Extended Half Day Fishing Trip - Corpus Christi
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Extended 67 hour inshore fishing trip targeting redfish and troutPrivate charter accommodates up to 2 guests on 24' Mamba boatAll equipment and tackle included with experienced Captain David
Captain David knows that good fishing shouldn't be rushed. This extended half-day charter gives you 6 to 7 hours on Corpus Christi's legendary bays and flats, where redfish cruise the shallows and speckled trout stack up in the grass beds. You'll fish from his 24-foot Mamba bay boat, rigged specifically for shallow water with a Mercury 400 that'll get you to the hot spots fast and quiet. Whether you're new to saltwater fishing or you've been chasing reds for years, this trip lets you slow down, learn the water, and put some serious fish in the box.
This isn't your typical rushed half-day trip where you're checking your watch after three hours. Captain David designed this extended format because he knows the fish don't always cooperate on a tight schedule. Some mornings the bite starts slow, other days you'll want to stay on a hot school of trout until they quit biting. With 6 to 7 hours, you've got the luxury of time to work different areas, try various techniques, and really get a feel for how these Texas bays fish. The Mamba's shallow draft lets you slip into skinny water where the big reds tail and cruise, while the Mercury 400 ensures you're not wasting time getting between spots. All your rods, reels, tackle, and bait come with the trip, so you can focus on fishing instead of rigging. The base rate covers two anglers, but the boat handles up to four if you want to bring the crew. Just remember to grab your Texas fishing license before you head to the dock.
Corpus Christi's inshore fishing is all about reading the water and adapting your approach. Captain David will have you working everything from topwater plugs at first light to soft plastics when the sun gets high. The flats here are textbook shallow water fishing - you'll learn to spot nervous water where redfish are pushing bait, recognize the grass lines that hold trout, and understand how the tide movement affects where fish position. The Mamba's setup is perfect for this kind of fishing, with a quiet trolling motor for stealth approaches and enough deck space to fight fish without getting tangled up. You'll spend time sight-casting to individual redfish, working the drop-offs for trout, and maybe throwing at some tailing fish if conditions are right. The extended time frame means you can really dial in your technique instead of just going through the motions. Captain David's been working these waters for years, so you'll pick up local knowledge that applies whether you're fishing here again or trying similar water elsewhere.
Redfish are the marquee species in Corpus Christi's shallow water, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 20 to 28 inches in the slot, with enough power to make your drag sing and enough smarts to keep you honest. They're year-round residents here, though fall and winter often produce the most consistent action as they school up in the deeper grass beds. What makes reds special is their attitude - they'll crush a topwater plug with authority, then turn around and barely sip a soft plastic if the mood strikes them. You'll find them tailing in inches of water or cruising the edges where the grass meets sand.
Sea trout, or specks as the locals call them, are the bread and butter of Corpus Christi fishing. These spotted beauties range from schoolie 14-inchers to genuine 4-pound sow trout that'll make you question your drag setting. They love structure - grass beds, shell bars, and channel edges where they can ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall are prime time for numbers, while summer often produces the biggest fish if you can get them to bite early or late. Trout are temperature sensitive, so Captain David knows exactly where to find them when conditions change.
Black drum don't get the press of redfish, but they're absolute tanks when you hook one. These bottom-dwellers can push 30 inches and several pounds, offering a completely different fight than their red cousins. They love structure and crabs, so you'll often find them around shell reefs and channel edges. Winter is traditionally drum time, when they gather in deeper holes and provide action when other species slow down. Don't expect them to jump, but be ready for a bulldogging fight that'll test your patience.
Summer flounder add variety to the mixed bag, and Corpus Christi's grass flats provide perfect habitat for these flatfish. They're ambush predators that bury in the sand and wait for bait to swim by, so you'll often catch them while targeting other species. Most run 15 to 18 inches, but a good flounder is excellent table fare and fights with surprising strength for a flatfish. They're most active during warmer months, making this extended trip perfect for intercepting a few bonus fish.
