5.0(1 Reviews)Port O'Connor Inshore Fishing Charter
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private halfday charter targeting speckled trout, redfish, and black drumAll equipment provided including rods, reels, and tackle for convenienceAccommodates 14 anglers with morning departure from Port O'Connor
If you're looking for some serious inshore action in one of Texas's best fishing spots, this Port O'Connor charter is exactly what you need. Captain Stephan knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on fish from the moment you leave the dock. This morning half-day trip runs from 7am to noon, giving you prime time to target speckled trout, redfish, and black drum in the protected bays and flats around Port O'Connor. Whether you're a complete beginner or you've been fishing these waters for years, this charter delivers the goods every single time.
Your morning starts early, but trust me, it's worth it. The captain provides everything you need – boat, rods, reels, tackle, and live bait when it's available at market price. You'll be fishing the inshore waters where the grass flats meet the deeper channels, and these spots are loaded with hungry fish year-round. The boat comfortably handles up to 4 anglers, though you can squeeze in a 5th or 6th person for an extra fee if needed. Just keep in mind that with 4 grown adults, things get pretty cozy, and if you've got 5 or 6 people, it'll be tight quarters where not everyone can fish simultaneously. Kids make it much easier to manage the space. Morning fog can occasionally cut into your fishing time for safety reasons, but that's just how it goes on the water. Fish cleaning might cost extra depending on your catch, but most folks think it's worth it to have their fish ready for the dinner table.
You'll be fishing with medium-action spinning rods rigged with everything from soft plastics to live shrimp, depending on what the fish are hitting that day. The captain reads the water and adjusts tactics based on tides, wind, and fish behavior. Some days you'll be drifting the grass flats with topwater plugs at first light, watching redfish blow up on the surface. Other times, you'll anchor up near structure and bottom fish for black drum with cut bait. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – you might catch fish on everything from popping corks with live shrimp to paddle tail soft plastics worked slowly along the bottom. The captain handles all the rigging and re-baiting, so you can focus on fishing instead of fumbling with tackle. Live bait is available depending on what the bait shops have that morning, and it's priced at current market rates.
"We couldn't have asked for a better trip. The weather was great. Stephan was awesome. Got us to a nice spot where we could catch fish without having to relocate constantly. Thanks for a great morning." - Michael
Speckled trout are the bread and butter of Port O'Connor inshore fishing, and for good reason. These spotted beauties love the grass flats and deeper pockets around the bay systems. They're most active during moving tides and low-light periods, making your early morning departure perfect timing. Specks typically run 14-20 inches in these waters, with bigger fish pushing 24+ inches during cooler months. They're fun fighters that make screaming runs and jump when hooked, plus they're absolutely delicious on the table. You'll find them schooled up around structure and grass beds, especially when baitfish are thick.
Redfish are the kings of the inshore flats, and Port O'Connor has some of the best red fishing on the Texas coast. These copper-colored bruisers love shallow water and can be found tailing in inches of water or cruising the drop-offs into deeper channels. Reds typically range from 20-28 inches here, with plenty of slot fish perfect for keeping. They're incredibly strong fighters that will test your drag and make long, powerful runs. The best part about targeting reds is their year-round availability – they're here in good numbers no matter what season you visit.
Black drum are the heavyweights of your trip, often weighing 5-15 pounds with some real monsters pushing 30+ pounds. These bottom-huggers love structure like oyster reefs, bridge pilings, and drop-offs where they root around for crabs and shellfish. They're not the prettiest fish in the bay, but they make up for it with pure pulling power. When a big drum gets hooked, it's like being connected to a freight train – they just put their head down and pull. Smaller drum are excellent eating, while the bigger ones are best released to keep the population healthy.
Southern flounder are the masters of camouflage, lying flat on sandy and muddy bottoms waiting to ambush passing baitfish. These flatfish are found around channel edges, boat cuts, and anywhere the bottom transitions from hard to soft. They're most active during moving water and cooler months, though Port O'Connor produces flounder year-round. Most run 14-18 inches with occasional doormat-sized fish over 20 inches. They're fantastic table fare and provide a nice change of pace from the typical inshore species.
Sheepshead are the convict-striped specialists that love to hang around structure picking off barnacles and small crabs. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth and are notorious bait stealers, making them both challenging and rewarding to catch. They're most common around docks, pilings, and oyster reefs, especially during cooler months when they move inshore to spawn. Sheepshead are excellent eating with firm, white meat, but you'll need to stay sharp because they're experts at stealing your bait without getting hooked.
