Fishing and Hunting for Memories of a Lifetime

Memories and Lessons as an Angler and Hunter

By Capt. Scott Pierce

I’ve been in the duck-hunting and fishing industries for decades, so believe me when I say that I have collected so many memories related to both sports to last me a lifetime. That being said, I still never seem to get tired of either activity. That’s because there’s always something new to discover and experience in the great outdoors. And living and working as I do here in the beautiful coastal community of Port O’Connor, Texas, the scenic vistas never seem to get old. The more people who book my guide services for fishing and hunting through my Texas Coastal Adventures charter business, the more I grow to love my profession and the sports I get to partake in every day.

One of my primary goals as a professional guide is to make sure my guests get to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences that they will fondly look back on for years to come, the same way I have in all my years of fishing and hunting here in my adopted hometown. There’s so much more to either sport than a productive catch. It’s also about experiencing the beauty of nature, spending time with friends and family, deriving pleasure from developing skills as an angler and hunter, and learning from the people around you. 

One of my favorite fishing memories was when we fished for the summertime fishing tournament held in honor of the Wounded Warriors Project. For those not in the know, the Wounded Warriors Project is a special fishing event for our veteran heroes who have suffered injuries during their service. Anyway, it was a sweltering summer day in Texas, which meant our beachfront got flat — no waves! It’s the perfect time to cruise the beach shoreline. We fished hard with our former marines while enjoying the fantastic weather and views. In the end, we came in the first place, so that was an even nicer bonus for our veterans — they gave us a trophy and a huge 1st place check! We caught a huge redfish and bagged limits on trout. Then, on our way back, we stopped at the Jettys and landed a huge black drum! All in all, I can say that it was one of the fishing trips in the gulf of Mexico to remember.

Of course, not all memories of the great outdoors are pleasant because anything can happen in wildlife that is beyond our control. They do serve their purpose in life, though. Like this one experience, I had when I first bought my boat in August 2020. It was a 23’ Haynie boat, the type of boat that could handle very rough seas. A month after purchasing the boat, I took the coast guard course to get my Merchant Mariners' license — you need one so you can take people hunting and fishing in the bays around Port O’Connor. Then, a couple of months later, in early November, right when the duck season started, my friends and I decided to go duck hunting. Never mind that the winds were going 40 plus miles per hour at the time. Can you blame me for being excited to use my boat and training? Actually, you can! Looking back, I can see how big of a rookie I was. I should have never crossed an open bay with that high wind condition, especially since there were six of us on board. I can still picture everything — the waves looked like mountains! I’d never seen anything quite like it. 

But lucky me — I was able to use my Captain’s Coast Guard course training in full force that day. Part of the training we got for the course was handling a boat in rough seas. So thank goodness I could summon up everything I’d learned, enough to get us to the duck blind where we could finally enjoy some hunting and shoot six limits of ducks. We left a bit earlier while it was still light and made it back safe and sound. I’ve never left the dock in the same wind conditions ever again, so while it was not a great experience, it was what they call a teachable moment. And learn from it, I did. And because of that experience, I’ve made sure to equip my boat with technologies like a GPS and ePIRB 2 radios to ensure my guests and me a safe boating experience. Life jackets are also required on my boat, and to put your mind at ease, I use a boat killswitch, which is now required by law for anyone who owns and operates a boat.

The next time you’re in Port O’Connor looking for something to do with your family or friends, book a trip with us to enjoy some big game. We offer fishing and duck hunting services. Our fishing trips are exclusively wade fishing in flats, so it’s adults-only. We typically target trout, redfish, black drum, southern flounder, and any fish species that bite on this side of the Gulf Coast. While wade fishing, we can try fly fishing and light tackle fishing to better our chances of landing a fish. You can come here any time of the year — yes, even winter, because our winters are mild enough for a round of fishing. We take care of everything - make sure to get your fishing license. Please note that we charge additional fees for bait.

As for my duck hunting services, expect nothing less. I’ve been a lifelong hunter and a professional hunting guide even before I became a fishing guide, so rest assured, I know a thing or two about hunting. Together, we’ll have the chance to hunt and shoot over 15 species of ducks, including redhead ducks, widgeons, pintails, and gadwalls. I will, of course, make sure you hit what’s only allowable by law, so there’s no need to worry about that. Just be prepared with the proper hunting license, of course.

You can find more information about our charter services here in Port O’Connor from our website. We do our best to keep our digital portals updated with our rates, available trip schedules, and more. If you have any more questions before finalizing your booking, don’t hesitate to contact us through the website.