Full Day Corpus Christi Tournament Guided Trip
Private Trip
Flats/Shallows Fishing
Tournament-style charter targeting trophy redfish and speckled troutEight-hour guided trip accommodates up to four anglersProfessional 23' Shoalwater boat includes gear and fish cleaning
When you're serious about fishing and want to experience the Upper Laguna Madre like a tournament pro, this 8-hour charter delivers everything you need. We're talking about a focused, high-energy day targeting trophy redfish and speckled trout in some of Texas's most productive flats waters. Captain and crew know these waters inside and out, running a 2023 23' Shoalwater that's built specifically for sight fishing and accessing shallow water structure. Starting at 7:00 AM sharp, you'll spend the day learning tournament tactics while working prime spots around Corpus Christi Bay system and Baffin Bay. This isn't a casual family trip—it's designed for anglers who want to step up their game and catch quality fish using proven techniques.
Your captain approaches this trip with a tournament mindset, meaning we're constantly moving and adapting to find active fish. The day kicks off early to beat boat traffic and hit productive morning spots while trout are still feeding aggressively. You'll cover a lot of water, from shallow grass flats near Padre Island to deeper structure around oyster reefs and channel dropoffs. The 23' Shoalwater gives us the perfect platform—shallow enough to work skinny water but stable enough to handle chop when we need to make longer runs. Expect to use a variety of techniques throughout the day, from topwater plugs at first light to soft plastics when fish get finicky. The captain provides all tackle and knows exactly what lures are producing, but you're welcome to bring your own favorites. Plan to get your feet wet—we'll spend time wading prime flats where big reds cruise in surprisingly shallow water.
This charter focuses on the bread-and-butter techniques that win tournaments in Texas coastal waters. You'll master the art of working soft plastics like Bass Assassins and Gulp shrimp on 1/8-ounce jigheads, learning to feel the difference between a pickup and bottom contact. Topwater fishing plays a huge role, especially early morning sessions with She Dogs and Spooks over grass flats where trout blow up in spectacular fashion. The captain emphasizes proper flats etiquette—moving quietly, making long casts, and reading water to spot fish before they spot you. Wade fishing techniques include learning to shuffle your feet, position yourself relative to wind and current, and work lures at different depths in the water column. All rods are medium-light action with quality reels spooled with 15-20 pound braid, perfect for the long casts and quick hooksets these fish demand. You'll also learn how to properly use a stringer and handle fish for photos while keeping them healthy for release.
Speckled trout are the bread and butter of this fishery, with fish ranging from schoolie size up to legitimate wall-hangers over 25 inches. These fish are most active during cooler parts of the day and respond well to both topwater and soft plastic presentations. Spring and fall offer the best trophy potential, but summer fishing can be outstanding if you know where to look. Trout in this system are aggressive feeders that relate to grass beds, shell bars, and current breaks. What makes catching them so addictive is their willingness to hit topwater baits—few things in fishing beat watching a big trout explode on a surface plug.
Redfish are the other primary target and arguably the most fun fish to catch in shallow water. These copper-colored bruisers range from slot-size fish around 20-27 inches up to bull reds that can stretch your drag and test your tackle. Reds are year-round residents but fishing peaks during warmer months when they move shallow to feed on crabs and shrimp. They're ambush predators that cruise shorelines, oyster bars, and grass flats. Sight fishing for tailing reds in 12-18 inches of water gets your heart pumping like nothing else—you can actually see them before you cast, making it feel more like hunting than fishing.
Southern flounder add variety to the mix and are often overlooked gems in this system. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand near structure waiting to ambush baitfish. Fall brings the best flounder action as they stage for their offshore spawning migration, with fish in the 3-5 pound range common. They're excellent table fare and fight surprisingly hard once hooked. Finding flounder requires patience and methodical fishing around drop-offs, channel edges, and areas where current creates feeding opportunities.
At $1000 for up to four anglers, this top-rated charter delivers serious value for serious fishermen. You get eight solid hours with an experienced captain, all tackle and gear, plus professional fish cleaning service. The tournament-style approach means you'll learn techniques that actually work when it counts, not just casual fishing methods. Whether you're prepping for your own tournament or just want to experience world-class flats fishing, this trip puts you on fish using proven tactics. Remember to grab your Texas fishing license before departure—it's required for all participants. The Corpus Christi Bay system and Baffin Bay combo offers some of the most consistent fishing on the Texas coast, and this charter is your best bet for making the most of it. Book early, especially during peak seasons when these productive waters see their heaviest tournament pressure.
Our 2023 23' Shoalwater Bay center console is built specifically for serious flats fishing in the Corpus Christi Bay system. With a powerful 300HP Mercury engine, this tournament-ready boat cuts through Texas waters to reach prime redfish and speckled trout spots quickly. The shallow-water hull design lets us access skinny flats where trophy fish feed, while the spacious deck provides plenty of casting room for up to 4 anglers. Equipped with a whisper-quiet wireless trolling motor for stealthy approaches, advanced GPS navigation to mark productive areas, and a high-quality fish finder to locate structure and baitfish. The stable platform handles bay chop with ease and offers excellent sight-fishing capabilities when targeting tailing reds in Baffin Bay's crystal-clear shallows. Perfect for tournament tactics and extended days on the water.
Sciaenops OcellatusRed drum are the backbone of our inshore fishing here in the Corpus Christi system. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 20-35 inches, with that signature black spot near the tail. They love shallow water from 6 inches to 4 feet deep, cruising oyster reefs, grass flats, and muddy bottoms looking for crabs and shrimp. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall migration brings schools of bigger fish. What guests love most is their power - reds will strip drag and make multiple runs, testing your skills on light tackle. They're also fantastic eating when kept within slot limits. The key trick I share: look for nervous water or tailing fish on calm days. When you spot them, cast well ahead of their path and work your bait slowly back toward them. Patience pays off with these smart fish.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are what we're really after in these waters - they're not actually trout but members of the drum family. Most fish we catch run 14-24 inches and weigh 1-5 pounds, though bigger ones show up regularly. They love grass flats and structure in 2-6 feet of water throughout the bay system. Spring and fall are prime time when they're most active, but they bite year-round here. What makes specks special is their aggressive strikes and excellent table fare - white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. They're ambush predators, so work your lures slow around grass beds and drop-offs. My go-to tip: use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below it. The noise draws them in from a distance, and that shrimp sealed the deal every time.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy and muddy bottoms. These flat fish typically run 15-18 inches, though we catch plenty over 20 inches during good years. They bury themselves in sand near drop-offs, channel edges, and around structure in 3-15 feet of water. Fall is prime time as they stage for their offshore spawn, but we catch them consistently spring through early winter. What makes flounder fishing special is the challenge - they're ambush predators that require patience and feel. Their white, sweet meat is outstanding table fare too. The trick that works best here: drift fishing with a Carolina rig and live finger mullet or large shrimp. Keep your bait moving slowly along the bottom, and when you feel that subtle tap, give them a few seconds before setting the hook. They need time to turn the bait around.
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