World Class Inshore Fishing Adventures in Rockport
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore fishing targeting six popular speciesLight tackle fishing in flats and backcountry watersNo early returns policy ensures maximum fishing time
When you step aboard with Live Oak Outfitters in Rockport, you're signing up for a full day of serious fishing—not a quick trip that ends the moment you land a keeper. Our guides stay committed to keeping you on productive water for the entire charter, whether you're pulling in your first redfish or your tenth speckled trout. This top-rated inshore experience targets the flats and backcountry around Copano Bay and Aransas Bay, where shallow water holds some of Texas' most sought-after gamefish. With light tackle in hand and a maximum of two anglers per boat, you'll get personalized attention and prime casting opportunities all day long.
Your full day starts early, typically around sunrise when the fish are most active and the water is glass-calm. Live Oak Outfitters focuses on inshore, flats, and backcountry fishing using light tackle that makes every fight more exciting and gives you better feel for what's happening below. The shallow bays around Rockport are perfect for sight-fishing, especially when you're poling the flats looking for tailing redfish or cruising trout. You'll spend time in different areas throughout the day—maybe starting on deeper grass beds for trout, then moving to oyster reefs for black drum, and finishing on shallow flats where reds like to feed. The beauty of a full day is flexibility; if one area isn't producing, there's plenty of time to relocate and find where the fish are biting. Your guide knows these waters intimately and will adjust tactics based on tides, weather, and what the fish are telling them.
Light tackle fishing in Rockport's shallow bays means using spinning gear that's perfectly matched to the fish and environment. You'll typically fish with medium-light to medium rods paired with 2500-4000 series reels spooled with 15-20 pound braid. This setup gives you the sensitivity to feel subtle bites while providing enough backbone to handle a bull redfish in shallow water. Techniques vary throughout the day—you might start with topwater plugs during the dawn bite, switch to soft plastics on jigheads when working grass beds, or throw spoons when fish are schooled up and feeding aggressively. Wading opportunities come up frequently, especially on the flats where you can get closer to spooky fish. Your guide will have you covered with a full selection of lures and baits, from live shrimp to artificial everything. The key to success here is staying mobile and reading the water—something your Live Oak guide excels at after years of fishing these same productive areas.
Southern Flounder are the ultimate ambush predators in Rockport's shallow bays, lying buried in sand or mud waiting for unsuspecting prey to swim by. These flatfish average 14-18 inches but can push well over 20 inches, providing excellent table fare and a unique fighting style. Fall months from September through November offer the best flounder action as they stage near passes before heading to deeper water. What makes flounder fishing exciting is the surprise factor—you never know when that "snag" on the bottom suddenly starts pulling back. They hit both live bait and artificials, with soft plastics bounced along the bottom being particularly effective. Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, with fish ranging from 2-pound "puppy drum" to 30-pound bulls that will test your drag system. Peak season runs from late fall through early spring when larger fish move into shallow water. These fish are bottom feeders with excellent hearing, so quiet approaches work best. They're known for their steady, powerful runs and stubborn fighting style—once hooked, a big black drum will use its broad body to maximum advantage in shallow water. Sheepshead earn their nickname "convict fish" from distinctive black stripes, but anglers know them as bait thieves with incredible precision. These fish have human-like teeth designed for crushing crustaceans around structure, making them both challenging and rewarding to catch. Rockport's numerous oyster reefs provide perfect sheepshead habitat year-round, with peak action during cooler months. They require finesse fishing with small hooks and fresh bait, rewarding patient anglers with some of the best eating fish in the bay. Sea Trout, specifically speckled trout, are the bread and butter of Rockport fishing, available year-round with fish ranging from schoolie size to genuine "gator trout" over 25 inches. These fish are most active during low-light periods and respond well to both topwater lures and subsurface presentations. Spring and fall provide the most consistent action, while summer fishing peaks early and late in the day. Specks are known for their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights, often jumping clear of the water when hooked. Redfish are the crown jewel of Texas inshore fishing, combining brute strength with stunning copper-bronze coloration and distinctive black spots. Rockport's shallow flats provide ideal redfish habitat where these fish range from slot-size "rats" around 18-27 inches to oversized bulls pushing 40+ inches. Year-round residents, reds offer some of the most exciting sight-fishing opportunities when they're tailing in skinny water or cruising grass beds with their backs exposed. Their powerful runs and bulldogging fighting style make every redfish memorable, whether you're using artificials or live bait.
