Full Day Guided Fishing In Matagorda Bay
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day inshore fishing targeting Red Drum, Black Drum, Speckled TroutMultiple fishing techniques including drift, wade, and anchor fishingExpert guided trip accommodates up to 4 guests in East Matagorda Bay
East Matagorda Bay has earned its reputation as one of Texas's premier inshore fishing destinations, and there's no better way to experience it than with a full day on these productive waters. This isn't your typical half-day trip where you're just getting started when it's time to head back. We're talking about a solid day of fishing where you'll have plenty of time to work different areas, adjust tactics based on conditions, and really dial in on what's working. With up to four anglers, this trip strikes the perfect balance between having enough hands to cover water while keeping things personal and manageable.
East Matagorda Bay offers the kind of diverse fishing that keeps every angler engaged, regardless of skill level. The bay system features everything from shallow grass flats perfect for sight fishing to deeper cuts and channels where bigger fish cruise. You'll spend the day moving between productive zones, reading the water, and adapting to what Mother Nature serves up. The beauty of a full day trip is flexibility – if the fish are fired up in the shallows early morning, we can work that bite until it tapers off, then transition to different structure or techniques as conditions change. Weather plays a big role here, and experienced guides know how to use wind, tide, and temperature changes to stay on fish throughout the day. Some days you might find yourself sight casting to tailing redfish in knee-deep water, while other days call for working deeper structure where black drum and sheepshead hang out.
The three main approaches we use – drift fishing, wade fishing, and anchor fishing – each have their place depending on conditions and target species. Drift fishing lets you cover serious ground, especially when fish are scattered or when you're prospecting new areas. The boat moves naturally with wind and current while you work lures or bait through likely zones. Wade fishing is where things get personal – stepping out of the boat and becoming part of the environment gives you stealth and precision that's tough to match from the deck. You can work structure more thoroughly, make quieter presentations, and often get closer to spooky fish. Anchor fishing comes into play when you've located a productive spot and want to work it systematically, particularly effective around structure where drum and sheepshead concentrate. Each technique requires different gear setups and approaches, and part of what makes a guide valuable is knowing when to switch tactics and how to set you up for success with each method.
Black drum in East Matagorda Bay are the bruisers that test your tackle and patience. These bottom-huggers can push well over 20 pounds and fight like freight trains once hooked. They're structure-oriented fish, hanging around oyster reefs, pilings, and drop-offs where they root around for crabs and shellfish. Spring and fall see the best black drum action, with cooler water temperatures bringing them into shallower areas where they're more accessible to anglers. What makes black drum special is their pure power – they don't jump or make flashy runs, but they'll pull steady and hard, testing your drag and making you work for every inch of line recovered.
Summer flounder add a different dimension to the day, requiring finesse and patience that contrasts nicely with the power fishing for drum and reds. These flatfish are ambush predators that bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting for baitfish to pass overhead. They're found around channel edges, drop-offs, and areas where current creates natural feeding lanes. Summer flounder hit subtly – often feeling like you've snagged bottom until that telltale head shake gives them away. They're excellent table fare, which makes them a customer favorite, and their seasonal nature means when they're here, smart anglers target them specifically.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge that separates casual anglers from serious stick handlers. These black-and-white striped convicts have mouths full of human-like teeth designed for crushing barnacles and crabs off structure. They're notorious bait thieves, requiring sharp hooks, sensitive tackle, and lightning-fast reflexes to detect their subtle bites. Found around any hard structure in the bay, sheepshead fishing teaches patience and technique. When you finally connect with a good one, you'll understand why experienced anglers specifically target them – they're challenging to catch, fight surprisingly well for their size, and make excellent table fare.
Sea trout, or speckled trout, represent the bread-and-butter species that keeps action consistent throughout the day. These spotted beauties are aggressive feeders that respond well to both artificial lures and live bait. They're school fish, so when you find one, there are usually more in the area. Specks are found throughout the bay system but show preferences for grass flats, drop-offs, and areas with good current flow. They're active in a wide range of conditions and provide steady action when other species might be finicky. Good speckled trout fishing often coincides with moving water and low-light conditions, making early morning and late afternoon prime time.
Redfish are the crown jewel of East Matagorda Bay fishing, combining accessibility, fight, and beauty in one copper-colored package. These drum family members are perfectly adapted to shallow bay environments, using their downturned mouths to root out crabs and baitfish from grass flats and oyster bars. Redfish are visual feeders in shallow water, often betraying their presence with wakes, tails, or nervous water. They're year-round residents that provide consistent action, though their behavior changes with seasons and conditions. What makes reds special is their willingness to eat – they're aggressive feeders that respond to a wide variety of presentations, making them perfect for anglers of all skill levels while still providing enough challenge to keep experts engaged.
East Matagorda Bay delivers the kind of diverse inshore fishing that creates lasting memories and improves skills with every trip. A full day gives you time to experience different techniques, work various types of
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of East Matagorda Bay, commonly running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These grey-black bruisers love oyster beds and muddy flats, using their powerful jaws to crush shellfish and crabs. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll find the best action. What makes them special is their incredible strength and the distinctive drumming sounds they make underwater. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Pro tip: use fresh crab on a circle hook and keep your bait right on the bottom near structure. When you feel that subtle tap-tap, set the hook hard - these fish have tough mouths and won't give up easy.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing, running 20-40 inches with that signature copper color and distinctive black spot near the tail. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. You'll find them cruising oyster reefs, grass flats, and muddy shorelines year-round, though spring and fall offer the most active feeding. What makes them special is their explosive strikes and bulldogging fight that tests your drag. Plus, slot-sized fish make outstanding table fare with mild, sweet meat. They're not picky eaters - live shrimp, crab, or artificial lures all work. My favorite local technique is sight-casting with gold spoons in skinny water during moving tides. Keep your presentations quiet and lead them like you're duck hunting - spook one and you'll spook the whole school.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of East Matagorda Bay, averaging 14-24 inches with that beautiful spotted pattern. They cruise grass flats and shallow waters, especially active during dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours. Spring and fall provide the most consistent action when water temps are in their comfort zone. Guests enjoy their willingness to hit artificial lures and their delicate, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. Look for them over seagrass in 2-6 feet of water, often making that distinctive "popping" sound when feeding on shrimp. Soft plastics like paddle tails work great, but here's my local trick: use a popping cork with live shrimp underneath during moving tides. The sound draws them in from a distance, and the natural presentation seals the deal.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of the bay with their distinctive black stripes and human-like teeth. They typically run 1-8 pounds around docks, pilings, and oyster reefs where they feed on barnacles and small crabs. Spring fishing is outstanding when they gather to spawn around structures. What guests love most is their challenging nature - they're notorious bait thieves and excellent eating with sweet, white meat. You'll find them tight to any structure in 2-20 feet of water, rarely venturing far from cover. Fresh fiddler crabs or sand fleas work best, rigged on a small circle hook. Here's the secret: when you feel them nibbling, don't wait - set the hook immediately and aggressively. Their bony mouths require a solid hookset, and hesitation means watching your bait disappear.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy bottoms, typically running 15-20 inches but capable of reaching 26 pounds. These flatfish are ambush predators that lie camouflaged on the seafloor, both eyes on their left side watching for prey above. Fall months from September through November offer the best fishing when they're most active. Guests love targeting them because they're excellent table fare with sweet, white meat and they put up a scrappy fight once hooked. You'll find them on sandy and muddy bottoms in 3-15 feet of water. My go-to technique is drifting with live minnows or sea worms on a circle hook, keeping your bait moving just off the bottom. The key is patience - let them run with the bait before setting the hook.
Matagorda