Half Day Beginner Redfish & Trout Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
5hour morning trip targeting Redfish and Speckled TroutBeginnerfriendly instruction with all gear providedSmall group experience accommodating up to 2 guests
Captain Wesley's half-day morning trip on Rockport Bay is designed specifically for folks who want to learn fishing without the pressure or intimidation factor. This isn't about breaking records or filling the cooler – it's about getting comfortable with a rod in your hands while targeting two of the Texas coast's most cooperative species. The bay's protected waters stay calm most mornings, giving you plenty of chances to practice your cast and work on technique while the redfish and speckled trout are actively feeding. With just two anglers max, you'll get personal attention and plenty of hands-on instruction from a captain who genuinely enjoys teaching newcomers the ropes.
Your morning starts early when the bay is glassy and the fish are hungry. Captain Wesley meets you at the dock with everything ready to go – rods rigged, bait sorted, and a game plan based on current conditions. The first hour focuses on getting you comfortable with the basics: how to hold the rod, proper casting motion, and reading your line for bites. Rockport Bay's shallow grass flats and oyster reefs create perfect classroom conditions where you can see the bottom and watch fish move through the area. The captain keeps things relaxed and encouraging, knowing that confidence builds with every successful cast. You'll spend time drifting productive areas, anchoring up on good structure, and learning to read the water like a local. The beauty of this trip is there's no rush – if you need extra time working on your casting or want to understand why we're fishing a particular spot, Captain Wesley takes the time to explain it properly.
All tackle comes included, from medium-action spinning rods perfect for beginners to a full selection of lures and live bait. Captain Wesley starts most folks on live shrimp under popping corks – an easy setup that lets you feel every bite while learning proper hookset timing. As your confidence grows, you might graduate to soft plastics on jig heads, which gives you more control and teaches you to work a lure properly. The captain demonstrates each technique first, then watches your form and offers tips to improve your success rate. Rockport Bay's variety of structure means you'll learn multiple approaches in one trip: sight-casting to tailing redfish in skinny water, working drop-offs for trout, and bouncing baits along oyster shell. The gear stays simple and user-friendly, but you'll leave understanding the basics of reading bottom structure, adjusting your retrieve speed, and matching your presentation to conditions.
Redfish are the stars of Rockport Bay, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 20-28 inches and provide steady action throughout the year. They're forgiving fish that eat a variety of baits and don't require perfect technique to hook up. What makes reds special for beginners is their predictable behavior – they cruise shallow flats looking for crabs and shrimp, often giving you multiple chances at the same fish. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action, but even summer mornings produce solid catches before the heat sets in. When a red takes your bait, you'll know it immediately – they hit hard and pull steady, giving you that authentic saltwater fighting experience without overwhelming a newcomer.
Speckled trout complement the redfish action perfectly, offering a different type of challenge and eating experience. These silver-sided fish run smaller on average but make up for it with aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights. Trout are more structure-oriented than reds, hanging around drop-offs, grass beds, and shell pads where baitfish concentrate. They're excellent teachers for learning proper lure presentation since they can be picky about retrieve speed and action. Fall through spring provides the best trout fishing in Rockport Bay, with fish moving into shallow areas to feed aggressively before cold fronts. Their delicate mouths teach you proper hookset technique, and their willingness to bite artificial lures makes them perfect for practicing different presentations.
This top-rated beginner trip fills up quickly, especially during prime fishing months when conditions are most favorable for learning. Captain Wesley's patient teaching style and Rockport Bay's protected waters create the perfect combination for building fishing skills and confidence. Whether you're looking to start a new hobby, spend quality time on the water, or finally learn proper technique, this half-day trip delivers exactly what new anglers need. The small group size ensures personalized instruction, and the focus on fun over fish counts takes the pressure off while you're learning. Book early to secure your preferred date – morning trips during stable weather windows are always in high demand among folks ready to discover what makes Texas inshore fishing so addictive.
Your fishing adventure awaits aboard our reliable 1995 Haynie 20-footer, a classic flat boat that's perfect for navigating Rockport Bay's shallow waters where redfish and speckled trout love to hang out. This spacious vessel gives you and one other angler plenty of room to cast without bumping elbows, while the shallow draft design lets us slip into those skinny waters where the big fish hide. The wireless trolling motor keeps things whisper-quiet as we approach feeding areas, so we won't spook your targets. Our GPS system ensures we hit all the productive spots, and the fish finder helps locate schools and structure where trout stack up. Captain Wesley knows this boat inside and out, positioning you perfectly for those money shots at redfish cruising the flats. The wide, stable deck makes it easy for beginners to move around safely while learning proper casting techniques and fighting fish. Whether we're drifting over grass beds or anchored near oyster reefs, this proven platform delivers the perfect setting for your introduction to Texas inshore fishing.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the perfect inshore game fish - copper-colored bruisers with that distinctive black spot near their tail. In Rockport Bay, you'll find them cruising super shallow flats, sometimes with their backs out of the water. They typically run 20-30 inches here and fight way above their weight class with powerful runs that'll test your drag. These fish love oyster reefs, grass beds, and muddy bottoms where they root around for crabs and shrimp. Spring through fall are best, but they bite year-round in our mild climate. What makes them special is how they eat - they're not picky and will slam topwater plugs, soft plastics, or live bait. My local tip: look for nervous water or slight wakes in shallow areas. When you spot one, cast past it and work your bait back slowly.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are perfect for beginners - they're aggressive biters that'll hit just about anything you throw at them. These silvery fish with black spots run 14-24 inches in Rockport Bay and love our shallow grass flats, especially in 2-4 feet of water. Spring and fall are prime time when they're most active, but summer mornings can be great too. They put up a decent fight for their size and make excellent table fare with that sweet, flaky white meat. The key here is working the grass edges early morning or late evening - that's when they're feeding hard. Use soft plastics or live shrimp under a popping cork, and don't set the hook too hard since their mouths are pretty soft. You'll hear that distinctive drumming sound they make when you bring them to the boat.
Rockport