Full Day Guided Fishing in Corpus Christi
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour guided trip targeting redfish, trout, flounder, and drumCaptain Cordon provides relaxed fishing with scenic coastal viewsAll gear included for up to four guests
If you're looking for a solid day on the water targeting some of Texas's most popular inshore species, this 8-hour charter with Captain Cordon is exactly what you need. Corpus Christi's shallow bays and protected waters offer some of the most consistent fishing on the Gulf Coast, and you'll be working prime spots where Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, and Black Drum cruise the grass flats and drop-offs. This isn't a rushed trip – it's a full day designed to let you settle into the rhythm of the bay, learn the water, and put some quality fish in the boat while soaking up those coastal views that make this area special.
Captain Cordon runs a relaxed operation that's perfect for anyone who wants to fish without the pressure or chaos you sometimes get on crowded party boats. With space for up to 4 anglers, you'll have plenty of room to cast and work your lines without bumping elbows. The pace is comfortable but productive – you're not just sitting around waiting for bites, but you're also not racing from spot to spot every 20 minutes. This gives you time to really work an area, understand what the fish are doing, and improve your technique. The captain brings years of local knowledge, so you'll learn about reading the water, understanding tides, and picking up on the subtle signs that separate good fishing days from great ones. All your gear is provided, which means you can focus on fishing instead of worrying about whether you brought the right tackle. The boat is set up for light tackle fishing, which makes every hookup more fun and gives smaller fish a chance to put up a real fight.
This charter focuses on light tackle fishing, which is the bread and butter of successful inshore angling in Corpus Christi. You'll be using spinning gear with lines in the 10-15 pound range, which gives you the sensitivity to feel those subtle bites but still has enough backbone to handle bigger redfish when they show up. Most of your fishing will be done with live or cut bait – shrimp, mullet, and croaker are the go-to options depending on what's working that day. Captain Cordon will also have you throwing artificial lures like soft plastics, spoons, and topwater plugs when conditions are right. The key here is matching your presentation to the structure and depth you're fishing. In the shallower grass flats, you might be sight-casting to tailing redfish or working a popping cork over scattered trout. Around the deeper shell beds and channel edges, you'll be bottom fishing with Carolina rigs or bouncing jigs along the structure. The captain will teach you how to read your rod tip, feel the difference between a fish and the bottom, and set the hook properly. These are skills that will make you a better angler long after this trip is over.
Redfish are the stars of the show in Corpus Christi's inshore waters. These copper-colored fighters typically run between 20-28 inches in the slot, though you'll encounter both smaller school fish and oversized bulls depending on the season and location. Redfish are aggressive feeders that aren't too picky about baits, making them perfect for anglers of all skill levels. They love shallow water structure like oyster reefs, grass beds, and drop-offs where they can ambush prey. What makes them so exciting to catch is their initial run – when you hook a good red, it's going to peel line and test your drag system. Fall and spring are peak times, but these fish are catchable year-round in Corpus Christi.
Speckled Trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the other cornerstone species of Texas inshore fishing. These beautiful fish with their distinctive black spots are typically found over grass flats and soft bottom areas where they feed on shrimp and small baitfish. Specks are more finicky than redfish and require a bit more finesse, but that's what makes them challenging and rewarding. They hit soft plastics, live shrimp, and topwater lures with equal enthusiasm when conditions are right. Most keeper specks run 14-18 inches, with bigger fish showing up during cooler months. Their soft mouths mean you need to play them carefully, but their acrobatic fights and excellent table fare make them a customer favorite.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in these waters, lying flat against sandy and muddy bottoms waiting for unsuspecting prey to swim by. These flatfish can be tricky to locate, but Captain Cordon knows the channel edges, drop-offs, and current breaks where they like to set up. Flounder fishing requires patience and a good feel for your bait, since their bite can be subtle. They'll often just inhale your offering and sit there, so you need to watch your line for any unusual movement. When you do hook up, flounder fight differently than other fish – they'll try to swim down and stick to the bottom rather than making long runs. The reward is some of the best eating fish in the bay.
Black Drum are the heavy hitters of the inshore scene, with fish ranging from smaller "puppy drum" to massive adults that can exceed 30 pounds. These powerful fish are often found around structure like piers, jetties, and shell beds where they use their pharyngeal teeth to crush oysters and crabs. Black drum are known for their bulldogging fights – they don't jump or make spectacular runs, but they'll use their weight and strength to test every component of your tackle. Bigger drum are catch-and-release fish due to size limits, but the smaller ones in the slot make excellent table fare. They're most active during spring and fall months when they move into shallow water to feed and spawn.
This full-day charter offers real value for serious anglers who want to maximize their
Step aboard this reliable 2017 Haynie Cabin Cruiser, your home base for chasing redfish and speckled trout in Corpus Christi's productive inshore waters. This 25-footer handles the coastal shallows with ease thanks to its 225HP Mercury engine, getting you to the best fishing spots quickly and smoothly. The walkaround design gives you plenty of room to cast and fight fish, while the wireless trolling motor lets you slip quietly through the grass flats where trophy reds like to feed. With an onboard fish finder to mark structure and schools, plus GPS to navigate the maze of back bays, you'll spend more time with lines in the water. The icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh during those long Texas summer days on the bay.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our local waters, ranging from keeper-size 5-pounders up to massive 50+ pound bulls that'll test your gear. These gray-black bruisers love hanging around oyster reefs and muddy flats in 2-8 feet of water, using their powerful jaws to crush shellfish and crabs. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - you'll hear them "drumming" underwater during mating season. They're bulldogs when hooked, making long, stubborn runs that keep things interesting. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My go-to tip: use fresh blue crab on a circle hook and fish it right on the bottom near shell beds. Be patient - they're not speed demons but when they bite, you'll know it.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the poster fish of Texas coastal waters, ranging from slot-size 18-28 inchers up to massive bulls over 40 pounds. You'll spot their copper backs cruising super shallow flats, sometimes with their backs out of the water around oyster reefs and grass beds. They're year-round targets but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they school up. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights that'll test your drag. Plus, slot fish are phenomenal eating with sweet, firm meat. They're not picky eaters - live shrimp, crab, and artificials all work great. The signature black spot near their tail isn't just for looks; it confuses predators. Here's my local secret: during low light, throw topwater plugs over shallow shell beds and work them slow. When they explode on top, it never gets old.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of our local fishing, typically 14-24 inches with beautiful spotted sides and a reputation for putting up a great fight on light tackle. These silvery beauties love grass flats, oyster bars, and drop-offs in 2-12 feet of water throughout our bay system. They bite year-round but really turn on during spring and fall when water temps are in the 70s. What guests love is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they're outstanding eating with tender, flaky white meat. They school up and once you find them, you're usually in for steady action. My local trick: work a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds early morning or late evening. The key is to let it sit still for a few seconds between twitches - that's when they usually nail it.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy bottoms, typically running 15-20 inches and putting up a surprisingly strong fight for a flatfish. These "doormat" shaped fighters live on the seafloor in 6-25 feet of water, perfectly camouflaged with both eyes on one side of their head. Fall months from September through November give you the best shot when they're actively feeding before moving deeper. What makes them special is their excellent table quality - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. They're ambush predators that love live mullet, shrimp, and squid fished near the bottom. Here's the key: when you feel that subtle tap-tap-tap, don't set the hook right away. Let them run with it for 5-10 seconds since they grab prey sideways and need time to turn it around.
Corpus Christi