5.0(2 Reviews)Half Day Guided Fishing Trip In Corpus Christi
5.0(2 reviews)
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Private 5hour offshore fishing trip targeting sharks and mackerel31foot Bertram cruiser accommodates up to 6 guests comfortablyOil rig fishing spots with dolphins and sea turtles sightings
Picture this: you're standing on the deck of a classic 31' Bertram Flybridge Cruiser, watching the Texas coastline fade behind you as Captain Andrew throttles toward the oil rigs dotting the horizon. This isn't your typical weekend fishing trip – it's five hours of prime offshore action without the long haul to deep water. The rigs you can see from shore hold some of the best fishing in Corpus Christi Bay, and with Reel Deal Fishing Charters, you're about to find out why locals have been keeping this secret for years. Whether you're bringing the kids for their first real fishing adventure or you're a seasoned angler looking for consistent action, this half-day trip delivers the goods.
Captain Andrew knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's built this trip around one simple idea: more fishing, less traveling. The nearby oil rigs create the perfect underwater structure that gamefish can't resist, and since they're visible from shore, you'll spend maybe 20 minutes getting there instead of burning half your day just reaching the fishing grounds. The 31' Bertram is a legendary platform – stable enough for beginners to feel confident, but with the performance to get you where the fish are biting. You'll have room for up to six anglers, so bring the whole crew or book it as a private charter for your group. The flybridge gives you excellent visibility for spotting diving birds, turtle heads popping up, or those telltale dolphin shows that often signal active baitfish below. Don't be surprised if you spend a few minutes just watching the wildlife – loggerhead turtles are regulars out here, and dolphins love to cruise the rig lines.
Rig fishing is all about working the structure, and Captain Andrew has dialed in the techniques that produce fish after fish. You'll be dropping live bait and cut bait down to the rig supports where snapper like to hang out, but don't think it's all bottom fishing. When kings are running, you'll switch to trolling spoons and live bait around the current breaks. The beauty of rig fishing is the variety – one minute you're pulling up a nice red snapper, the next you're fighting a king mackerel that grabbed your bait on the way down. Captain Andrew carries a full spread of tackle suitable for everything from first-time anglers to experienced fishermen, and he's not shy about switching up techniques if one approach isn't working. The key is reading the water and the fish behavior – something that comes from years of working these same spots. You'll learn to watch for bait activity, current lines, and the subtle signs that separate a good fishing day from a great one.
"Captain Andrew took my son and I out for 4 hours of bay fishing. The weather started out with a delay, but Captain Andrew was flexible on finding the best time for us. Once we were set on the time, Captain Andrew met with us, was immediately personable with my son, and me and made us feel welcome. We checked out several locations and hooked into some fish, including one that was on my son's bucket list. I highly recommend Captain Andrew and Reel Deal! Definitely going back again!" - Bryce
"We scheduled a bay trip and we started out fishing the jetties. We cough tons of catfish. We did not keep any of them but it was super fun catching them. I believe the captain wasn't thrilled so he took us out to the oil rig and out there we cough blue runner a red snapper amongst other fish. Was really fun and he tried multiple spots and different kinds of bait. The captain really tries hard to make his clients happy. His personality is great likes to talk and really friendly and patient with beginners." - Hollie
Black Drum are the bulldogs of the rig system, and when you hook into a big one, you'll know it immediately. These fish can push 30-40 pounds around the Corpus Christi rigs, and they fight with pure power rather than speed. They're year-round residents, but spring and fall bring the biggest specimens up from deeper water. Black drum feed heavily on crabs and shellfish that grow on the rig structures, so they're almost always around if you know where to drop your bait. What makes them special is that slow, steady fight – no flashy jumps, just raw strength that'll test your drag and your patience.
King Mackerel are the speed demons that'll wake up everyone on the boat when one hits. These silver bullets can reach 30 inches or more in these waters, and when they're running in spring and summer, the action can be non-stop. Kings patrol the rig lines looking for schools of baitfish, and they're ambush predators that hit baits with serious force. They're also notorious for their sharp teeth and acrobatic fights, often launching themselves clear out of the water. The key to consistent king fishing is understanding their seasonal patterns – they move through Corpus Christi waters following bait schools and temperature breaks.
