Full Day Rio Hondo Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full 8hour inshore fishing charter targeting Texas Slam speciesCaptain Steven provides expert guidance in productive Rio Hondo watersAccommodates up to 4 guests with proven techniques for consistent action
When you're serious about chasing Texas inshore species, Captain Steven knows exactly where to put you on fish. This 8-hour guided fishing trip out of Rio Hondo gives you the time and expertise needed to target the legendary Texas Slam - that coveted combination of Redfish, Spotted Seatrout, Flounder, and Black Drum that keeps anglers coming back to these productive waters year after year. With True Story Adventures Charter, you're not just booking another fishing trip; you're investing in a full day with one of the area's most experienced captains who's spent years learning every productive flat, oyster reef, and grass bed in the region.
Captain Steven will have you on the water early, making the most of those prime feeding windows when fish are actively hunting in the shallows. Rio Hondo's expansive bay systems offer incredible diversity - from shallow grass flats perfect for sight fishing redfish to deeper drop-offs where trout stack up during tide changes. You'll work structure like oyster bars and shell reefs, drift soft plastics through current breaks, and position yourself over proven honey holes that have produced fish for decades. The beauty of an 8-hour charter is having time to adapt your strategy as conditions change throughout the day. Morning might find you working topwater lures over shallow flats, while afternoon could have you bouncing jigs along channel edges where drum patrol for an easy meal. Captain Steven reads these waters like a book and adjusts tactics based on weather, tides, and what the fish are telling him.
This isn't about luck - it's about putting decades of local knowledge to work for you. Captain Steven runs a variety of techniques depending on what's working best, from wade fishing productive flats to drift fishing deeper areas where bigger trout hold. You'll learn how to work soft plastics like a pro, when to switch to topwater presentations, and why certain tide phases turn specific areas into fish magnets. The Rio Hondo area offers access to both Laguna Madre and the Lower Laguna system, giving you shots at different species throughout the day. Early morning might find you working shallow water for tailing redfish, while midday heat could have you targeting deeper structure where drum and big trout seek cooler water. Captain Steven provides all the tackle and knows exactly which lures produce in these waters, but he's also happy to help you dial in your own gear if you prefer fishing with familiar rods and reels.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in these waters, lying perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms and mud flats waiting to ambush unsuspecting baitfish. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes - with keeper flounder running 15-20 inches and trophy fish pushing well over 24 inches. Fall months bring some of the best flounder action as they stage for their offshore spawning runs, but skilled anglers can find them year-round by working the right structure. What makes catching flounder so satisfying is the subtle bite and the fight once they realize they're hooked - they'll use every inch of their flat body to try bulldogging away from the boat.
Black Drum might not be the prettiest fish in the bay, but they're absolute bulldogs that will test your drag system and arm strength. These bottom feeders cruise oyster reefs and shell bars looking for crabs and small fish, and when they grab your bait, you know it. Mature drum can push 30-40 pounds in these waters, providing arm-burning fights that last longer than you'd expect. Spring and fall offer prime drum fishing, but these fish are present year-round if you know where to look. Captain Steven has dialed in the technique for targeting drum specifically, using the right baits and presentations to get these heavyweights to commit.
Sea Trout, specifically Spotted Seatrout, are the bread and butter of Texas inshore fishing and for good reason. These aggressive predators hit lures with authority and put on acrobatic displays once hooked. Keeper trout run 15 inches and up, but the real prizes are the "gator trout" - those thick-bodied fish over 25 inches that have learned to ambush prey in deeper water. Trout fishing stays consistent almost year-round in this area, with different seasons offering different opportunities. Summer finds them over grass beds in slightly deeper water, while cooler months see them schooling up in channels and around structure.
Redfish are what dreams are made of for inshore anglers. These copper-colored bruisers can be sight fished in shallow water, where you'll watch them cruise flats with their backs nearly out of the water. Slot reds between 20-28 inches are perfect eating and provide fantastic fights, while oversized bull reds over 28 inches are pure adrenaline on light tackle. What makes redfish special is their year-round availability and willingness to eat both live bait and artificial lures. Captain Steven knows the seasonal patterns that concentrate reds in specific areas, from shallow grass flats in warmer months to deeper bayous and channels when temperatures drop.
