Weekend Inshore Charter: Rio Hondo Reds & Trout
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 6-hour weekend charter targeting redfish, flounder, and seatroutAll skill levels welcome with gear, bait, and guides includedSmall group experience accommodating up to 3 guests maximum
Looking for a solid weekend fishing trip that'll put you on some of South Texas's best inshore action? Dos Gringos Fishing Charters runs a top-rated 6-hour private charter targeting the flats and bay systems around Rio Hondo and South Padre Island. This isn't your typical crowded party boat deal – you'll have up to 3 spots on a dedicated vessel with captains who've been working these waters for years. Whether you're bringing the family for their first taste of saltwater fishing or you're a seasoned angler wanting to dial in on redfish and trout, this trip delivers consistent action in some of Texas's most productive inshore waters.
Your morning starts early with a meetup at the launch, where you'll connect with your captain and get the rundown on the day's game plan. The Rio Hondo area offers incredible diversity – from shallow grass flats perfect for sight-casting to deeper bay holes where bigger fish hang out during temperature swings. Your captain reads conditions daily and adjusts tactics accordingly, which means you might find yourself working topwater plugs over sandy potholes at sunrise or bouncing soft plastics along oyster bars during the afternoon bite. The flexibility of a 6-hour window gives you time to move spots if the fish aren't cooperating, and weekend trips often mean less boat traffic on the prime areas. These captains know every productive cut, reef, and flat from the Laguna Madre to the back bays, so you're not wasting time searching – you're fishing where the fish are.
All your gear comes included, from rods and reels matched to the target species down to terminal tackle and fresh bait. The boat carries a range of setups – medium-action spinning gear for working soft plastics, baitcasting outfits for throwing larger lures, and lighter tackle for finesse presentations when fish get picky. Live bait is the bread and butter here, with fresh shrimp, finger mullet, and croakers depending on what's running. Your captain will also have you throwing artificials when conditions call for it – gold spoons for aggressive redfish, topwater plugs during dawn and dusk feeds, and soft plastics like paddle tails and shrimp imitations for pressured fish. The key is matching your presentation to what the fish want on that particular day, and these guides have the local knowledge to make those calls. You'll learn to read water color, current flow, and bait activity – skills that'll make you a better angler long after your trip ends.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Texas inshore fishing, and the Rio Hondo area consistently produces quality fish from slot-sized keepers to oversized bulls pushing 35+ inches. These copper-colored bruisers love shallow water structure – think oyster bars, grass beds, and marshy shorelines where they cruise looking for crabs and shrimp. Peak action typically runs from spring through fall, with summer offering the best topwater opportunities when reds push onto the flats during low-light periods. What makes redfish so exciting is their fight – they'll make powerful runs and use their broad shoulders to bulldoze toward structure. Plus, they're excellent table fare when kept within the slot limit.
Spotted Seatrout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the most common target and provide consistent action throughout the trip. These silver-sided predators school up over grass beds and soft bottom areas, feeding aggressively on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall offer the best trout fishing, with cooler water temperatures bringing larger "gator trout" into the shallows. Specks are perfect for teaching new anglers proper technique since they bite readily but require some finesse to hook consistently. Their delicate mouths mean you need to fight them carefully, but their willingness to bite makes them a customer favorite for filling the cooler.
Southern Flounder are the surprise stars of many trips, especially during their fall migration when they move from the bays toward the Gulf. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, burying in sand and mud bottoms near drop-offs and channel edges. Flounder fishing requires patience and a different approach – slow presentations with live bait or soft plastics worked right along the bottom. When you hook one, don't expect aerial displays, but their pancake-shaped bodies create serious drag underwater. Summer flounder stick around year-round in deeper bay areas, while southern flounder make their presence known during autumn runs. Both species are prized for their sweet, white meat.
Black Drum often show up as bonus fish, particularly around oyster reefs and hard bottom structure where they root for crabs and shellfish. These fish can range from puppy drum under 10 pounds to monster bulls exceeding 40 pounds. The bigger fish are catch-and-release only due to regulations, but they provide world-class fights on appropriate tackle. Drum fishing peaks in late winter and early spring when schools move into the bays, though smaller fish are present year-round. Their powerful, methodical fight style contrasts sharply with the aggressive runs of redfish, giving you variety in your fishing experience.
