5.0(4 Reviews)Full Day Guided Fishing In Corpus Christi, TX
5.0(4 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day inshore fishing targeting redfish, trout, and black drumEight-hour guided trip in Upper Laguna Madre or Baffin BayProfessional equipment provided for groups up to five anglers
If you're looking for some of the best inshore fishing Texas has to offer, you've found it. Captain Ryan McCain knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on fish in the legendary Upper Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay. This isn't your typical tourist fishing trip – we're talking about an 8-hour adventure in some of the most productive shallow water fisheries on the Gulf Coast. You'll be targeting the holy trinity of Texas inshore fishing: redfish, speckled trout, and black drum. With room for up to 5 anglers, this trip works perfect for buddy groups, family outings, or anyone serious about getting their lines wet in world-class fishing grounds.
Your day starts early, which is exactly how you want it when the fish are biting. Captain Ryan will have you rigged and ready before the sun fully breaks the horizon, positioning you in prime spots where these fish like to feed. The Upper Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay systems are shallow water paradise – crystal clear flats, grass beds, and structure that hold fish year-round. You're not just casting blind here; Ryan reads these waters and adjusts throughout the day based on tides, wind, and what the fish are telling him. The 8-hour format gives you real time to work different areas, try various techniques, and dial in on what's working. When one spot cools off, you're moving to the next honey hole. This is sight fishing at its finest, with plenty of opportunities for that heart-pounding moment when you spot a red's back cutting through skinny water.
Captain Ryan comes prepared with top-shelf gear that's perfectly matched to these fisheries. You'll be working with medium-action rods spooled with braid – the sensitivity you need to feel those subtle trout bites and the backbone to turn a bull red away from structure. Depending on conditions and what's biting, you might be throwing soft plastics on jig heads, working topwater plugs during the morning bite, or drifting live bait over deeper pockets. The beauty of fishing with an experienced guide is learning how to read water and adjust your presentation. Ryan shares techniques that work specifically in these Texas waters – like how to work a paddle tail through the grass without hanging up, or the right retrieve speed to trigger strikes from finicky trout. You'll pick up local knowledge that makes you a better angler long after this trip ends.
"Ryan McCain's Fishing Guide Service was an incredible experience for me and my four buddies. Ryan worked hard the entire time to put us on fish and shared helpful tips that made the trip fun and successful for all of us. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a top-notch fishing adventure. We're already looking forward to booking with him again. Thanks again, Ryan! 🤙🏽" - Aaron
"Great time! Captain Ryan was great, he put us on fish from start to finish(weather was good). We had a blast!" - Peyton
"What a great time we had! Ryan is an excellent captain and our family has used him more than once. Highly recommend for his accommodations, his ability to find fish, and his kind and fun personality. Great experience for young and old. You won't regret booking with him." - Dewayne
"We had family visiting from out of town and decided a day in the water would be a wonderful shared experience. Despite less than ideal conditions, Captain Ryan of McCain's Shallow Water Experiences persevered putting us on multiple schools of fish. The result: a great day with the family and some beautiful redfish, drum, and speckled trout that will not only make for great stiries but several wonderful dinners. Thanks Capt. Ryan!" - Kevin
Redfish are the crown jewel of Texas inshore fishing, and these waters are absolutely loaded with them. You'll find reds ranging from slot-size fish around 20-28 inches all the way up to bull reds that'll test your drag and your arms. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, but these fish feed year-round in the right conditions. What makes redfish so special is their aggressive nature and the variety of ways you can catch them. Some days they're tailing in inches of water, other times they're schooled up in deeper cuts. The fight is what hooks most anglers – reds pull hard and don't give up easy. Plus, they're excellent table fare when you keep a legal fish or two.
Speckled trout are the bread and butter of Texas coastal fishing, and the Upper Laguna Madre system produces some true giants. These fish are incredibly structure-oriented, relating to grass beds, drop-offs, and shell bottom throughout the area. Peak season runs from spring through early winter, with the best trophy fishing typically happening in cooler months when big sow trout move shallow to feed. What anglers love about specks is their finicky nature – they make you a better fisherman. Some days they want a fast retrieve, other days you can barely crawl a lure past them. When you figure out the pattern, though, you can have multiple fish days that create lifelong memories.
Black drum are the bulldozers of the flats, and catching one is like hooking into a freight train. These fish can range from smaller specimens around 14-20 inches up to monsters pushing 30+ pounds. They're bottom feeders by nature, using their pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish, which makes them perfect targets for live and cut bait. The bigger drums are typically found in deeper water adjacent to the flats, especially around structure and shell reefs. What's exciting about drum fishing is the surprise factor – you never know if that next bite is going to be a keeper or a fish that spools your reel. They're also fantastic eating in the
Your floating command center for this 8-hour fishing adventure is a brand-new 2024 Shoalwater 23 Catamaran that cuts through Corpus Christi's waters like a knife. This cat hull design gives you rock-solid stability when you're fighting that trophy redfish or working a trout school in the shallows. The 300HP Suzuki pushes this rig up to 45 knots, so you'll spend more time with lines wet and less time running between spots in Upper Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay. The wireless trolling motor lets you slip into skinny water without spooking fish, while the GPS keeps you on productive structure. Pack your lunch in the icebox and get ready to chase speckled trout, reds, and black drum with room for up to 5 anglers. This shallow-draft catamaran opens up prime fishing grounds that bigger boats can't touch.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bruisers of our local waters, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These gray-black fish love crushing oysters and crabs with their powerful jaws, making that distinctive drumming sound you can actually hear underwater. You'll find them around oyster reefs, muddy flats, and shallow bays throughout our area. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we really dial them in. They're scrappy fighters that'll test your drag, but stick to the smaller ones under 15 pounds for the best eating. Here's the trick: use fresh crab on a Carolina rig and let it sit right on the bottom near structure. Be patient and feel for that steady pull.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are what put our Texas coast on the map - copper-colored tanks with that signature black spot near the tail. Most run 20-35 inches and fight like freight trains in our shallow flats. Look for them tailing in 1-4 feet of water around oyster reefs, grass beds, and marshy shorelines. Year-round fishing here, but fall brings the best action when they're feeding heavy before winter. What guests love most is sight-fishing these beasts - watching a 25-pound red crush a topwater lure in skinny water never gets old. They're excellent table fare too, with sweet, flaky meat. Pro tip for our local waters: throw a gold spoon or soft plastic shrimp tight to the shoreline structure and work it slow. When you see that wake coming, resist setting the hook until you feel the weight.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our Texas coast, typically running 14-24 inches and fighting way above their weight class. These spotted beauties love our grass flats and shallow bays, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Fall and winter months can be outstanding when they school up in deeper channels. What makes specks special is their delicate white meat - just don't overcook it or it gets mushy. They'll hit everything from topwater plugs to soft plastics, but here's what works best in our waters: a 1/4 oz jighead with a paddle tail under a popping cork. Work it slow over the grass beds and listen for that distinctive pop when they strike.
5.0 out of 5.0Ryan McCain’s Fishing Guide Service was an incredible experience for me and my four buddies. Ryan worked hard the entire time to p...
Great time! Captain Ryan was great, he put us on fish from start to finish(weather was good). We had a blast!
What a great time we had! Ryan is an excellent captain and our family has used him more than once. Highly recommend for his accomm...
We had family visiting from out of town and decided a day in the water would be a wonderful shared experience. Despite less than i...
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