in the 20-40 pound range move into the shallows. They're not flashy fighters, but their steady, powerful pulls test your tackle and patience. Kids love the anticipation of not knowing if they've hooked a small drum or a real bruiser.
Southern flounder are the opportunistic predators hiding in plain sight along sandy bottoms and channel edges. These flatfish are masters of camouflage but aggressive hunters that ambush prey from their sandy hideouts. Flounder fishing requires patience and technique – you're often bouncing baits slowly along the bottom, waiting for that distinctive tap-tap-pull. They're excellent eating and provide a fun challenge that's different from the other target species. Best action typically comes during their fall migration, but good numbers are available throughout the warmer months.
This full-day family fishing trip delivers exactly what Rockport is known for – consistent action, beautiful scenery, and fish that fight hard in shallow water. With all gear included and a captain who knows these waters inside and out, you're set up for success from the moment you step on the boat. The eight-hour format gives you real value, allowing time to explore different areas, try various techniques, and ensure everyone in your group gets their shot at landing fish. Whether you're planning a multi-generation family outing or want to introduce kids to the sport, this trip provides the perfect blend of education, action, and fun that keeps families coming back season after season. Book now to secure your spot on one of Rockport's customer favorite fishing experiences.
Get ready to fish the shallow waters of Rockport aboard Bills and Gills Guide Service's reliable 22' Diamondback Airboat. This 2000 model is built specifically for navigating the skinny water where redfish, trout, and black drum love to hang out. With room for up to 6 anglers, families can spread out comfortably while working the flats and grass beds that make this stretch of Texas coast so productive. The airboat design means you'll access spots that regular boats simply can't reach - those back lakes and shallow areas where the big reds cruise. Your guide knows exactly where to position this versatile platform for the best shots at quality fish, whether you're sight-casting to tailing redfish or working structure for black drum. Perfect for mixed groups where some folks want to learn while others are ready to get serious about landing their personal best.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, typically running 10-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 40-plus. They're bottom feeders with powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs around structure. You'll find them on oyster reefs, muddy flats, and near creek mouths in 2-10 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we get the most consistent action. What guests love is the power these fish pack. They don't jump like redfish, but they'll test your drag with long, stubborn runs. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent eating with firm, white meat. Here's my go-to tip: use fresh blue crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom near oyster bars. The drumming sound they make underwater often gives away their location before you even see a bite.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of Texas inshore fishing, easily recognized by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spot near the tail. Around Rockport, we target slot fish running 20-28 inches that cruise our shallow flats and marsh edges in just 1-4 feet of water. Year-round fishing is good, but fall brings the best action when they school up and feed aggressively before winter. What makes reds so popular is their power - they'll strip drag and make blistering runs through shallow water that'll get your heart pumping. Plus, they're fantastic table fare with mild, sweet meat. These fish aren't picky eaters but can be spooky in skinny water. My best local tip: watch for "tailing" reds with their backs out of water while feeding head-down. Approach quietly and drop a live shrimp or soft plastic just ahead of where they're moving. The strike is usually immediate and explosive.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are beautiful fish with distinctive black spots along their silvery sides. They average 14-20 inches in Rockport's grass flats and shallow bays, feeding heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. Best fishing happens during cooler months when they school up in deeper pockets and channels, though we catch them year-round. What makes trout special is their willingness to hit topwater lures - few things beat the explosion of a nice speck smashing a surface plug at dawn. They're also some of the best eating fish in our waters with delicate, flaky white meat. The key to consistent trout fishing here is finding the right depth on grass edges, usually 3-6 feet. My local secret: use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below. Work it slow over the grass beds, and when you find one trout, there's usually more nearby.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are unique flatfish that'll surprise first-time anglers with both eyes on their left side. They're masters of camouflage, burying in sand and mud bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-18 inches around Rockport's shallow bays and grass flats, though we occasionally land keepers up to 25 inches. Fall through early spring offers the best action when cooler water brings them into our inshore areas. What makes them special is the challenge - you're sight fishing for fish that perfectly match the bottom. They fight different than other species, more bulldogging than jumping. The meat is excellent, white and flaky. My local trick: look for slight depressions or "beds" in sandy areas near drop-offs. That's where they're hiding, and a slow-bounced shrimp or finger mullet right past their nose usually seals the deal.
Rockport, TX