Corpus Christi Wade Fishing Trip
Private Trip
Flats/Shallows Fishing
Wade fishing experience in pristine shallow watersSmall group charter accommodates maximum two guestsBring personal gear for comfortable fishing setup
Picture yourself stepping into the gin-clear shallows of Corpus Christi Bay, feeling that cool water around your legs as you cast toward feeding fish just yards away. This isn't your typical charter boat experience – it's wade fishing at its finest, where you become part of the ecosystem and get up close with some of Texas' most sought-after inshore species. Code 3 Guide Services keeps these trips intimate with just 2 anglers, so you'll have plenty of room to work and won't be bumping elbows with a crowd. Bring your own rod and tackle box – most serious wade fishermen prefer their familiar gear anyway – and get ready to experience why this style of fishing has such a devoted following along the Texas coast.
Your day starts with a boat ride to the prime wade fishing spots around Corpus Christi, but once we anchor up, you're getting out to do the real work on foot. The flats here are legendary – crystal-clear water that rarely gets deeper than your waist, perfect for spotting tailing reds and cruising trout. You'll be walking sandy and grass-covered bottoms, making long casts to structure, drop-offs, and those magical potholes where fish love to ambush baitfish. The boat serves as your home base, but the magic happens when you're wading through these productive shallows. Don't worry about getting a little wet – that's half the fun, and on hot Texas days, it feels pretty good. The intimate setting means your guide can work closely with both anglers, pointing out subtle signs like nervous water, bait activity, and those telltale wakes that give away feeding fish.
Wade fishing is all about stealth and precision. You'll be making longer casts than boat fishing since you can't just motor up to the fish – they'd spook long before you got close. Topwater plugs work magic in the early morning when trout and reds are feeding aggressively on the surface. As the sun climbs higher, soft plastics become your best friend – Texas-rigged with a light weight to work through the grass beds without hanging up constantly. Live bait works too, but artificials let you cover more water and stay mobile. Your guide will teach you to read the water, showing you how slight color changes indicate depth variations and how to spot the sandy potholes that hold fish. Walking quietly is crucial – these fish can feel vibrations through the water, so shuffle your feet and move slowly. The payoff is getting visual shots at fish, watching them follow your lure, and feeling that strike when they finally commit.
Southern Flounder are the ghosts of the flats, lying perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms until your lure passes right over their nose. These flatfish are ambush predators that can grow surprisingly large – a keeper flounder around 15 inches makes excellent table fare, while the bigger ones can push 20+ inches and provide serious fights on light tackle. Fall and early winter are prime time for flounder, when they're fattening up before their offshore spawning run. What makes them exciting is the visual aspect – you might spot their outline on the bottom or see them dart out from what looked like empty sand.
Black Drum are the bulldozers of the bay, and when you hook into a big one while wade fishing, you'll know it immediately. These fish can range from smaller schooling fish around 14-16 inches up to massive bull drum that might tape out over 30 inches. They're bottom feeders with incredible pulling power, and they love to hunt around oyster reefs and structure. Spring brings the big spawning fish into the shallows, while smaller drum provide consistent action year-round. The thrill comes from their pure strength – they'll test your drag and make you work for every inch of line you gain back.
Sea Trout are probably the most popular target for wade fishermen, and Corpus Christi's grass flats are prime real estate for these beautiful spotted fish. They're aggressive feeders that hit both topwater and soft plastics with authority, and they're perfectly sized for light tackle – most run between 14-20 inches, with occasional giants pushing 25+ inches. Summer and fall provide the most consistent action, especially during low-light periods. Trout are exciting because they're willing biters, they jump when hooked, and they're excellent eating. Plus, they often travel in schools, so one fish can lead to several more.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Texas flats fishing, and these copper-colored bruisers provide some of the most visual and exciting fishing you'll find anywhere. Reds love the shallow grass beds and oyster bars around Corpus Christi, often feeding in water so shallow their backs are out of the water. Slot-sized reds between 20-28 inches are perfect eating, while the oversized fish provide tackle-busting fights that can last 15 minutes or more. They're year-round residents, but fall brings some of the best sight fishing opportunities when big schools move through the shallows. What makes redfish special is their attitude – they're aggressive, they fight hard, and watching one crush a topwater plug in two feet of water never gets old.
