Expert Guided Afternoon Fishing in Port O'Connor Waters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 4hour afternoon inshore fishing trip starts 1:00 PM.Expert guides navigate Port O'Connor's productive fishing grounds.Accommodates up to 4 anglers for $500 total cost.
Port O'Connor sits right where Matagorda Bay meets the Gulf, and there's no better time to fish these waters than during our 4-hour afternoon trips. Starting at 1:00 PM, you'll get the prime feeding hours when the fish are most active and aggressive. Our private charter accommodates up to 4 anglers for just $500, making it one of the best values on the Texas coast. Whether you're bringing the family or a group of buddies, this trip gives everyone plenty of elbow room and personalized attention from our experienced guides.
When you step aboard with Reel Salty Charters, you're getting more than just a boat ride – you're tapping into years of local knowledge about Port O'Connor's most productive fishing spots. The afternoon timing is perfect because it lets you sleep in, grab lunch, and still hit the water when the fish are feeding heavily. We'll cruise out to the grass flats, oyster reefs, and channel edges where the big ones like to hang out. The boat comes rigged with quality tackle, and we provide all the bait you'll need. Just bring your fishing license, some snacks if you want them, and get ready to put some fish in the cooler. The guides know exactly where to find the redfish, trout, flounder, and drum based on tides, weather, and seasonal patterns.
We fish the inshore waters using light to medium tackle that gives you a real fight without being too heavy for the conditions. Most of the time we're working with spinning reels spooled with 15-20 lb test, perfect for the structure and species we're targeting. Live shrimp and croaker are our go-to baits, but we'll also throw some artificial lures when the fish are actively feeding on the surface. You'll learn to work soft plastics along the bottom for flounder, pitch live bait around the oyster shell for redfish, and drift the grass beds for trout. The guides will teach you how to read the water – looking for bird activity, bait schools, and subtle color changes that reveal where the fish are holding. We use both anchoring and drifting techniques depending on conditions and what species we're after.
Southern Flounder are the ultimate challenge for inshore anglers visiting Port O'Connor. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand and mud waiting to ambush prey. Fall months from September through November are prime time when flounder are migrating toward the Gulf and feeding aggressively to build energy reserves. They can reach 5-6 pounds in these waters, and landing a "doormat" flounder is something every angler remembers. What makes them exciting is the subtle bite – you'll feel a gentle tug, then nothing. Set the hook too early and you'll miss them, wait too long and they'll spit the bait.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, with fish over 30 pounds common in Port O'Connor's deeper channels and around bridge pilings. These powerful fish use their pharyngeal teeth to crush oysters and crabs, making a distinctive drumming sound that gives them their name. Spring and fall offer the best action, though you can catch them year-round. When a big drum takes your bait, get ready for a long, strong fight. They don't jump like redfish, but they'll test your drag and your patience with their bulldogging runs.
Sea Trout, or spotted seatrout, are the bread and butter of Texas inshore fishing. These beautiful fish with distinctive spots along their sides are abundant from spring through fall. The best trout fishing happens during cooler months when schools move into deeper water. A good trout runs 2-4 pounds, but 6+ pounders aren't uncommon in Port O'Connor's grass flats. They're aggressive feeders that hit both live bait and artificials hard. What anglers love most is their willingness to bite and their excellent table fare.
Redfish are the poster fish for Texas coastal fishing, and Port O'Connor's shallow flats and marshes are perfect redfish habitat. These bronze-backed fighters are available year-round, with fish ranging from schooling 20-inchers to bull reds over 35 pounds. Slot-sized reds between 20-28 inches are perfect for the dinner table, while the oversized fish provide heart-pounding fights in shallow water. Redfish are sight-fishing opportunities when they're tailing in inches of water, or you can blind-cast to likely structure. Their powerful runs and ability to use shallow water and structure makes them a favorite among experienced anglers.
Port O'Connor's afternoon fishing delivers consistent action with the convenience of a later start time. At $500 for up to 4 anglers, you're looking at $125 per person for a top-rated private charter experience. The guides at Reel Salty Charters know these waters inside and out, and they're committed to putting you on fish while teaching you techniques that will make you a better angler. Whether you're after a limit of keeper trout, a trophy redfish, or just want to spend an afternoon on the water with friends or family, this trip delivers the goods. Book now and get ready to see why Port O'Connor is considered one of the premier inshore fishing destinations on the Texas coast.
Set out on Port O'Connor's productive inshore waters aboard our well-equipped 25-foot Tran Sport center console. This spacious boat comfortably handles up to 4 anglers, giving everyone plenty of room to fish without crowding. The wireless trolling motor lets us slip quietly into shallow flats where redfish and speckled trout hang out, while the GPS keeps us on top of the best fishing spots around Matagorda Bay. Keep your drinks ice-cold in the built-in icebox during those hot Texas afternoons. Whether you're targeting reds in the grass beds or working the drop-offs for trout, this boat gets you there in comfort and puts you on fish.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters hitting 50+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers hang around oyster beds, shallow mud flats, and creek mouths where they crush shellfish and crabs with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - you can actually hear them "drumming" underwater during this period. They're tough fighters that'll test your drag system, making long runs in shallow water. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are fantastic eating with firm, white meat, while the big bulls are better released. They love brackish water and can tolerate everything from nearly fresh creeks to full saltwater. Here's the key: use fresh crab or cut mullet on a Carolina rig, and keep your bait right on the bottom. When they pick it up, give them a few seconds before setting the hook.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishery, with those distinctive copper-bronze backs and black spots near the tail. They typically run 20-35 inches around here, but we regularly see slot fish and some real bulls over 40 inches. These fish love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs are showing. Look for them cruising grass flats, oyster reefs, and marshy shorelines in 1-4 feet of water. Fall and spring offer the best action when they're actively feeding. What makes them special is their powerful fight and that classic "redfish run" when hooked. They're excellent table fare with sweet, firm meat. The sight-fishing opportunities are amazing - watching a big red tail on shrimp in knee-deep water never gets old. Pro tip: when you spot one feeding, cast well ahead of where it's heading and let your bait settle. They spook easily in skinny water, so keep noise to a minimum.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are our bread-and-butter fish around Port O'Connor, running 14-24 inches with the occasional trophy pushing 5+ pounds. These spotted beauties love grass flats, drop-offs, and shallow reefs in 3-8 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months and low-light conditions like early morning and evening. What guests love is their willingness to hit topwater plugs - nothing beats watching one explode on a surface lure at dawn. They're also some of the best eating fish in the bay with tender, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. During summer, they move to deeper water and winter finds them schooled up in channels. The secret is matching your lure to what they're feeding on - if you see bait jumping, throw something similar. Work your lures with twitches and pauses, and don't set the hook too hard since their mouths are pretty soft.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are the masters of camouflage around Port O'Connor's shallow bays and grass flats. These flat, oval-shaped fish typically run 15-18 inches, though we see some pushing 25+ inches on good days. They're ambush predators that bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to strike at passing shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish. You'll find them in 2-6 feet of water around oyster reefs and drop-offs, especially during fall and winter when they're most active. What makes them special is that unique "both eyes on one side" look and their ability to change colors to match the bottom. They're excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. My go-to trick is to work your bait slow along the bottom - when you feel that distinctive "thump," count to three before setting the hook since they like to grab and run.
Port O'Connor, TX