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Rockport & Port Aransas Fishing Charters: Questions and Answers
Texas Inshore Fishing Answers From Captain Justin Coghlan
I’m Captain Justin Coghlan, owner and operator of Clean Fun Fishing. I provide private inshore fishing charters around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay. Here I answer common questions about Rockport and Port Aransas fishing charters, fishing guides, redfish, speckled trout, black drum, bait, fishing licenses, family fishing trips, and Texas inshore fishing.
Fishing Charter Questions
How Much Does a Fishing Charter Cost in Rockport or Port Aransas, Texas?
My 4-hour half-day inshore fishing trips are $450 for one person, $550 for two people, and $650 for three people. These are private fishing charters, so you are booking the boat for your group. I fish the bays around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay, targeting redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and other inshore species depending on the conditions.
For current availability and trip details, use the button below to book directly.
What Is Included With a Rockport or Port Aransas Fishing Charter?
My fishing charters include rods and reels, bait, tackle, water, Gatorade, and fish cleaning after the trip. I provide the fishing equipment needed for my regular bait trips, so beginners do not need to own fishing gear to come fishing. If you want to fish with artificial lures, bring your own rods, reels, and lures. My trips are private inshore fishing charters for up to three customers.
Do I Need a Fishing License for an Inshore Fishing Charter in Texas?
Yes. If you are 17 or older, you generally need a valid Texas fishing license to fish the public coastal waters around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay. For these inshore saltwater trips, you need the appropriate saltwater fishing privileges. A Texas Saltwater Package includes the fishing license and saltwater endorsement.
Anglers under 17 do not need a Texas fishing license, whether they are Texas residents or non-residents. Texas residents born before January 1, 1931 are also exempt. Other exemptions may apply in certain situations.
If you are only fishing for one day, TPWD also offers a One-Day All-Water Fishing License. The current price is $11 for Texas residents and $16 for non-residents, and a separate saltwater endorsement is not required with that license. I recommend buying your license before your fishing trip and checking the latest TPWD requirements if you are unsure which license you need.
What Should I Bring on an Inshore Fishing Charter?
Bring a valid Texas fishing license if you are required to have one, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and clothing appropriate for the weather. I provide rods and reels, bait, tackle, water, and Gatorade for my regular bait-fishing trips. You are welcome to bring snacks or other non-alcoholic drinks. If you want to fish with artificial lures, bring your own rods, reels, and lures. My trips around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay are inshore fishing trips, so you do not need to pack like you are going on a long offshore trip.
How Long Is a Typical Inshore Fishing Charter?
My half-day inshore fishing charters are 4 hours long. A 4-hour trip gives us enough time to fish different areas and adjust to the conditions without spending the entire day on the water. These trips work well for experienced anglers who want to target redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and other inshore species, while also being a comfortable length for beginners, families, and kids. I fish the bays around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay. Where and how we fish depends on the weather, tides, season, and current fishing conditions, as well as the experience level and goals of the anglers on the trip.
What Is the Difference Between Inshore and Offshore Fishing Charters?
Inshore fishing takes place in bays, flats, channels, and other protected coastal waters, while offshore fishing involves traveling into the Gulf of Mexico. My trips are inshore fishing charters around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay. On my inshore trips, I target species such as redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and other fish found throughout the Texas bays. Inshore fishing usually involves shorter boat rides and allows us to spend more of the 4-hour trip actually fishing. It is a good choice for experienced anglers who enjoy Texas bay fishing as well as families, kids, and beginners who want a comfortable fishing trip without making a long offshore run.
What Fish Can You Catch Around Rockport and Aransas Pass, Texas?
The bays around Rockport and Aransas Pass offer year-round opportunities to catch redfish, speckled trout, and black drum. Depending on the season and conditions, I also catch mangrove snapper and other inshore species. I fish grass flats, channels, shorelines, reefs, and other structure throughout the area, choosing where and how to fish based on tides, weather, water conditions, and the current bite. These waters are also connected to the larger bay system around Port Aransas, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay, giving me different areas and fishing patterns to work with throughout the year.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Fish the Texas Coast?
Inshore fishing is available year-round on the Texas coast, but the fishing changes with the seasons. Spring and summer can provide excellent opportunities for speckled trout and redfish, while fall is one of my favorite times for redfish as bait moves through the bays. Black drum can be caught throughout much of the year and can be especially productive during the cooler months. Around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay, I pay more attention to current conditions than simply picking one “best” month. Water temperature, tides, wind, bait movement, and recent weather all affect where the fish are and how I target them.
What Is the Best Bait for Redfish on the Texas Coast?
