Full Day Beginner-Friendly Fishing In Matagorda Bay
Private Trip
River Fishing
Eighthour beginnerfriendly trip targeting redfish and spotted seatroutExpert captains provide patient instruction on casting and baiting techniquesAll fishing gear included with capacity for up to 5 guests
If you've been thinking about getting into saltwater fishing but don't know where to start, this 8-hour trip on Matagorda Bay is exactly what you need. Captains Nicolas and Chris have built their reputation on turning first-time anglers into confident fishermen, and they do it with the kind of patience that makes all the difference. You'll spend your day learning the real fundamentals—proper casting technique, how to feel a bite, and the art of working different baits—while actually catching fish in one of Texas' most productive coastal waters. The bay's protected waters mean comfortable conditions even for newcomers, and with all tackle provided, you just need to show up ready to learn.
This isn't one of those rushed trips where you're thrown a rod and left to figure it out. Nicolas and Chris run their operation from a 21' JH Performance boat that's built for stability and comfort, which matters when you're learning new skills. They'll start by showing you how to hold the rod properly, then move into casting techniques that actually work in real fishing situations. You'll learn to read your line, feel the difference between a bite and bottom structure, and understand when to set the hook. The beauty of Matagorda Bay is that it offers shallow flats for sight fishing and deeper channels where bigger fish cruise, so you'll get exposed to different fishing scenarios throughout the day. These guys know that building confidence comes from understanding what you're doing, not just getting lucky with a fish.
You'll be working with medium-action spinning rods matched to the conditions and target species—nothing too heavy that'll tire you out, but substantial enough to handle the redfish and trout that call this bay home. The captains focus on teaching you three core techniques that work consistently here: live bait fishing with shrimp under popping corks, soft plastic presentations on jig heads, and topwater action when conditions are right. They'll show you how to work a soft plastic so it mimics a wounded baitfish, how to read the water for signs of feeding fish, and the subtle differences in how various species fight. All the tackle is included, from circle hooks to help you hook fish properly, to a selection of artificial lures that produce in different conditions. You'll learn to tie improved clinch knots, understand drag settings, and pick up the regional techniques that make Matagorda Bay fishing so productive.
Redfish are the stars of Matagorda Bay, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters typically run 18-28 inches here and provide the perfect introduction to saltwater fishing because they fight hard but don't require advanced techniques to hook. Redfish feed aggressively in the shallow grass flats, especially during moving tides, and you'll often see them with their backs out of water as they root around for crabs and shrimp. Fall and spring offer the best action, but these fish bite year-round. What makes them special for beginners is their willingness to eat both live and artificial baits, plus they fight with steady pressure rather than the erratic jumps that can throw hooks.
Spotted Seatrout are the other mainstay of your day, ranging from schoolie-sized 14-inchers to solid 20+ inch fish that'll test your drag. These fish are incredibly structure-oriented, holding around oyster reefs, grass beds, and drop-offs where baitfish concentrate. Trout have softer mouths than redfish, so you'll learn the importance of keeping steady pressure without horsing them in. They're most active during dawn and dusk periods, but the captains know the midday spots where trout stack up during temperature changes. Winter months can produce some of the biggest trout as they move to deeper, warmer water.
Flounder might look like bottom-dwellers that just lie around, but they're actually ambush predators that provide some of the most exciting fishing in the bay. These flatfish bury themselves in sandy areas near structure and explode upward when prey passes overhead. You'll learn to work baits slowly along the bottom and recognize the distinctive "thump-thump" bite that flounder are famous for. Summer and early fall are prime time for flounder as they fatten up before their offshore spawning run. What beginners love about flounder fishing is that it teaches patience and bite detection—skills that transfer to every other type of fishing.
Black Drum round out your target species and can range from smaller "puppy drum" perfect for beginners to hefty 30+ pound fish that'll put your new skills to the test. These fish are bottom feeders with incredible pulling power, often mistaken for snags until they start moving. They love areas with broken shell and oyster beds where they can root for crabs and worms. Black drum bite differently than other species—usually a series of taps followed by steady weight—and they teach you to distinguish between different types of bottom contact. Spring brings the best black drum action as they move into shallow water for spawning.
This top-rated beginner trip fills up quickly because word spreads fast about guides who actually care about teaching rather than just putting you on fish. With Whataguide Service, you're getting access to local knowledge that takes years to develop, patient instruction that builds real skills, and fishing opportunities in waters that consistently produce. The bay conditions stay fishable most of the year, but the best learning happens when weather and tides align—something Nicolas and Chris monitor constantly. Bring your Texas fishing license, some snacks for the day, and sun protection, then get ready to discover why Matagorda Bay has created so many lifelong anglers. This isn't just a fishing trip; it's your entry point into a sport you'll be talking about for years to come.
Ready to fish Matagorda Bay's productive waters? Our 21' JH Performance boat gets you where the redfish and spotted seatrout are biting. Built for up to 5 anglers, this fishing machine comes loaded with everything you need – fish finder to locate the schools, GPS to hit the hot spots, and a wireless trolling motor for stealthy approaches that won't spook the fish. The spacious deck gives everyone room to cast without tangling lines, while the onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold during those long Texas summer days. Whether you're working the shallow grass flats for reds or drifting deeper water for trout, this boat handles Matagorda's changing conditions with ease. Perfect for families and beginners learning the ropes.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of Matagorda Bay, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters hitting 90+. They're bottom feeders with powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs, which makes them perfect for beginners since they bite hard and fight steady. You'll find them around oyster reefs, shallow muddy flats, and creek mouths in 1-4 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we see the most action. They make distinctive drumming sounds you can actually hear underwater. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Pro tip: use fresh blue crab for bait and fish right on the bottom - they won't come up for it, so get your bait down where they're feeding.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the signature species of Matagorda Bay, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spot near the tail. Most run 20-30 inches here, though we see plenty of bigger fish. They cruise super shallow water - sometimes with their backs showing - around grass flats, oyster reefs, and muddy shorelines in 1-4 feet. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring are prime when they school up in big numbers. What guests love most is the visual fishing - you can often see them tailing or cruising before you cast. They fight hard, make long runs, and smaller ones are fantastic eating with sweet, firm meat. The key here is staying quiet and making long casts ahead of cruising fish. If you spook them, wait - they'll often circle back through the same area within 10-15 minutes.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Seatrout are the bread and butter of Matagorda Bay, running 14-24 inches and known for their silvery sides covered in distinctive black spots. They love grass flats and shallow waters around 2-8 feet deep, especially near drop-offs and oyster bars where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall are our peak seasons, but summer evenings and winter warm spells can produce great action too. Trout are popular because they hit artificial lures aggressively, fight well for their size, and make excellent table fare with mild, flaky white meat. They're also great for building confidence since they school up and once you find them, you'll usually catch several. My go-to tip: work soft plastics slowly along grass edges during moving water - the tide change gets them feeding actively and they'll often hit right at your feet.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy bottoms, changing color to match their surroundings perfectly. These flatfish typically run 15-20 inches and are ambush predators that lie camouflaged waiting for baitfish to swim by. You'll find them on sandy and muddy bottoms throughout the bay, especially near drop-offs and channel edges in 8-25 feet of water. Fall months from September through November give us the best action when they're actively feeding before moving offshore. What makes them special is the challenge - they bite light and require finesse, plus they're some of the best eating fish in the bay with sweet, white meat. Here's a local trick: use a tandem rig with a small jig tipped with live shrimp above your main bait - sometimes they'll hit the teaser instead.
Matagorda