The combination of reliable fish populations, skilled local guides, and diverse fishing opportunities makes this charter a repeat customer favorite. Rio Hondo's location gives you access to multiple bay systems within a short boat ride, so weather or fishing conditions rarely shut down the entire trip. The private boat setup means your group sets the pace – if someone hooks up with a personal-best redfish, you have time to work that area thoroughly instead of rushing to the next spot. These waters produce year-round, but each season brings different patterns and opportunities. Spring offers aggressive pre-spawn fish, summer brings topwater action and sight-fishing chances, fall delivers migrating flounder and cooling water that fires up the trout bite, and winter concentrates fish in deeper areas for consistent action
Step aboard our reliable 2010 24-foot Dargel Bay Boat, perfectly designed for navigating the shallow flats and productive inshore waters around Rio Hondo and South Padre Island. This versatile fishing platform gets you into those prime redfish zones and flounder hideouts that bigger boats can't reach. The onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and your drinks cold during those long days on the water, while the GPS system ensures we hit all the best fishing spots along the coast. Built tough for Texas coastal conditions, this bay boat handles everything from calm morning flats to afternoon chop with ease. Whether you're sight-fishing for reds in skinny water or working the grass beds for spotted seatrout, you'll have plenty of room to cast and fight fish. The shallow draft design lets us get right up on those productive oyster reefs and grass flats where the fish feed. Perfect for up to 3 anglers who want to experience some of the Gulf Coast's best inshore fishing action.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, running anywhere from 5 to 30 pounds with some bruisers hitting 50+ pounds. These powerful fish love oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow structure where they crush crabs and mollusks with their pharyngeal teeth. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - you can actually hear them drumming underwater. What guests love is the bulldogging fight they put up and their willingness to eat. Smaller fish under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with firm, white meat. The bigger ones are better released since the meat gets tough. My go-to trick is using fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig around oyster reefs during incoming tide. Keep your bait right on bottom and be ready for a serious tug-of-war.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the kings of our shallow flats, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spots near the tail. They run 20-35 inches on average but can push 40+ inches and really test your gear. You'll find them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster reefs, grass beds, and shoreline structure where they root for crabs and shrimp. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall brings the best action when they school up. What guests love most is sight fishing to tailing reds and watching them explode on topwater plugs. They're incredible fighters, making powerful runs, and smaller slot fish are outstanding eating. Here's my tip: when you see a red with its tail up feeding, cast past it and work your bait back slowly - they spook easily if you land right on top of them.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout are our bread-and-butter inshore fish, running 14-24 inches with distinctive black spots covering their silver sides. They love grass flats, oyster bars, and drop-offs where they feed on shrimp and baitfish. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially early morning and evening when they're actively feeding. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures and their excellent table quality - soft, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're also great fighters for their size, making long runs when hooked. During summer, focus on deeper pockets and channels during the heat of the day. My favorite technique is working a popping cork with live shrimp over grass beds. The key is making just enough noise to get their attention without spooking them.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise - these flatfish lie camouflaged on sandy and muddy bottoms with both eyes on their left side, waiting to ambush prey. They typically run 15-18 inches but can reach over 30 inches and 20+ pounds. You'll find them in our shallow bays, around structure, and near grass beds where they hunt shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Fall and winter are prime time when they're fattening up for their offshore spawning run. What makes them special is that explosive strike when they nail your bait, plus they're some of the best eating fish around - sweet, flaky white meat. Pro tip: when drift fishing for them, keep your bait moving slow along the bottom and wait for that distinctive thump before setting the hook. They like to mouth the bait first.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are aggressive flatfish that can change color like chameleons to match the bottom. They average 15-20 inches but grow much larger, with both eyes on their left side and a mouth full of sharp teeth. Look for them on sandy bottoms near structure, drop-offs, and channels where they ambush baitfish. Fall fishing from September through November is your best bet when they're actively feeding before moving offshore. What sets them apart is their aggressive nature - they'll chase down fast-moving prey unlike other flounder species. The meat is firm and delicious, making them a favorite for the dinner table. Here's a local trick: use a bucktail jig tipped with squid or gulp and work it with sharp hops along the bottom. They hit hard and fast, so keep your drag ready.
Rio Hondo, TX