Full Day Beginner-Friendly Texas Inshore Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
8hour beginnerfriendly inshore fishing trip with expert guidanceTarget redfish, trout, and flounder in Texas coastal watersAll equipment provided for stressfree learning experience
Ready to get your feet wet in the world of inshore fishing? Captain Carlos has been guiding newcomers through Texas waters for years, and he knows exactly how to turn first-timers into confident anglers. This 8-hour adventure takes you into some of the most productive shallow waters along the Texas coast, where redfish cruise the grass flats and speckled trout work the drop-offs. You'll learn everything from proper casting form to reading the water, all while actually catching fish instead of just talking about it. No pressure, no rushing – just good fishing with a captain who genuinely enjoys watching people discover what makes this sport so addictive.
Your day starts early when you meet Captain Carlos at the dock, where he'll walk you through the basics while rigging up your gear. The boat heads out into Texas's famous inshore waters – think shallow bays, grass beds, and oyster reefs where game fish love to hunt. This isn't about racing from spot to spot; Carlos takes his time to explain what you're seeing and why fish behave the way they do. You'll learn to cast artificial lures, work soft plastics, and maybe even try your hand at sight fishing if conditions are right. The pace stays relaxed so you can actually absorb what you're learning instead of feeling overwhelmed. By lunch time, most beginners are casting with confidence and starting to read the water on their own.
Everything you need comes with the trip – quality spinning rods matched to the target species, tackle boxes full of proven lures, and a cooler stocked with ice and drinks. Captain Carlos specializes in teaching with artificial baits because they're more active and help you develop better technique than sitting and waiting with live bait. You'll start with basic retrieves using soft plastic paddle tails and shrimp imitations, then progress to working topwater plugs and spoons as your confidence builds. The boat stays in water depths between 2-6 feet most of the day, perfect for beginners to see fish reactions and understand how structure affects where they position. Carlos uses a combination of drift fishing and anchored presentations, adjusting the approach based on wind and tide conditions to give you the best learning experience.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Texas inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-28 inches in these waters and fight like fish twice their size. They're most active during moving tides, especially around oyster bars and grass edges where they ambush prey. What makes reds perfect for beginners is their aggressive nature – they'll often eat a lure even if your presentation isn't perfect. Fall and spring offer the most consistent action, but summer mornings can be fantastic if you get an early start.
Speckled trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the thinking angler's fish. They're more finicky than redfish but incredibly rewarding when you dial in the right technique. Most keeper specks in these waters run 14-18 inches, with the occasional 20+ inch "gator trout" making appearances. They love soft plastics worked slowly along grass beds and drop-offs. The best trout bite typically happens during cooler months, but skilled guides like Captain Carlos know summer spots where they still feed actively during early morning hours.
Summer flounder provide some of the most exciting action for newcomers because they're ambush predators that hit hard and fast. These flatfish average 15-20 inches and are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand and mud bottoms waiting for baitfish to swim overhead. The strike is unmistakable – a solid thump followed by a bulldogging fight toward the bottom. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, with the largest fish moving through during their fall migration.
Sea trout offer consistent action throughout the year and are incredibly forgiving to beginners still learning proper lure presentation. They school up in predictable areas around structure and grass beds, making them reliable targets when other species are being stubborn. Most sea trout caught on these trips range from 12-16 inches, perfect eating size. They're also excellent for practicing different retrieval techniques since they'll respond to everything from slow bottom bouncing to aggressive topwater action.
Black drum are the heavy hitters of the inshore scene, with mature fish pushing 30+ inches and providing arm-burning fights that test your drag system. They're bottom feeders that cruise oyster reefs and mud flats looking for crabs and shrimp. While they can be selective about bait presentation, a properly worked soft plastic crab pattern will usually get their attention. Spring and fall migrations bring the largest numbers through these waters, but resident fish provide year-round opportunities for patient anglers.
Snook represent the premium catch in Texas inshore waters, though they're more common in the southern regions of the state. These subtropical gamefish are known for their distinctive black lateral line and explosive strikes near structure. They average 20-26 inches in Texas waters and provide some of the most memorable fights you'll experience on light tackle. Snook are most active during warmer months and prefer areas with current flow around bridges, docks, and mangrove shorelines. Landing one on your first trip would be the perfect way to cap off a day of learning.
