Premium 8 Hour Redfish and Speckled Trout Adventure
Private Trip
Flats/Shallows Fishing
Fullday charter targets redfish, trout, and flounder in shallow waters.Professional equipment, fish cleaning, and expert guidance included in rate.Private 8hour trip accommodates up to four anglers aboard modern vessel.
If you're looking to get serious about flats fishing on the Texas coast, this 8-hour adventure with JBG Outdoors puts you right where the action is. We're talking about the Upper Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay systems – some of the most productive shallow water fishing on the entire Gulf Coast. Starting at 7:00 AM, you'll have the whole day to work these legendary flats aboard a brand-new 2023 23' Shoalwater that can get you into water so shallow you can practically walk on it. Whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who lives and breathes saltwater fishing, this trip is designed to put you on fish while showing you why Corpus Christi consistently ranks as a top-rated destination for sight fishing.
Your day starts early because that's when the magic happens on these flats. The Upper Laguna Madre is famous for its gin-clear water and expansive grass beds that hold massive schools of redfish and speckled trout. During the cooler months, we'll focus on the deeper cuts and channels where these fish stack up, while summer fishing means working the shallow flats where you can actually see the fish before you cast to them. The 23' Shoalwater is perfectly rigged for this type of fishing – it draws less than a foot of water fully loaded, so we can get into places where bigger boats can't go. You'll spend the day moving between productive spots, from the famous East Flats to the deeper waters around the Intracoastal Waterway. The boat comes equipped with a Power-Pole for silent positioning, and the elevated casting platform gives you the perfect vantage point for sight fishing. Don't worry about bringing gear – everything from the rods and reels to the tackle box is top-shelf stuff that's specifically chosen for these waters.
Fishing the Corpus Christi flats is all about reading the water and adapting your approach. During the warmer months, we'll be doing a lot of sight fishing – poling through knee-deep water looking for tailing redfish and cruising trout. You'll learn to cast soft plastics like Bass Assassins and Gulp shrimp into pockets in the grass, or work topwater plugs over shallow shell reefs at first light. When the fish are deeper, we'll drift the drop-offs with live shrimp under popping corks or throw spoons and gold spoons at schooling trout. The key to success here is staying quiet and making accurate casts – these fish get a lot of pressure, especially the big ones, so presentation matters. Wind is always a factor on the flats, but that's where having an experienced guide pays off. We know how to use the wind to our advantage, whether it's drifting a flat or setting up on the lee side of an island. The Shoalwater's layout makes it easy to fish from multiple positions, and the trolling motor keeps us positioned perfectly even when the breeze picks up. You'll also get hands-on instruction with different techniques, from working a soft plastic with a subtle twitch to burning a spoon through a school of hungry trout.
Redfish are the crown jewel of the Texas flats, and the Corpus area produces some absolute monsters. These copper-colored bulldogs typically run 20 to 30 inches in these waters, with plenty of oversized fish that'll test your drag system. Reds are most active during the warmer months when they move shallow to feed on crabs and shrimp in the grass beds. The best action usually happens on the incoming tide when baitfish get pushed onto the flats. What makes catching redfish so addictive is their willingness to eat topwater lures – there's nothing quite like watching a 28-inch red crush a She Dog in two feet of water. They're also incredibly strong fighters that will make multiple runs and try to wrap you around every piece of structure they can find.
Speckled trout are the bread and butter species here, and Baffin Bay has been famous for producing trophy specks for decades. These fish are most active in spring and fall when water temperatures are in the 70s, but you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. Trout in this system average 15 to 18 inches, but the potential for a genuine wall-hanger keeps things interesting on every cast. They're structure-oriented fish that love shell reefs, grass lines, and drop-offs. Specks are also more finicky than redfish – they want your presentation to be just right, which makes them perfect for anglers who enjoy the technical side of fishing. During the cooler months, we'll target them in deeper water with soft plastics, while summer fishing means working the grass flats with topwater plugs at dawn and dusk.
Southern flounder might be the bonus fish, but they're no consolation prize. These ambush predators can grow surprisingly large in the Laguna Madre system, with fish over 20 inches being fairly common. Flounder are most active during their fall migration when they're moving toward the Gulf to spawn. They're typically found along drop-offs and channel edges where they can bury in the sand and wait for prey to swim by. What makes flounder fishing so rewarding is that they often hit when you least expect it – you might be targeting trout along a grass line and suddenly feel that distinctive thump of a good flounder. They're also excellent table fare, which makes them a customer favorite for anglers looking to bring home dinner.
At $800 for up to three anglers, this full-day charter represents world-class value for serious fishing on some of Texas's most productive waters. The combination of expert local knowledge, top-tier equipment, and access to prime fishing grounds makes this a best trip choice for anyone wanting to experience what Corpus Christi flats fishing
This 2023 23' Shoalwater Bay Boat is built specifically for Corpus Christi's shallow flats and backcountry waters. The 300HP Mercury gets you to the fish fast, while the center console design gives everyone clear casting room for redfish and speckled trout. With space for up to 3 anglers, you'll have plenty of elbow room whether you're sight-casting the flats or working structure in deeper water. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're sneaking up on tailing reds, and the fish finder helps locate those productive drop-offs and grass lines where the trout stack up. GPS navigation means more time fishing and less time searching in the vast Laguna Madre system. This boat handles the choppy bay runs with ease but draws shallow enough to get you into those skinny water spots where the big fish cruise.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our inshore fishing here, averaging 20-32 inches with bulls reaching 40+ inches and 30 pounds. These copper-colored beauties with their signature black spots love our shallow flats, oyster reefs, and structural areas in 1-4 feet of water. They feed year-round but really turn on during cooler months when they school up. What guests love most is their powerful fight - once hooked, they'll make long runs and test your drag. Plus, slot-sized reds are fantastic table fare with firm, mild meat. The key to success is sight fishing the flats during moving water. Watch for their backs and tails breaking the surface as they root around for crabs and shrimp. When you spot one, place your bait about three feet ahead of where they're heading.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are one of our most popular targets in these waters, running 14-24 inches on average with occasional bigger fish pushing 5+ pounds. They love the grass flats and shallow areas throughout Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay, feeding heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall are prime time when they're most active, but we catch them year-round. What makes specks special is their willingness to hit topwater lures early morning and late evening - nothing beats that explosive surface strike. They're also excellent eating with delicate white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. Pro tip: when working grass flats, keep your lure just above the vegetation and work it slow - these fish like to ambush prey from below the grass line.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are the ultimate ambush predators, typically running 15-18 inches with doormat-sized fish reaching 20+ pounds. These flat, camouflaged hunters lie buried in sand and mud along channel edges, drop-offs, and around structure throughout our bay system. Fall migration from September through November is prime time as they move toward deeper water. Guests enjoy the challenge of targeting these smart fish - they require patience and technique. When hooked, they fight with surprising strength for a flatfish. They're also some of the best eating fish we catch, with sweet, flaky white meat. The trick is fishing tight to the bottom with live mullet or shrimp on a Carolina rig. Let your bait sit still for 30 seconds, then give it a small twitch - that subtle movement often triggers strikes.
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