Inshore Fishing Charter in Rio Hondo, Texas
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour private charter targeting redfish, flounder, and spotted seatroutExpert local crew provides all fishing gear and baitSuitable for all skill levels in calm coastal waters
The shallow flats and protected bays around Rio Hondo and South Padre Island offer some of the most consistent inshore fishing action along the Texas coast. This 6-hour private charter with Dos Gringos Fishing Charters puts you right in the middle of prime redfish, flounder, and spotted seatrout territory. You'll fish with a local crew who knows these waters like the back of their hand, targeting structure and grass beds where these species love to hang out. Whether you're casting your first line or you've been chasing reds for years, this trip delivers the kind of steady action that keeps anglers coming back to South Texas waters.
Your day starts in the calm, productive waters that make this stretch of coast famous among inshore anglers. The crew from Dos Gringos knows exactly where to find fish based on tides, weather, and seasonal patterns. You'll work everything from shallow grass flats where redfish cruise in just a few feet of water to deeper bay edges where seatrout stack up. The beauty of this fishery is its variety – one cast might bring a chunky flounder off the bottom, while the next could hook a slot red that peels drag. All your tackle, bait, and gear comes included, so you can focus on fishing instead of rigging. The crew adapts techniques throughout the day, whether that means switching from live bait to artificials or moving from sight-fishing to working structure.
Inshore fishing here revolves around reading water and matching your approach to conditions. When the water's clear and fish are shallow, you might sight-cast to tailing redfish with soft plastics or topwater plugs. Murky water calls for live shrimp or cut bait fished near drop-offs and shell beds. The crew sets you up with medium-action spinning gear that handles everything from finesse presentations to pulling fish out of heavy cover. Popping corks work magic for seatrout over grass beds, while weedless jigs excel when working oyster reefs for reds and flounder. You'll learn to feel the difference between a flounder's subtle thump and a redfish's aggressive strike. The boat stays positioned to give everyone clean casting lanes, and the shallow-draft hull gets you into skinny water where bigger boats can't follow.
Redfish dominate the action year-round in these protected waters, with fish ranging from schoolie-sized juveniles to thick-bodied bulls that test your drag system. These copper-colored fighters are built for shallow water living, using their powerful tails to make blistering runs across the flats. Spring and fall bring the most consistent action, but summer mornings and winter warm spells keep the bite going strong. What makes redfish special here is their willingness to eat – they'll crush live shrimp, inhale soft plastics, and explode on topwater baits when conditions are right. Spotted seatrout patrol the deeper grass beds and channel edges, especially during moving tides. These silver-sided speedsters hit hard and jump often, making them a favorite among light-tackle enthusiasts. Peak seatrout fishing happens during cooler months when schools concentrate in deeper bay areas, though summer nights can produce some monster trout for patient anglers.
Southern flounder provide steady action throughout the warmer months, lying camouflaged on sandy bottoms near structure and drop-offs. These flatfish might not win any beauty contests, but they're excellent table fare and surprisingly strong fighters when hooked. The key to consistent flounder success is keeping bait near the bottom and being patient – their bite feels more like a gentle tap than an aggressive strike. Summer flounder show up seasonally and tend to be more active feeders than their southern cousins. Black drum round out the main targets, with smaller specimens providing steady action while the occasional bull drum offers a real test of tackle and technique. These bottom-dwellers love crab and shrimp baits worked slowly along shell beds and channel edges.
Six hours on these productive inshore waters gives you plenty of time to work different techniques and target multiple species without feeling rushed. The crew's local knowledge makes the difference between a good day and a great day on the water. With space for up to three anglers, this charter offers the personalized attention that makes learning new techniques easier and fishing more enjoyable. Rio Hondo's location puts you close to some of the most consistent inshore fishing along the Texas coast, while the calm bay waters make for comfortable conditions even when the Gulf gets rough. Book your spot with Dos Gringos Fishing Charters and discover why so many anglers consider these waters among the top-rated inshore destinations in South Texas.
