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Top-Rated Matagorda Bay Multi-Boat Fishing Trip
MatagordaWhat you will be catching:
Black Drum
Redfish
Sea Trout
Sheepshead
Southern Flounder
- Accommodates up to 12 guests across four professionally guided boats
- Targets redfish and speckled trout in Matagorda Bay waters
- Customizable half-day excursions ideal for corporate and family groups
Trip Pricing and Availabilities:
Trip pricing information is temporarily unavailable.
Big Group Fishing in Matagorda Bay
Planning a fishing trip for a crew of 12? You've come to the right place. Joe and his handpicked team of trusted guides know Matagorda Bay like the back of their hand, and they're ready to put together a custom charter experience that'll keep everyone happy. Whether you're organizing a company retreat, family reunion, or just want to get all your buddies on the water together, this four-boat operation gives your group the space to spread out while still fishing the same productive waters. We're talking redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and more – all in one of Texas's most reliable fishing spots.
What to Expect on the Water
This isn't your typical cookie-cutter charter. Joe personally selects the guides who'll be running your additional boats, making sure everyone meets his standards for both fishing knowledge and customer service. You'll launch from Matagorda Bay and work the flats, back lakes, and structure depending on what's biting and what your group wants to target. Some folks might want to chase redfish in shallow water while others prefer working deeper holes for trout – no problem. With four boats, you can split up based on skill level or species preference, then meet up later to compare notes and photos. The half-day format keeps things manageable for mixed experience levels while still giving you plenty of time to get into fish.
Techniques & Prime Spots
Matagorda Bay offers everything from ankle-deep grass flats to six-foot channels, and Joe's crew knows how to fish them all. You'll likely start with live bait – croaker and shrimp are local favorites that produce consistently. Artificial lures work great too, especially soft plastics bounced along the bottom or worked under popping corks. The guides will set you up with the right tackle and show you the techniques that work best in each spot. Depending on conditions, you might fish shell reefs for trout, work the shorelines for redfish, or target structure for drum and sheepshead. The beauty of having multiple boats is flexibility – if one area isn't producing, you can quickly relocate to greener pastures without cramming everyone into a single boat.
Top Catches This Season
Redfish are the bread and butter here, and Matagorda Bay grows some beautiful specimens. These copper-colored fighters typically run 20 to 28 inches, with plenty of slot fish and some oversized bulls mixed in. They're most active during moving tides, especially around dawn and dusk, but you can find them feeding throughout the day in the right spots. What makes redfish so popular is their willingness to eat almost anything – live shrimp, cut bait, or soft plastics all work. Plus, they put up a serious fight and look great in photos.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as the locals call them, are another customer favorite. These spotted beauties average 15 to 20 inches but can push 25 inches or more during peak season. Spring and fall are prime time, when cooler water temperatures get them feeding aggressively. Trout are a bit more finicky than redfish – they prefer moving baits and can be picky about presentation. When you hook into a good one, expect multiple jumps and line-peeling runs that'll test your drag.
Southern flounder might not win any beauty contests, but they're fantastic eating and fun to catch. These flatfish lie buried in sand waiting to ambush baitfish, making them perfect targets for slow presentations along the bottom. Most run 14 to 18 inches, but doormat-sized fish over 20 inches show up regularly. Fall is peak season when they're staging for their offshore spawning runs, fattening up and hitting baits hard.
Black drum are the muscle of Matagorda Bay, with fish ranging from schoolie-sized 16-inchers to tackle-busting 30-pound giants. They're bottom feeders that love crabs and shrimp, making them relatively easy to target around shell beds and structure. The bigger fish are incredibly strong – don't be surprised if a large drum peels off 50 yards of line on its first run. They're excellent table fare when prepared properly, with firm white meat that's perfect for blackening or grilling.
