Half Day Morning Fishing in Arroyo City, TX
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour private morning charter targeting redfish, speckled trout, black drumCaptain Smiley Yanez guides inshore trips in Lower Laguna Madre watersAll fishing equipment included, accommodates up to five anglers total
Captain Smiley Yanez has been working these waters for years, and he knows exactly where the redfish, speckled trout, and black drum like to hang out in the Lower Laguna Madre. This top-rated 4-hour morning charter gives you quality time on some of South Texas's most productive inshore waters without burning your whole day. You'll launch early when the fish are active, and with all gear included, you just need to show up with your Texas fishing license and get ready to bend some rods. The trip covers 2 anglers in the base price, but Captain Smiley can take up to 5 total if your crew wants to make it a group thing.
Your morning starts before the crowds hit the water, which is exactly when you want to be fishing these flats. Captain Smiley runs a well-equipped boat that gets you to the fish fast, whether that's working the grass beds near Port Mansfield or hitting the drop-offs closer to South Padre Island. The Lower Laguna Madre is a renowned fishery that stays productive year-round, and Smiley knows how to read the conditions – wind, tide, water temperature – to put you on fish. You'll spend 4 solid hours casting to structure, working the shallows, and learning techniques that actually work in these waters. No wasted time running around aimlessly; this is focused fishing with a guide who lives and breathes these flats.
All your rods, reels, and tackle come with the trip, so you don't need to worry about rigging up or bringing gear. Captain Smiley stocks quality equipment that matches what you're targeting – medium to medium-heavy setups that can handle everything from schoolie trout to bull redfish. You'll work with both live bait and artificials depending on conditions, learning how to present baits around oyster reefs, grass beds, and sandy pockets where these species feed. The techniques vary throughout the morning as you move between spots – sometimes you're sight casting to tailing reds in skinny water, other times you're working deeper channels for black drum or covering water with soft plastics for trout. Smiley's approach is hands-on teaching, so whether you're new to saltwater fishing or looking to dial in your inshore game, you'll pick up tips that make you a better angler.
Redfish are the customer favorite for good reason – these copper-colored bruisers fight hard and show up in fishable numbers throughout the year. In Arroyo City waters, you'll find reds ranging from slot-size fish around 20-25 inches up to bull reds pushing 35+ inches that'll test your drag system. Spring through fall offers the best action, but winter can produce some of the biggest fish when they school up in deeper water. What makes reds special here is the variety of presentations that work – you might sight cast to fish cruising the shallows, work cut bait around structure, or throw topwater plugs during low-light periods.
Speckled trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the bread and butter of Lower Laguna Madre fishing. These fish are abundant, willing to bite, and absolutely excellent on the table. Spring and fall migrations bring world-class numbers through the area, with fish averaging 15-20 inches and occasional trophies over 25 inches showing up. Specks relate to grass beds and sandy areas where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. They're perfect for anglers wanting consistent action – you can catch multiple fish per hour when you dial in the right technique and location.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're some of the strongest fish swimming in these waters. These bottom-dwellers can reach impressive sizes, with fish over 30 inches common in the deeper areas around Arroyo City. Peak season runs from late winter through early summer when they move shallow to spawn. Black drum require patience and the right approach – they're structure-oriented fish that respond well to fresh or cut bait fished near the bottom. When you hook one, you'll know immediately why experienced anglers target them – they use that broad body and powerful tail to make long, determined runs that'll have you questioning your knot-tying skills.
This isn't just another guided trip – it's 4 hours of quality fishing time with someone who actually knows these waters inside and out. Captain Smiley's morning charters consistently produce fish because he adapts to conditions and puts in the time to stay on productive areas. At $100 per additional angler beyond the base 2-person price, it's easy to bring the whole crew without breaking the bank. The best fishing days fill up fast, especially during peak seasons when the bite is hot. Whether you're visiting South Texas or you're a local angler wanting to learn new water, this trip delivers the kind of fishing that keeps you coming back to the salt.
The Call Me Fishing charter features a dependable 24ft Shallow Sport center console that'll get you to the fish fast and comfortable. This 2014 rig runs on a 300 Suzuki engine that pushes her up to 50mph, perfect for covering ground in the Lower Laguna Madre's expansive waters. The center console design gives you plenty of room to work your lines while targeting redfish, speckled trout, and black drum in these productive South Texas flats. Built for serious anglers, this boat handles the shallow waters around Port Mansfield and South Padre Island with ease. Captain Smiley knows these waters inside and out, and this setup accommodates 2 guests comfortably with space for up to 5 total. The boat comes fully rigged with quality rods, reels, and tackle - just bring your Texas license and get ready to fish some of the best inshore waters on the Gulf Coast.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bruisers of the Lower Laguna Madre, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some giants pushing 90. They love cruising oyster beds and muddy flats in 2-8 feet of water, using those powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. What makes them special is that raw power when hooked; they're bulldogs that will test your drag. The meat on smaller fish under 15 pounds is excellent eating with a mild flavor. My go-to trick? Use fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig and keep it right on bottom - they won't come up for anything.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are what most folks dream about when they think Texas fishing. These copper-colored beauties average 20-35 inches and love prowling our shallow flats in just 1-4 feet of water. You'll spot that telltale black spot near the tail and sometimes see their backs out of the water when they're tailing. They hit hard and make long, powerful runs that'll get your heart pumping. The smaller ones under 28 inches are fantastic table fare with firm, sweet meat. What's really fun is sight-fishing them on the flats - watching a big red crush a topwater plug in skinny water never gets old. Here's the key: when you see them tailing, cast well ahead and work your bait slowly past their nose.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our morning trips here in the Laguna. Most run 14-24 inches and about 1-5 pounds, though we occasionally see some hefty 6-7 pounders. They hang around grass flats and drop-offs in 3-12 feet of water, especially where there's moving current. Cool mornings and evenings are best - they get sluggish when it's hot. What guests love is how aggressive they hit topwater lures and their acrobatic fights with plenty of head shaking. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish in Texas with that sweet, flaky white meat. Pro tip: work your lure slow and steady over the grass beds. When you see birds working, get over there fast - the trout are usually feeding underneath.
Arroyo City