Bay Fishing with Laguna Madre Anglers
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target redfish, trout, and flounder in prime Texas watersFish from Pathfinder bay boat or wade shallow flatsSmall group experience with Captain Mitch for two guests
When you're ready to get serious about inshore fishing along the Texas Gulf Coast, Captain Mitch has you covered. Based out of Clem's Marina, this top-rated guide knows every productive stretch of water from Laguna Madre to Baffin Bay and the Land Cut. You'll be fishing from his well-rigged Pathfinder bay boat or wading the flats, chasing three of the coast's most sought-after species: speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. With room for just two anglers, you get the personalized attention that makes the difference between a good day and a great day on the water.
Captain Mitch keeps things simple but effective. You'll meet him at Clem's Marina where his Pathfinder is the first boat you'll see - no confusion about where to show up. The beauty of this trip is the flexibility. If the trout are schooled up in Laguna Madre, that's where you're headed. If the redfish are tailing in Baffin Bay, you'll be there casting to them. The Land Cut can be money when conditions line up right, and Mitch reads these waters like a book. Some days you'll spend most of your time on the boat, covering water and hitting multiple spots. Other days, he might put you on a flat where you can wade and sight-cast to cruising fish. The Pathfinder bay boat is perfect for this kind of versatile fishing - shallow draft to get into the skinny water, but stable enough to handle a little chop when the wind picks up. You're looking at a full day of fishing with a captain who's not just going through the motions but actively working to put you on fish.
This is classic Texas inshore fishing at its finest. From the boat, you'll be throwing soft plastics on jig heads, working them along grass lines, over shell bars, and through deeper cuts where fish stage up. The Laguna Madre system is famous for its clear water and grass flats, so sight fishing is often part of the program. When you're wading, it's all about stealth and precision - moving quietly through knee-deep water while scanning for nervous water, tailing fish, or the telltale signs of feeding activity. Captain Mitch provides the tackle, but if you've got your own gear, bring a medium-action spinning rod with 20-30 pound braided line. The structure here includes everything from shallow grass beds to deeper shell reefs, so you'll be working different presentations throughout the day. Topwater plugs can be magic during the right conditions, especially early morning or late afternoon when the water's calm. The Land Cut offers some deeper water opportunities where you might throw heavier jigs or even live bait when the bite gets tough.
Speckled trout are the bread and butter of this fishery, and for good reason. These fish school up in impressive numbers throughout the Laguna Madre system, especially around grass lines and shell structure. The best trout fishing typically runs from spring through fall, with fish ranging from solid keeper size up to genuine heavyweights pushing 6-7 pounds. What makes trout fishing so addictive here is the variety - you might catch a dozen schoolies in thirty minutes, then hook into a gator trout that tests your drag. They're aggressive feeders when conditions are right, but they can also be finicky, requiring you to change up your retrieve or presentation. The clear water means you can often see them coming to investigate your lure, which adds a visual element that keeps every cast interesting.
Redfish are the other crown jewel of these waters, and they're what dreams are made of for inshore anglers. The Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay system holds some of the most consistent redfish populations on the entire Texas coast. These copper-colored bruisers range from slot-sized fish perfect for the dinner table up to bull reds that will smoke your drag and test your patience. Spring and fall are prime time, but you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. What sets redfish apart is their attitude - they're aggressive, they fight dirty, and they'll take you into every piece of structure they can find. Whether you're sight-casting to a school of reds cruising a flat or working a jig along a drop-off where they're feeding, these fish bring the intensity that keeps anglers coming back.
Southern flounder might not get the glory of trout and reds, but they're a welcome addition to any day on the water. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, laying buried in sand and mud waiting to ambush prey. Fall is prime time for flounder fishing as they stage up for their offshore spawning run, getting fat and aggressive. They're typically found along transitions - where hard bottom meets soft, where shallow water drops into deeper cuts, or around any kind of structure that breaks up the bottom. What makes flounder fishing exciting is the surprise factor - you never know when that slow, heavy bite is going to turn into a nice doormat flounder. They're also excellent table fare, which makes them a customer favorite for folks looking to take home a fresh fish dinner.
Captain Mitch's bay fishing trips offer everything you want in a world-class inshore fishing experience - productive waters, flexible approach, and the personal attention you only get with a two-angler limit. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to explore new water or someone wanting to experience what makes Texas inshore fishing so special, this trip delivers. The combination of Laguna Madre, Baffin Bay, and the Land Cut gives you access to some of the most renowned fishing grounds on the Gulf Coast, with a captain who knows how to make the most of changing conditions. With no crowds, no rushing, and the freedom to fish where the bite is best, you're set up for the kind of day that reminds you why you love
Captain Mitch's Pathfinder Bay Boat is built for serious fishing on the Texas Gulf Coast flats. This shallow-draft motorboat cuts through the skinny water of Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay like it was made for it. The GPS keeps you on the honey holes while the fish finder shows what's swimming below. VHF radio keeps you connected when cell service drops out in the back bays. Perfect for two anglers who want to target redfish, trout, and flounder without fighting crowds. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing reds or working structure for speckled trout, this rig gets you there quietly and efficiently. Captain Mitch knows these waters like his backyard and puts you on fish from the Land Cut to wherever they're biting. Meet at Clem's Marina - you can't miss it, first boat slip you hit.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish, or red drum, are the backbone of our bay fishing here. These copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails average 20-35 inches but can push 40+ pounds. They cruise our shallow flats in 1-4 feet, often with backs showing above water. Look for them around oyster reefs, grass beds, and drop-offs in Laguna Madre year-round, though fall and spring offer the best action. Reds fight hard with powerful runs and make great eating when kept within slot limits. They'll eat everything from topwater plugs to live shrimp. Local secret: watch for "nervous water" or slight surface disturbances - that's usually a school of reds feeding just below.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them, are what most folks come here to catch. These silvery fish with black spots run 14-24 inches typically, though we see some pushing 5+ pounds. They love our grass flats in 2-4 feet of water, especially around Baffin Bay and the Land Cut. Spring through fall are prime, but they school up in deeper channels during winter cold fronts. Specks hit topwater plugs at dawn and dusk, plus soft plastics work great all day. They're scrappy fighters and make excellent table fare with white, flaky meat. Pro tip: when you feel that light tap, give it a second before setting the hook - they like to mouth the bait first.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are the masters of disguise on our muddy and sandy bottoms. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches but can reach 33 inches and 5+ pounds. Both eyes sit on their left side, and they bury themselves in soft bottom waiting to ambush prey. Find them in channels, boat cuts, and around structure in 3-15 feet of water. Fall migration offers the best fishing when they head to deeper waters. They're not flashy fighters, but that subtle thump and head shake is unmistakable. Excellent eating with sweet, white meat. Best technique is bouncing a jig head with live shrimp or bull minnow along the bottom - keep it slow and feel for that gentle pickup.
Corpus Christi, TX