Kemah Inshore Fishing Trip - Pick You Up
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Inshore fishing for redfish, trout, and flounder in Clear LakeCaptain provides all equipment plus fish cleaning service includedSmall group experience with hotel pickup for convenience
Captain Dewayne Guidry knows these Kemah waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish. This top-rated inshore fishing charter picks you right up from your hotel, so you can skip the hassle and get straight to what matters – pulling in redfish, trout, and flounder from some of Texas' most productive bay waters. Clear Lake Shores and the surrounding bay system offer world-class fishing for up to 2 anglers, making this the perfect trip for couples, friends, or anyone wanting a more personalized fishing experience without the crowd.
You'll be fishing the shallow flats and back lakes where the big reds cruise and speckled trout stack up in the cooler months. Captain Dewayne runs a clean, well-maintained boat equipped with everything you need – quality rods, reels, tackle box full of proven lures, and the local knowledge that separates a good day from a great day. The water here ranges from 2 to 8 feet deep, perfect for sight fishing when conditions are right and blind casting structure when they're not. Don't worry about bringing gear – just grab your Texas fishing license, pack some drinks and snacks, and show up ready to fish. The first mate handles all the dirty work, cleaning and filleting your catch so you can take home a cooler full of fresh fillets.
This is classic Texas inshore fishing at its finest. You'll be throwing soft plastics on jig heads, working topwater plugs over grass flats at first light, and drifting live bait around structure when the fish are finicky. Captain Dewayne switches up techniques based on conditions – if the water's clean and the fish are shallow, you might sight cast to tailing reds in knee-deep water. When it's muddy or the fish have moved deeper, expect to work Carolina rigs with dead shrimp or drag soft plastics along drop-offs. The boat stays in protected waters, so even when it's blowing outside, you'll find fishable water in the back lakes and protected shorelines. Most fish come on 20-pound braid with 20-pound fluorocarbon leaders, though the captain might bump up to 30-pound when targeting bigger drum around structure.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Kemah inshore fishing, and these copper-colored bruisers fight like nothing else in shallow water. They run anywhere from slot-sized 18-inchers up to bull reds pushing 40 inches, with the bigger fish showing up more in fall and winter. Reds feed year-round here, but they're most aggressive in spring and fall when water temps are in that sweet spot. You'll find them tailing over grass flats, cruising shorelines, and ambushing bait around oyster reefs.
Spotted Seatrout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the other main target and probably the best eating fish in the bay. These silver torpedoes love grass flats and drop-offs, especially during cooler months when they school up tight. A good speckled trout runs 2-4 pounds, but 6-8 pounders show up regularly in winter. They're suckers for soft plastics worked slowly along the bottom, and topwater action can be lights-out on calm mornings.
Southern Flounder are the bay's best-kept secret – ugly as sin but absolutely delicious on the plate. These flat fish bury themselves in sand and mud, ambushing anything that swims by. Fall is prime time for flounder as they stage near passes before heading to the Gulf to spawn. Most run 14-18 inches, but doormat flounder over 20 inches make this fishery special. They're structure-oriented, so you'll target them around channel edges, boat docks, and anywhere current creates an ambush point.
Black Drum don't win beauty contests, but they'll test your drag system and your patience. These bottom-feeders range from puppy drum under 10 pounds to massive bulls that can top 40 pounds. They're year-round residents that love crab and shrimp, making them perfect targets for dead bait fishing. The fight is all power – no jumps, just a steady pull that'll make your arms burn.
Sheepshead are the bay's most challenging target and proof that good things come to those who wait. These black-and-white striped convict fish have human-like teeth and a habit of stealing bait without getting hooked. But land one, and you've got some of the finest eating in the Gulf. They stack up around structure in winter and early spring, requiring small hooks, light line, and the patience of a saint. Most run 2-4 pounds, but 8-pound sheepshead show up around the best structure.
Captain Dewayne Guidry has been putting anglers on fish in these waters for years, and his customer-favorite service shows in every detail. From hotel pickup to cleaned fish at the end of the day, this charter handles the details so you can focus on fishing. The 2-angler limit means personalized attention and more fish per person, while the local expertise puts you on productive water every trip. These Kemah bay waters fish well year-round, but don't wait – the best guides book up fast, especially during peak seasons. Get your Texas fishing license, pack your cooler, and get ready for some of the best inshore fishing the Texas coast has to offer.