An 8-hour charter with Captain Steven gives you the best shot at completing your Texas Slam while building skills that will make you a better angler long after the trip ends. You'll bring your own snacks, drinks, and fishing license, while Captain Steven handles everything else - from top-quality tackle to the local knowledge that puts you on fish consistently. This full-day format lets you experience different fishing scenarios as conditions change, giving you a complete picture of what makes Rio Hondo such a special place to fish. Whether you're chasing your first redfish or trying to land a personal best trout, True Story Adventures Charter delivers the expertise and access you need to make it happen. Book your Rio Hondo fishing adventure today and discover why anglers travel from across Texas to fish these world-class inshore
Hit the productive flats of Rio Hondo aboard our nimble 2022 Shallow Stalker 20-foot center console, purpose-built for serious inshore fishing. This bay boat draws just inches, letting Captain Steven slide you into those skinny-water honey holes where trophy redfish and flounder love to hide. The reliable 200HP Suzuki pushes us to fishing spots fast at 42 knots, then runs whisper-quiet when we're stalking spooked fish in the shallows. GPS keeps us on productive structure and helps mark those secret spots that consistently produce Texas Slam species. With room for 4 anglers, everyone gets prime casting position whether we're drifting grass beds for trout or sight-fishing reds on the flats. This boat's low profile and shallow draft open up miles of backcountry water that bigger vessels simply can't reach.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 10-30 pounds with some bulls pushing 50+ pounds. These powerful fish cruise oyster beds, muddy flats, and deeper channels where they crush crabs and shellfish with their pharyngeal teeth. Spring spawning season from February through April is when they school up tight and get really aggressive. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater during spawning - it's wild. Guests love the strong, steady fight these fish put up, though smaller ones under 15 pounds eat much better than the big ones. We target them around structure in 3-15 feet, but they'll push shallow on incoming tides. Best tip I can share is using fresh blue crab for bait and keeping it right on the bottom. When a drum picks up your bait, let him run with it for a few seconds before setting the hook hard.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our Texas flats, easily recognized by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spots near the tail. These bruisers typically run 18-27 inches inshore, though bull reds over 40 inches patrol deeper waters. They love super shallow flats, oyster reefs, and grass beds in 1-4 feet where you'll often see their backs out of water while "tailing." Year-round fishing is solid, but fall brings the best action as they school up. Guests go crazy for redfish because they fight hard, look beautiful, and the slot-size ones make excellent table fare with firm, mild meat. These fish aren't picky eaters - they'll crush topwater plugs, spoons, and live bait equally. My favorite local trick is sight-fishing with gold spoons in skinny water. Cast past a feeding red and work the lure back slowly - the flash drives them nuts.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Seatrout are the bread and butter of Texas bays, running 14-24 inches with some reaching 28+ inches. These speckled beauties love grass flats, oyster reefs, and drop-offs in 2-6 feet of water where they feed on shrimp and small baitfish. They're most active during cooler months and low-light periods like dawn and dusk. What guests really enjoy is their willingness to hit topwater lures and the way they jump when hooked. The meat is white, flaky, and mild - perfect for the dinner table. Spring and fall offer the best action when water temps are in the 60s-70s. Trout are structure-oriented, so look for them around shell beds and grass lines. Here's a local trick: throw a topwater plug over grass flats at first light, then switch to soft plastics under a popping cork as the sun gets higher. Keep your drag loose - their mouths are soft.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise that bury themselves in sandy or muddy bottoms with just their eyes showing. These flat fish run 15-18 inches typically, but we catch them up to 25+ inches in our bay systems. They're ambush predators that love structure like oyster reefs, grass flats, and channel edges in 2-8 feet of water. Fall and winter months are prime time when they're moving toward passes to spawn. What makes flounder fishing exciting is watching them completely change color to match the bottom, plus they're fantastic eating with sweet, white meat. My go-to trick is using a Carolina rig with live shrimp or mud minnows, but here's the key - when you feel that tap, count to three before setting the hook. Flounder grab bait sideways first, then turn it to swallow headfirst.
Rio Hondo