Port O'Connor consistently produces some of the best inshore fishing on the Texas coast, and this charter gives you
This 25' Carolina Skiff is built for serious inshore action in Port O'Connor's productive waters. With space for up to 6 anglers, she features two jump seats in the stern, a spot next to the captain at the leaning post, room for two on the cooler, and a front position by the bait tank. The boat comes loaded with essential fishing gear including a fish finder to locate those speckled trout and redfish holding spots, GPS navigation to hit the best flats and structure, and VHF radio for safety on the water. An icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those hot Texas mornings. The captain provides all rods, reels, and tackle needed to target specks, reds, and black drum in the shallow bays and grass flats. While the boat handles 6 people, it gets pretty tight with 4 adults all fishing at once, so bigger groups work better with kids or if some folks don't mind taking turns on the rods. Perfect for families wanting to get into some solid inshore fishing without the hassle of bringing their own gear.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweight champions of our inshore waters, commonly running 10-25 pounds with some real giants pushing 40+ pounds. These gray-black fish have powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs around our shell reefs and muddy flats. Spring is magic time when they school up for spawning - you'll actually hear them "drumming" underwater during courtship. They're bottom feeders that love structure, so we fish oyster beds, channel edges, and creek mouths in 3-15 feet of water. What guests love is the strong, steady fight they put up - no flashy jumps, just pure muscle. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent eating with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: use fresh blue crab on a fish finder rig and let it sit on bottom near oyster shell. Be patient - they'll mouth the bait before really taking it.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing with that copper-bronze color and signature black spot near the tail. Around Port O'Connor, most run 18-30 inches, perfect slot-size fish that put up an amazing fight. These fish love super shallow water - we're talking 1-3 feet where you can see their backs and tails as they cruise the flats looking for crabs and shrimp. They hang around oyster reefs, grass beds, and shoreline structure year-round, but fall and spring offer the best action when they're feeding heavily. What guests love most is sight-fishing to them in skinny water - watching a big red inhale your lure is pure adrenaline. They're also fantastic eating with mild, sweet meat. Pro tip: when you spot one tailing in shallow water, cast your bait well ahead of where they're moving and let them find it. Don't cast right on top of them or they'll spook every time.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are our bread and butter fish - beautiful silver sides covered in black spots with a yellow mouth that's hard to miss. They typically run 14-20 inches in our waters, with some nice 3-4 pounders mixed in during good years. These fish love our grass flats, shallow bay shorelines, and drop-offs where they hunt shrimp and small baitfish. Spring through fall are prime times, especially early morning and evening when they're actively feeding. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures and their respectable fight for their size. They're also outstanding table fare with tender, flaky white meat that's perfect for any recipe. The key around here is working the grass edges in 2-6 feet of water with soft plastics or live shrimp under a popping cork. During winter, look for them in deeper holes and channels where they school up to stay warm.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our waters with their distinctive black bars on silver-gray bodies, but what really sets them apart are those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs. They typically run 2-5 pounds around Port O'Connor, though we see some nice 8-10 pounders. These fish are structure lovers, hanging tight to dock pilings, bridge supports, and any barnacle-covered surface in our bay system. Winter and early spring are peak seasons when they're most active and feeding heavily before spawning. Guests enjoy the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with light, nibbling bites that test your reflexes. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in the bay with sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. My advice: use small hooks with fresh shrimp and get as close to structure as possible. When you feel them pecking, set the hook hard and fast.
Paralichthys LethostigmaThese flat, oval-shaped fish are masters of disguise, burying themselves in sandy bottoms with both eyes on their left side. Most run 15-18 inches around Port O'Connor, but we see some beauties up to 25+ inches. They're ambush predators that love our shallow bays, grass flats, and muddy bottoms where they hunt shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish. Fall and winter are prime time when they're fattening up before heading offshore to spawn. What makes them fun is the surprise factor - you never know when that "piece of bottom" will grab your bait. They're also top-notch table fare with sweet, white meat. My tip: use a slow drift with live 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.
5.0 out of 5.0We couldn’t have asked for a better trip. The weather was great. Stephan was awesome. Got us to a nice spot where we could catch f...
Michael Gessner, Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.
Port O'Connor