Premium Flounder Gigging Charters in Matagorda Bay

Night Gigging Adventure in Matagorda Bay

When the sun goes down in Matagorda Bay, that's when the real action starts. This 5-hour guided night gigging trip with Bay Finatic takes you into a completely different world where bright LED lights cut through the darkness, revealing fish moving across the sandy flats below. You'll wade through knee-deep water with gig in hand, stalking flounder, black drum, and sheepshead as they cruise the illuminated bottom. It's part hunting, part fishing, and 100% addictive once you get the hang of it.

What to Expect on the Water

Your night starts as daylight fades, heading out to the shallow back lakes and grass flats where these fish love to prowl after dark. Captain Joe fires up the LED light system that transforms the boat into a floating spotlight, and suddenly you can see everything happening below the surface. The water comes alive with movement - crabs scurrying across the bottom, baitfish darting around, and hopefully some nice flatfish lying perfectly still, thinking they're invisible. You'll spend most of your time wading in shallow water, moving slowly and methodically while scanning the bottom for that telltale fish outline. The whole experience feels like underwater hunting, requiring patience, stealth, and quick reflexes when you spot your target.

Gigging Gear and Techniques

All the specialized equipment comes with the trip - multi-pronged gigs, powerful LED lighting systems, and everything else you need for a successful night on the flats. The gig itself looks like a trident with barbed tines designed to pin fish to the bottom. The technique is all about slow, deliberate movement and keeping your eyes glued to the seafloor ahead of you. When you spot a fish, you've got one shot to nail it before it bolts into the darkness. Captain Joe and his crew will teach you how to read the bottom, identify different species in the lights, and make clean, effective strikes. The boat's lighting system is what makes it all possible - these aren't your average spotlights but serious LED arrays that penetrate the water and light up a wide area around the boat.

What Anglers Are Saying

"First time flounder gigging. Joe and crew made the experience easy, engaging and FUN! Great boat, great host, limited out! 10/10 can't wait to go again! If you're on the fence, go for it! This was a memory we won't forget!!" - Richard. "A trip we looked forward to for a long time and it didn't disappoint! Joe was a great, knowledgeable guide! My son and I made memories that will last a lifetime. We would highly recommend a guided trip with Joe." - Clay. "Took my wife for her first time gigging with captain joe and it was a blast. Captain joe really worked to put us on the flatties. We covered a lot of ground in search of clean water and made it happen with a limit of flounder and 2 gar. While other boats called it a night captain joe opted to stay out determined to make it a successful trip for us." - Ty.

Target Species Breakdown

Southern Flounder are the stars of the gigging show and what most folks come out here to target. These masters of camouflage bury themselves in sand and mud with just their eyes sticking out, waiting to ambush passing prey. During prime season, you'll find them ranging from 14 to 24 inches, with some real doormat-sized fish pushing 4-5 pounds. They're most active from late spring through early fall, but remember that Texas closes flounder gigging from November 1st through December 15th to protect spawning fish. What makes flounder so exciting to gig is the challenge - they blend in perfectly with the bottom, and you need sharp eyes to spot that subtle fish outline before they spook.

Black Drum provide year-round action and are surprisingly fun to target with a gig. These chunky, copper-colored fish cruise the flats looking for crabs and shellfish, often in water so shallow their backs stick out. They range from slot-sized fish around 20 inches up to real bulls pushing 30-40 pounds. Black drum are less spooky than flounder and will sometimes hold their ground even when the lights hit them. They're excellent eating in the smaller sizes and put up a solid fight once you stick them. You'll often find them in slightly deeper water than flounder, around oyster reefs and shell bars where their favorite foods hang out.

Sheepshead round out the target species list and are probably the trickiest to gig successfully. These black-and-white striped fish are incredibly wary and will bolt at the first sign of danger. They typically hang around structure like dock pilings, jetties, and oyster bars, picking off barnacles and small crustaceans with their human-like teeth. Most sheepshead you'll encounter run 12-18 inches, though bigger fish up to 20-plus inches show up regularly. They're fantastic table fare with firm, white meat that rivals snapper. The challenge with sheepshead is getting close enough for a clean shot - they're notorious for their quick reflexes and ability to disappear into structure when threatened.

Time to Book Your Spot

This top-rated night gigging experience books up fast, especially during peak flounder season. With Captain Joe's proven track record of putting clients on fish and his willingness to adapt to changing conditions, you're in for a world-class adventure that's completely different from traditional rod-and-reel fishing. The 5-hour trip gives you plenty of time to master the technique, explore different areas of the bay, and hopefully fill your limit. Whether you're a first-timer looking for something completely new or a seasoned angler wanting to try a different approach, this night gigging trip delivers memories and fish in equal measure. Contact Bay Finatic today to secure your dates - the fish are waiting, and the lights are ready to show