Our 2010 24-foot Dargel Bay Boat is built for serious inshore fishing around Rio Hondo and South Padre Island. This shallow-draft vessel cuts through the flats with ease, getting you to productive redfish and speckled trout waters that bigger boats can't reach. The spacious deck gives you and two other anglers plenty of room to work lures and fight fish without getting tangled up. GPS keeps us on the best spots while the onboard icebox ensures your catch stays fresh and your drinks stay cold during those long South Texas afternoons. The boat's design handles choppy bay conditions smoothly, so you can focus on sight-casting to tailing reds or working soft plastics along grass lines for flounder. Perfect for targeting the flats and back bays where these fish feed.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the bruisers of our inshore waters, ranging from keeper-sized 5-pounders up to massive 40+ pound bulls that'll test your drag. They're bottom-feeders with crushing jaws built for crabs and oysters, so you'll find them around shell beds, creek mouths, and shallow flats with good current flow. Spring is when they really turn on during spawning season - that's when you hear them "drumming" underwater. The smaller ones are fantastic table fare, but the big bulls are better released for the experience alone. These fish will give you a serious workout, making long powerful runs that can take you into your backing. Here's the key: use fresh blue crab on a fish-finder rig and let them run with it before setting the hook. They're cautious feeders, so patience pays off with these giants.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing - copper-colored beauties with those distinctive black spots near the tail. They run anywhere from slot-sized 18-28 inchers up to bull reds over 40 pounds that'll test every bit of your tackle. Around here, you'll find them tailing in inches of water over mud and grass flats, cruising oyster reefs, and holding near structure. They're year-round residents, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action. What guests love is watching these fish cruise the shallows - it's pure sight fishing at its finest. They hit everything from topwater plugs to live shrimp with incredible power. The smaller ones are excellent eating, while the big bulls are all about the fight. My best advice: when you see one tailing, cast well ahead and work your bait slowly into their path. Spook them once and they're gone.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Seatrout are our bread-and-butter species around these flats - beautiful silver fish with distinctive black spots and that telltale yellow mouth. They average 14-18 inches, with anything over 20 inches being a real trophy. You'll find them over grass flats, around oyster bars, and in deeper pockets during temperature swings. Spring through fall gives you the most consistent action, but winter can be outstanding when they school up in deeper holes. What makes them special is that aggressive strike on topwater lures - few things beat a trout blowing up on a She Dog at sunrise. They're also some of the best eating fish in the bay with delicate, flaky meat. The key is matching your lure to the conditions: topwater in low light, soft plastics when they're deeper. Always work your lures slow and let the fish tell you what they want that day.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flat fish bury themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms with both eyes on their left side, waiting to ambush prey. They run 15-18 inches typically, though you'll occasionally hook into one pushing 25+ inches. Around Rio Hondo and South Padre, we find them year-round in shallow bays and along drop-offs near grass flats. Fall and winter are prime time when they're fattening up before their offshore spawning run. What makes them fun is that sudden strike when they inhale your bait - no warning, just a solid thump. They're excellent eating too, sweet white meat that's hard to beat. My go-to trick is using a slow drift with live shrimp or small mullet on a Carolina rig, keeping it just off the bottom where they're lying in wait.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the larger cousins of our local Southern Flounder, built for more aggressive hunting with that sideways bite. These flatfish typically run 15-20 inches but can reach impressive sizes over 5 pounds. Unlike their southern relatives, they show distinctive round spots rather than blotches on their dark side. You'll find them around deeper structure - channel edges, shell beds, and areas where current brings baitfish. They're more active hunters than Southern Flounder, often chasing down prey instead of just ambushing. Fall brings the best action as they move toward their spawning grounds. Anglers love them for their strong fight and excellent table quality - firm, white fillets that are hard to beat. Pro tip: when you feel that first tap, give them a few seconds to turn the bait before setting the hook. They grab prey sideways and need time to position it right.
Rio Hondo, TX