Captain Dewayne's center console bay boat is built for serious inshore action in Clear Lake Shores and the surrounding bays. This fishing-focused vessel cuts through Texas waters with a wireless trolling motor that keeps things quiet when you're stalking redfish and speckled trout in shallow flats. The onboard fish finder helps locate schools while GPS navigation gets you to the honey holes where black drum, sheepshead, and flounder are biting. Stay connected with marine VHF radio and keep your catch fresh in the spacious ice box. Between fishing spots, crank up the multimedia system and enjoy the ride. With room for 2 anglers plus Captain Dewayne, you'll have plenty of space to work the water without bumping elbows. The boat's shallow draft design lets you access those back-bay spots where the big fish hide, while the center console layout gives everyone clear casting lanes and easy access to gear.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our bay system - these bruisers can hit 30+ pounds and will test your drag. They're part of the drum family, so you'll hear them "drumming" underwater during spawning season in spring. Most fish we catch run 5-15 pounds, perfect for the table. Look for them around oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths in 3-10 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, but we catch them year-round. What guests love is the fight - they're bulldogs that make long, powerful runs. The meat on smaller fish is fantastic, flaky white fillets. Here's a local trick: use fresh blue crab or cut mullet on the bottom near oyster bars. When you get a bite, let them run with it for a few seconds before setting the hook - they're notorious for dropping baits if you rush them.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing - those copper-colored bruisers with the distinctive black spots near their tail. Around here, most slot fish run 20-28 inches, perfect for keeping, while the big bulls can push 35+ inches. They cruise shallow flats, oyster beds, and marsh edges in water so skinny their backs show. Year-round fishing is good, but fall is prime when they school up in big numbers. What makes them special is that explosive topwater bite and the way they peel drag on long runs. The meat is firm and sweet with a mild flavor that's hard to beat. Here's my local tip: look for nervous baitfish and "push water" on calm mornings - that's redfish feeding. Use gold spoons or topwater plugs, and when you see the wake behind your lure, resist the urge to speed up. Let them commit to the bite.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Seatrout are our bread-and-butter fish around these grass flats - beautiful silver fish with distinctive black spots that hit hard and taste even better. Most trout we catch run 14-20 inches, but we see some real "gator trout" pushing 25+ inches in deeper water. They love shallow grass beds, drop-offs, and channel edges in 2-8 feet of water. Spring through fall are best, especially early morning and evening when they're actively feeding. What guests love is the aggressive strikes and that distinctive "pop" when they hit topwater lures. The meat is tender and flaky, perfect for the dinner table. Local secret: work the edges of grass beds with soft plastics on 1/4 oz jig heads, and don't overlook those small potholes in the grass. When the tide is moving and you find bait, you'll find trout. Keep your retrieve steady but not too fast - they like to track their prey.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with those distinctive black and white stripes, but don't let their looks fool you - they're some of the smartest fish in the bay. Most run 2-5 pounds and 14-18 inches, with the occasional 8-pounder around deeper structure. They hang tight to pilings, docks, and jetties where they feed on barnacles and crabs with their human-like teeth. Winter through spring is prime time when they move closer to structures. What makes them fun is they're notorious bait thieves - you really have to earn each one. Plus, they're absolutely delicious with sweet, white meat that rivals snapper. My go-to tip: use small hooks with live or fresh dead shrimp, get as close to the structure as possible, and when you feel that subtle nibble, set the hook hard immediately. They'll steal your bait in a heartbeat if you hesitate.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of camouflage - these flat fish bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to ambush prey. They're easy to spot with both eyes on their left side and those distinctive dark blotches. Most run 15-18 inches around here, but we see some pushing 25+ inches in deeper water. You'll find them on sandy bottoms in 2-15 feet, especially near grass beds and drop-offs. Fall and winter are prime time when they move toward passes and deeper channels. What makes them special is the challenge - they're sneaky biters and excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. My local tip: use a slow drift with live mud minnows or shrimp on a light jig head, and when you feel that subtle tap, wait a second before setting the hook. They like to mouth the bait first.
Kemah, TX