Mahi Mahi are the wild cards that turn a good day into an amazing day. These beauties aren't always around, but when conditions are right and blue water pushes in close to the rigs, you might just hook into one of the most colorful fish in the Gulf. Mahi are fast-growing fish that can range from schoolie-sized "chickens" to hefty bulls pushing 20 pounds or more. They're incredibly aggressive feeders and will often travel in schools, so where you find one, you'll usually find more. Their brilliant gold and green colors make them one of the most photogenic catches you'll ever boat.
Blacktip Shark add some serious excitement to any rig trip, especially during summer months when they're most active in the shallower waters around the structures. These sharks typically run 3-6
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, and around our local waters they're hard fighters that'll test your gear. Most run 5-30 pounds, but we've seen monsters pushing 50+ pounds near the rigs. These dark, powerful fish love crushing oysters and crabs with those strong jaws, so you'll find them around hard bottom and structure. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - makes them way easier to locate. They're bottom dwellers, so keep your bait down in the mud where they're feeding. What guests love most is that solid, steady pull they give you - no flashy jumps, just pure muscle. For eating, stick with the smaller ones under 15 pounds - the big girls are better released. Pro tip: fresh soft crab on a fish-finder rig works magic, and don't be afraid to use heavy weights to stay on bottom in the current.
Carcharhinus LimbatusBlacktips are the acrobats of the shark world and will put on a jumping show you won't forget. These sleek predators average 3-5 feet around the rigs, with those distinctive black-tipped fins that give them their name. They cruise in 40-100 feet of water, often working the edges where bait fish school up. Spring through fall is prime time when the water warms up and bait moves in. What makes them special is that explosive fight - they'll leap clear out of the water multiple times. They're also pretty social, so where you find one, there's usually more around. While they're not great eating, the fight alone makes them worth targeting for the experience. They can get pretty excited during feeding, so keep your hands clear. My best tip: use a heavy braided line with circle hooks, and don't be stingy with the chum - oily fish like mackerel pounded into paste really gets them fired up.
Scomberomorus CavallaKings are the speed demons of our Gulf waters, and they'll smoke line off your reel faster than you can blink. These silver rockets average around 20-30 pounds but we regularly see 40+ pounders near the rigs. They cruise in 40-150 feet of water, hunting in schools and hitting hard when they're feeding. Summer and fall are prime time when the bait fish are thick around the structure. What makes kings so popular is that initial run - pure adrenaline when they take off. Plus, they're solid eating if you bleed them right away. They've got razor teeth, so wire leaders are a must or you'll get cut off every time. Look for diving birds working bait schools, that's where you'll find the kings feeding. My go-to tip: troll a live cigar minnow behind a planer board - let it skip on the surface to mimic a flying fish.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi are some of the most beautiful fish you'll see out here, with those electric blues and golds that light up when they're hooked. They average 15-25 pounds in our waters, though we've caught some pushing 40. You'll find them around floating debris, sargassum, and structure in warmer months. They're surface feeders that love chasing flying fish, so trolling skirted baits on the surface works great. What guests absolutely love is watching these fish change colors during the fight - it's like a light show. They're also some of the best eating fish in the Gulf with that firm, sweet meat. Mahi travel in schools, so when you find one, there's usually more around. They don't live long but grow fast, making them a sustainable choice. Here's the trick: once you hook one, keep trolling the area with the other lines - the school will often stay around the hooked fish.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed Snapper are the prize fish around these rigs, and for good reason - they fight hard and taste even better. Most of our snapper run 2-8 pounds, though we see some nice 15+ pound fish in deeper water around structure. They live right on the bottom in 60-200 feet, loving the hard cover these oil rigs provide. When snapper season opens, usually summer months, the action can be fast and furious. What guests love is that initial thump and the bulldogging fight they put up, trying to get back to cover. The meat is sweet and flaky - perfect for the dinner table. They're smart fish that can be line-shy, so sometimes lighter tackle helps. These fish will try to cut you off in the structure, so once hooked, get their head up quick. Best tip: use fresh squid or cigar minnows on a chicken rig, and keep your bait right on the bottom where they're feeding.
5.0 out of 5.0Captain Andrew took my son and I out for 4 hours of bay fishing. The weather started out with a delay, but Captain Andrew was fle...
We scheduled a bay trip and we started out fishing the jetties. We cough tons of catfish. We did not keep any of them but it was s...
Port Aransas, TX, USA