A full day with Live Oak Outfitters gives you the best chance to experience everything Rockport's renowned inshore fishing has to offer. While half-day trips can be productive, there's something special about having a full day to explore different areas, try various techniques, and really get dialed in on what the fish want. Your guide's commitment to staying on the water for the entire charter—not cutting things short after a few quick fish—means you're getting maximum value for your investment. With space limited to just two anglers, you'll receive person
Get ready to chase redfish and speckled trout aboard this sleek 23' Stoner Bay Boat that cuts through Rockport's shallow waters like a dream. The 200HP Suzuki pushes you to your fishing spots fast, hitting 40 knots when you need to cover ground quickly. With GPS navigation keeping you on track, you'll spend more time with lines in the water targeting black drum, flounder, and sheepshead in the productive inshore flats. This 2021 boat handles the Texas coastline perfectly, whether you're drifting over grass beds or working structure for that trophy trout. The spacious layout gives you and your fishing partner plenty of room to fight fish without tangling lines. Built for serious anglers who want comfort and performance while exploring Rockport's legendary fishing grounds.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These grey-black fish are part of the drum family and get their name from the drumming sounds they make, especially during spring spawning season. You'll find them around oyster beds, shallow muddy flats, and structure in 2-15 feet of water. Spring is peak season when they school up for spawning, making them much easier to target. They're powerful fighters that will test your drag, and smaller fish under 15 pounds make excellent eating with firm, flaky meat. The key to success is fresh crab bait - blue crab or peeler crab works best since their powerful jaws are designed to crush shellfish. Keep your bait on the bottom and be patient; when they pick it up, you'll know it.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the kings of our shallow water flats, easily identified by their copper-red coloration and distinctive black spots near the tail. They typically run 18-30 inches and 3-15 pounds in our waters, though we catch some real bulls pushing 40+ inches. These fish love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out - around grass flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges. They're active year-round but fall brings the best action as they school up. What guests love most is watching them cruise the flats and the explosive strikes when they hit topwater lures. They're strong fighters that make long runs and great eating when kept within slot limits. The key is staying quiet and making accurate casts - these fish spook easily in shallow water. My go-to technique is throwing a gold spoon or topwater plug just ahead of cruising fish.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Seatrout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are beautiful silver fish covered in black spots that typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. They're not actually trout but get the name from their delicate, flaky white meat that's some of the best eating in the bay. You'll find them over grass flats, around oyster reefs, and in 2-8 feet of water, especially during low-light periods at dawn and dusk. They're active year-round but really turn on during spring and fall transitions. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures and their acrobatic fights when hooked. The bite can be subtle or aggressive depending on conditions. Pro tip: work topwater plugs early morning over grass flats, and if that doesn't work, switch to soft plastics under a popping cork - the cork's noise draws them in from a distance.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our waters with their distinctive black and white stripes, typically running 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches. What really sets them apart are their human-like teeth, perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs off structure. You'll find them around any hard bottom - docks, bridges, jetties, and oyster reefs in 5-25 feet of water. Winter and early spring are prime time when they spawn around passes and deeper structures. They're notorious bait thieves and excellent table fare with sweet, white meat that rivals snapper. The challenge is their light bite and tendency to steal bait, which keeps anglers on their toes. My secret: use small hooks with fresh fiddler crabs or shrimp, get as close to structure as possible, and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight - they'll rob you blind if you hesitate.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are flat, oval-shaped fish that typically run 15-18 inches and around 5 pounds, though we've seen some hit 20+ pounds. What makes them unique is both eyes sit on their left side, and they're masters of camouflage - they bury in sand and mud on the bottom, waiting to ambush shrimp, crabs, and small fish. You'll find them in our shallow bays, around oyster reefs, and near creek mouths where the bottom is soft. Fall and winter are prime time when they're moving toward deeper water to spawn. They're excellent table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. My tip: use a Carolina rig with live shrimp and fish it slow along the bottom - when you feel that subtle tap, give them a second before setting the hook since they like to mouth the bait first.
Rockport, TX