This wade fishing experience gives you something most charter trips can't – that personal connection with the water and the fish. You're not just a passenger on someone else's boat; you're an active participant in one of the Gulf Coast's most rewarding fishing styles. The 2-angler limit ensures you get quality time on the water without feeling rushed or crowded. Your guide knows these Corpus Christi flats like the back of their hand and can put you on fish while teaching you techniques that'll make you a better angler long after your trip ends. Whether you're new to wade fishing or a seasoned flat-stalker, this trip delivers the kind of fishing memories that keep you planning your next visit before you
You'll be fishing from a well-equipped 24-foot Dargel bay boat that's built for the shallow waters around Corpus Christi. This boat handles the flats perfectly and gets you to those prime wade fishing spots where the reds and trout like to hang out. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet so you won't spook the fish, and the fish finder helps locate structure and baitfish. When you're ready to get out and wade, there's plenty of deck space to gear up. The icebox keeps your drinks cold during those hot Texas days, and the GPS ensures we can mark productive spots for future trips. The VHF radio keeps us connected for safety, while the multimedia system adds some comfort between fishing spots. With room for your tackle and all the essentials, this bay boat is designed for serious anglers who want to work the shallows and experience some of the best wade fishing the Gulf Coast has to offer.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, with thick shoulders and crushing jaws built for cracking oysters and crabs. These grey-black bruisers typically weigh 5-30 pounds, though monsters over 50 pounds show up regularly. You'll find them around oyster reefs, muddy flats, and pier pilings where the food is easy. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their drumming sounds underwater. What guests love is the bulldogging fight and their willingness to eat in shallow water you can wade. Keep the smaller ones under 15 pounds for the table; the big ones get tough and wormy. Best local trick is using fresh blue crab on a knocker rig right on the bottom. Don't set the hook too quick - let them pick it up and move off first.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our shallow water fishing, known for that distinctive black spot near the tail and copper-bronze coloring. These fish typically run 18-28 inches in the shallows, though bigger "bull" reds prowl deeper waters. You'll find them cruising grass flats, oyster bars, and muddy shorelines in 1-4 feet - sometimes so shallow their backs show above water. They feed year-round but fall brings the best action when they're fattening up. What guests love is watching them cruise the flats like submarines and the powerful runs when hooked. They're also excellent table fare with mild, sweet meat. The sight-fishing aspect makes it exciting - spotting tails and backs in skinny water gets everyone fired up. Pro tip: approach them quietly and cast well ahead of where they're heading. A gold spoon or topwater plug works magic.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are the bread and butter of our wade fishing trips. These silvery beauties with black spots typically run 14-24 inches and have that classic trout-shaped body. They love grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially around potholes and drop-offs. Best fishing happens during cooler months when they're active in the shallows, though early morning and evening produce year-round. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures with explosive strikes that'll get your heart pumping. The meat is white, flaky, and sweet - perfect for the dinner table. They're also great fighters on light tackle. Local tip: work your lure slow and erratic over grass beds. When you see nervous bait on the surface, there's usually specks underneath waiting to feed.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flatfish bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to ambush prey. You'll recognize them by both eyes being on the left side and their mottled brown coloring that changes to match the bottom. They typically run 15-18 inches but can reach over 30 inches. Look for them on sandy flats, around grass beds, and near structure in 2-8 feet of water. Fall and winter are prime time when they're moving toward passes and deeper water. What makes them special is the fight - they're surprisingly strong for a flatfish. The meat is excellent too, white and flaky. Here's a local tip: fish slow with live shrimp or finger mullet on a Carolina rig, and when you feel that subtle tap, wait a beat before setting the hook. They like to grab bait sideways first.
Corpus Christi