Live shrimp and cut mullet are two of my most dependable baits for redfish on the Texas coast. I use live shrimp when redfish are feeding around grass flats, shorelines, channels, and structure, and cut mullet can be especially effective when targeting larger redfish or fishing on the bottom. Artificial lures can also catch plenty of redfish. Gold spoons are one of my favorite choices for covering water on the grass flats. The best bait or lure depends on the season, water conditions, where the fish are holding, and how they are feeding that day. Soft plastics are also a great option all year. I use these techniques while targeting redfish around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay.
What Is the Best Bait for Speckled Trout on the Texas Coast?
Live shrimp is one of the most dependable baits for speckled trout on the Texas coast. I often fish live shrimp under a popping cork or free-line it depending on the depth, current, and where the trout are feeding. Artificial lures, especially shrimp soft plastics, can also be very effective and allow experienced anglers to cover more water while searching for feeding fish.
Around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay, I look for speckled trout around grass flats, drop-offs, channels, reefs, and areas holding bait. The best bait and technique can change with the wind, tide, water clarity, temperature, and feeding pattern that day.
What Is the Best Bait for Black Drum on the Texas Coast?
Fresh dead shrimp and live shrimp are two of my favorite baits for black drum. I usually fish shrimp on the bottom with a Carolina rig around channels, drop-offs, reefs, pilings, and other areas where black drum are feeding. Black drum rely heavily on scent to find food, which is one reason shrimp can be so effective. I catch black drum around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay throughout the year. Where I target them changes with the season, tides, water temperature, and current fishing conditions. Black drum can be a great target for experienced anglers, but they are also a good fish for kids and beginners because the technique is often straightforward and larger drum can put up a strong fight. They are also excellent to eat.
Are Inshore Fishing Charters Good for Kids and Families?
Yes. Inshore fishing charters can be a great choice for kids and families because the boat rides are generally shorter than offshore trips and there are many different ways to catch fish in the bays. I enjoy teaching kids and first-time anglers how to bait a hook, cast, feel a bite, set the hook, and fight a fish. My trips are private for your group, so I can adjust the fishing style and pace based on the ages and experience levels of everyone on the boat. I also enjoy fishing with experienced families who want to spend their time targeting redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and other inshore species. I offer family-friendly fishing trips around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay.
Do I Need Fishing Experience to Book an Inshore Fishing Charter?
No. You do not need any fishing experience to book a trip with me. I regularly fish with first-time anglers and can help with everything from baiting hooks and casting to setting the hook and fighting fish. I adjust the trip to the experience level of the people on the boat. Experienced anglers are just as welcome. If you already fish regularly, I can focus more on current patterns, techniques, and targeting species such as redfish, speckled trout, and black drum. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced angler, my goal is to give you a fishing trip that matches what you want to get out of your time on the water. This applies to my trips around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay.
What Fish Are Biting Right Now Around Rockport and Port Aransas?
The bite around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay changes throughout the year with water temperature, tides, wind, bait movement, and weather. Redfish, speckled trout, and black drum are some of the main inshore species I target, and mangrove snapper can also provide excellent fishing when conditions in the summer.
I regularly post fishing reports based on my recent trips so anglers can see what has actually been biting, the areas I have been fishing, and the techniques that have been producing. Because conditions can change quickly on the Texas coast, my recent fishing reports are a better indicator of the current bite than a general seasonal forecast.
Where Is the Best Inshore Fishing Around Aransas Pass and Corpus Christi Bay?
Aransas Pass and Corpus Christi Bay offer a wide variety of inshore fishing areas, including grass flats, channels, shorelines, reefs, and deeper water near structure. These different habitats give anglers opportunities to target redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and other inshore species throughout the year. There is not one spot that is always best. I choose where to fish based on the wind, tides, water clarity, bait movement, season, and what the fish have been doing on recent trips. Being able to move between different types of water around Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay can make a big difference as conditions change.
How Do I Choose the Right Fishing Guide in Rockport or Port Aransas?
When choosing a fishing guide, look for a captain who is licensed, experienced on the local waters, clear about what the trip includes, and able to tailor the trip to your group. Reviews are also important because they can tell you a lot about how a guide treats customers, especially families, kids, beginners, and anglers who already have plenty of fishing experience. I’m Captain Justin Coghlan, owner and operator of Clean Fun Fishing. I run private inshore fishing charters around Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, and Corpus Christi Bay. I keep my trips limited to three customers so I can work directly with everyone on the boat. Whether you want help learning the basics or you are an experienced angler wanting to target redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and other inshore species, I adjust the trip around your group and the conditions that day.
The best fishing guide is not simply the one who promises the most fish. Look for someone you feel comfortable spending the morning on the water with, who knows the area, communicates clearly, and will work hard to give your group an enjoyable fishing experience.