Sheepshead round out the regular cast of characters, and while they're not the prettiest fish in the bay, they're among the best eating. These black-and-white striped convict fish have serious attitude and human-like teeth for crushing shellfish. They're notorious bait stealers, requiring quick reflexes and sharp hooks. Most run 12 to 16 inches, but two-pound-plus fish are common around the right structure. Spring is prime time when they move into shallow water to spawn.
Time to Book Your Spot
If you've been struggling to find a charter that can handle your whole crew, this is your answer. Joe's team approach means everyone gets the attention they deserve while fishing proven waters that consistently produce fish. The four-boat setup gives you flexibility most operations can't match – different skill levels, different target species, or just more room to spread out and enjoy the day. Weekday trips run Monday through Thursday by appointment, giving you more scheduling options and often better fishing with less pressure. Don't let your group size limit your fishing plans – Matagorda Bay has plenty of fish for everyone, and Joe's crew knows exactly where to find them.
Learn more about the species
Black Drum
Black drum are the heavyweights of Matagorda Bay, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 50+ pounds. These bottom-feeders love oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow structure where they cruise around crushing crabs and shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear them "drumming" underwater, making those distinctive croaking sounds. What guests love is the raw power - once hooked, these fish dig deep and fight hard with bulldogging runs that'll test your drag. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating with firm, flaky meat. Here's my local trick: use fresh blue crab on a carolina rig and fish it right on the bottom near oyster bars. When you feel that steady pull, don't rush the hookset - let them take it and run before you lean into them.
Redfish
Redfish are the crown jewel of Matagorda Bay, easily recognized by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spots near the tail. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches, but we also target the big bull reds that can push 40+ inches and 30+ pounds. These fish love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs are exposed - around grass flats, oyster reefs, and muddy shorelines. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring are peak times when they school up and feed aggressively. What guests love most is the visual aspect - watching these bronze torpedoes cruise the shallows and explode on topwater plugs is pure excitement. They're also phenomenal table fare when kept in the slot. My local secret: work gold spoons or topwater plugs early morning over shallow grass flats. When you see that V-wake or tailing fish, cast well ahead and work your bait slowly past them.
Sea Trout
Spotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are the bread and butter of Matagorda Bay fishing. These beautiful silver fish with distinctive black spots typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, with occasional "gator trout" pushing 6+ pounds. They love grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs in 2-8 feet of water, especially around structure like reefs and shell bars. Spring through fall are prime, with early morning and evening producing the best action. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes on topwater lures and their excellent table fare - tender, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also great fighters with acrobatic jumps and strong runs. My favorite local trick is working soft plastics like paddle tails under popping corks around grass beds - the noise draws them in and the bait seals the deal.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are the "convict fish" of Matagorda Bay with their distinctive black and white stripes, but what really sets them apart are those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, though we occasionally see 15+ pounders around deep structure. You'll find them hugging any hard bottom - bridge pilings, jetties, oil rigs, and dock pilings where they feed on barnacles and small crabs. Spring through fall are best when they're most active in shallower water. Guests love the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with light, finicky bites that'll test your skills. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in the bay with sweet, flaky white meat. My go-to technique: get as close to structure as possible with live or fresh-dead shrimp on a small hook, keep your bait pinned tight, and set the hook hard the instant you feel weight.
Southern Flounder
Southern flounder are masters of disguise - these flat, oval-shaped fish bury themselves in sandy or muddy bottoms with both eyes on their left side, waiting to ambush prey. You'll typically find them in 15-18 inches, though we've seen some push 30+ inches in deeper waters. They love shallow bays, estuaries, and areas with soft bottom where they can camouflage perfectly. Fall and winter are prime time when they move through our passes heading offshore to spawn. What makes them special is their unique appearance and excellent table fare - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. They're sneaky fighters too, not flashy but they'll give you a good tussle. My tip: when drift fishing, use live mud minnows or shrimp on a light jighead and work it slow along the bottom. Feel for that subtle tap - they don't slam it like a trout.