Sheepshead round out the potential catches, and they're the technical challenge of the bunch. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth and a habit of stealing bait without getting hooked. When you do connect, they're strong fighters that use every inch of available structure to try breaking you off. They're often found around anything hard - shell beds, pier pilings, or rocky areas. Landing a good sheepshead requires patience and quick reflexes, but they're some of the best eating fish in the bay.
This extended half-day format has become Captain David's customer favorite for good reason - it gives you the best of both worlds. You get serious fishing time without committing to a full day, plus the flexibility to adapt when conditions or fish behavior changes. The Corpus Christi bay system is world-class inshore fishing, and this trip lets you experience it properly instead of feeling rushed. Whether you're looking to
The 24' Mamba is your ticket to serious shallow-water fishing around Corpus Christi's productive bays and flats. This sleek bay boat cuts through the water with authority thanks to its Mercury 400 outboard, hitting speeds up to 65 mph to get you to the fish fast. Built specifically for inshore performance, she handles skinny water like a dream while keeping you comfortable during those long days chasing redfish and trout. The wireless trolling motor lets you slip into position without spooking fish, while the fish finder helps locate schools holding in structure. Modern GPS keeps you on productive spots, and the livewell ensures your catch stays fresh. An icebox keeps your drinks cold and lunch fresh during extended sessions on the water. With room for up to 4 anglers but perfectly suited for 2, you'll have plenty of space to work your lines and fight fish without getting tangled up with your fishing partner.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our bays, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These grey-black bruisers love hanging around oyster beds, shallow flats, and anywhere they can crush shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll find the best action. They're notorious for their drumming sounds and can live 50 years. What makes them special? Pure pulling power and those human-like teeth. Keep drum under 15 pounds for the table - the bigger ones get tough. Pro tip: use fresh crab on a circle hook and fish right on the bottom. When you feel that telltale tapping, don't set too quick - let them load up first.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the ultimate sight-fishing target with their copper-bronze backs and that signature black eyespot near the tail. They run 20-40 inches in our waters, cruising shallow flats so thin their backs sometimes break the surface. These fish love oyster reefs, grass beds, and muddy bottoms where they can root around for crabs and shrimp. Year-round fishing is solid, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action. Guests go crazy for the visual aspect - watching these bronze torpedoes cruise the shallows before making explosive strikes on topwater lures. The meat is sweet and mild too. Pro tip: when you spot one tailing in shallow water, cast your lure well ahead of where they're headed and work it slow - they spook easily in skinny water.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are our bread and butter fish here in Corpus Christi, running 14-24 inches with those beautiful spots covering their silver sides. They love grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs where they can ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Night fishing and early morning produce some of the best action, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper water. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures and their delicate, flaky white meat that's perfect on the table. Just don't overcook them or they'll turn mushy. The secret is working topwater plugs, soft plastics, or live shrimp over the grass beds. During winter, try trolling slowly along deeper channels where they gather in big schools.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and grey stripes, but what really gets people talking are those human-like teeth. These crafty fish run 1-8 pounds typically, though you might find a 20-pounder if luck's on your side. They live around any structure - docks, pilings, jetties - basically anywhere with barnacles to munch on. Spring during spawning season gives you the best numbers when they gather in big schools. People love targeting them because they're excellent eating and notorious bait thieves that'll test your skills. They nibble and steal like pros, so keep that bait pinned tight. My go-to trick: get as close to structure as possible with fiddler crab or shrimp, feel for that subtle weight, then set the hook hard when you're sure they've got it.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are the masters of camouflage on our sandy bottoms, blending in perfectly until an unsuspecting baitfish swims by. These flatfish typically run 15-20 inches but can hit 26 pounds if you're lucky. They're ambush predators that lie sideways on the bottom with both eyes on their left side - pretty wild when you think about it. Fall months from September through November give you the best shot at them in deeper channels and drop-offs. Guests love the challenge of finding them and the excellent table fare they provide. The trick is using live minnows or sea worms on circle hooks, and here's the key: hook your bait through the eyes on smaller fish, lips on larger ones. Fish slow and stay patient.
Corpus Christi