This trip delivers exactly what it promises – a genuine learning experience that builds confidence while putting fish in the boat. Captain Carlos has refined his teaching approach over countless beginner trips, and his patient style makes all the difference between a frustrating day and one that hooks you on fishing for life. The single-angler capacity means you get personalized instruction without competing for attention or feeling rushed through techniques. Whether you're looking to start a new hobby, plan a unique solo adventure, or build skills before bringing family members out, this top-rated charter provides the foundation every successful angler needs. Texas inshore waters are firing on all cylinders
Step aboard our reliable 25-foot Dargel, your floating fishing headquarters for the day. This spacious motorboat comfortably handles up to 8 anglers, though you'll have plenty of room to spread out and learn the ropes. The 250HP Suzuki engine gets you to the best fishing spots quickly, cruising at speeds up to 45 knots when you need to chase the bite. Built for Texas inshore waters, she's equipped with GPS navigation to pinpoint productive redfish flats and trout holes. The onboard multimedia system keeps things entertaining between catches. Captain Carlos knows every inch of these waters and will have you rigged up and ready to target redfish, speckled trout, and flounder in the shallows. Perfect for beginners who want to learn proper techniques while actually catching fish.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90 pounds. These dark, powerful fish have crushing jaws perfect for their favorite foods - crabs, oysters, and shellfish. You'll find them on shallow mudflats, around oyster beds, and near structure in 1-20 feet of water. Spring is prime time, especially during spawn when they school up and are easier to target. What guests love is the solid, steady fight they put up - no flashy jumps, just pure power. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating with mild, flaky meat. My go-to tip: use fresh crab for bait and make sure it stays on the bottom. These fish feed down there, so your presentation needs to be right in their face where they're rooting around.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails, typically running 20-35 inches in our shallow Texas waters. These fish love super shallow flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges where you can sometimes see their backs out of the water. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring offer the best action when they're feeding heavily. What guests love most is the sight fishing opportunities and powerful fights - reds make strong runs and never give up easy. Plus, the slot-sized fish are fantastic eating with mild, firm meat. They're also perfect for beginners since they'll eat almost anything. My favorite approach is working topwater plugs or soft plastics along the shell bars and grass lines early morning. When you see those bronze backs cruising, cast ahead of them and work your lure slowly back.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are beautiful silver fish covered in distinctive black spots, averaging 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. These shallow water favorites hang around grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in 2-8 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months and low-light periods like dawn and dusk. What makes trout fishing special is their willingness to hit topwater lures and their delicate, flaky white meat that's prized at the dinner table. They're perfect for beginners since they're aggressive feeders and relatively easy to hook. The key to success is fishing the grass flats early morning or late evening with soft plastics under a popping cork. Keep the bait moving slowly and listen for that distinctive "pop" when they hit - trout have soft mouths, so don't set the hook too hard.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are sleek, golden fish with that distinctive black lateral line running down their sides. Most run 1-2 feet, but the big females can push 4 feet and really put up a fight. You'll find them around mangroves, docks, and creek mouths in both salt and brackish water - they love structure and ambush spots. Spring through fall is prime time when they're most active and feeding heavily. What makes snook special is their explosive strikes and strong runs, plus they're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's a local tip: cast your soft plastic or topwater lure past the structure and work it back slowly along the edges. Snook are cover-oriented, so get close to those mangroves and pilings where they're waiting to ambush baitfish.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are masters of camouflage - these flatfish lie on sandy bottoms with both eyes on one side, changing color to match their surroundings. Most run 15-20 inches, though big females can reach impressive sizes. You'll find them on sandy flats, around structure, and near drop-offs in 10-60 feet of water. Fall fishing from September through November is peak season when they're most active before heading offshore. Guests love the challenge of finding these "invisible" fish and their excellent table fare - firm, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. They're also great for beginners since they don't make long runs. Pro tip: use a bucktail jig tipped with squid or minnow and work it slowly along the bottom. When you feel that subtle tap, give them a second to fully take the bait before setting the hook.
Arroyo City, TX