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Group Fishing Charters in Matagorda Bay, TX
MatagordaWhat you will be catching:
Black Drum
Redfish
Sea Trout
Sheepshead
Southern Flounder
- Got a big group that wants to fish together? Guide Joe and his handpicked team can take up to 18 people out on Matagorda Bay using 6 boats. This half-day charter is perfect for family reunions, corporate groups, or fishing buddies who don't want to split up. You'll target redfish, sheepshead, and whatever else is biting in these productive inshore waters. Joe works with trusted local guides who know every productive spot in the bay. Whether your group wants to focus on serious fishing or mix in some sightseeing through the Gulf backcountry, they'll customize the trip to keep everyone happy. Weekday trips run Monday through Thursday by appointment.
Trip Pricing and Availabilities:
Trip pricing information is temporarily unavailable.
Big Group Matagorda Bay Fishing Adventure
Planning a fishing trip for 18 people sounds like a logistical nightmare, right? Not when you're rolling with Captain Joe and his handpicked crew of trusted guides at Bay Finatic. This half-day charter brings together six boats and some of the most experienced captains working Matagorda Bay waters. Whether you're organizing a corporate retreat, family reunion, or just want to get the whole gang out on the water, we've got the fleet and know-how to make it happen. Joe personally selects each guide based on current conditions and your group's fishing goals, so you're not just getting quantity – you're getting quality across every single boat.
What to Expect on the Water
This isn't your typical cookie-cutter group charter where everyone gets herded to the same crowded spot. Joe coordinates with his team to spread the fleet strategically across Matagorda Bay's most productive waters, giving each boat room to work without stepping on each other's lines. Depending on what's biting and what your group wants to target, we might split between the shallow grass flats for redfish, work the deeper structure for black drum, or hit the jetties where sheepshead love to hang out. The beauty of having multiple experienced captains is flexibility – if one spot isn't producing, we've got the communication network to pivot quickly and put fish in the boat. Each boat runs independently but stays in radio contact, so if someone finds a hot bite, the whole fleet benefits. This setup works perfectly for mixed-skill groups too – beginners can focus on easier targets while experienced anglers chase bigger challenges.
Techniques & Tackle Setup
Our captains come equipped with everything you need, from light tackle spinning rigs perfect for trout and redfish to heavier setups when we're targeting bull drum or big flounder. Most of the action happens with live bait – shrimp, croaker, and mullet are the bread and butter baits that produce consistently in these waters. We'll also have artificial lures ready when fish are actively feeding, especially topwater plugs during early morning hours when redfish are cruising the shallows. Each guide carries different tackle configurations based on their assigned fishing zones, so the boat heading to deeper water for drum will have stronger rods and heavier weights, while the shallow water crew runs lighter gear perfect for sight-fishing reds over grass beds. Joe briefs the entire guide team before departure, ensuring everyone knows the game plan and can adjust techniques based on tide, weather, and fish activity throughout the day.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Redfish are the crown jewel of Matagorda Bay, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 20-28 inches in our waters and put up a scrappy fight that'll test your drag system. They're most active during moving tides, especially around dawn and dusk when they cruise the shallows looking for baitfish and crabs. What makes reds so exciting here is the variety of ways to catch them – sight-fishing in skinny water, working live shrimp under popping corks, or throwing topwater lures when they're feeding aggressively. Year-round residents, they're reliable targets that newcomers can catch while still challenging experienced anglers.
Black drum don't get the glamour treatment like their red cousins, but these bruisers will humble you in a hurry. Matagorda's black drum range from eating-size fish around 3-4 pounds up to absolute monsters pushing 40+ pounds that'll make your arms burn. They love structure – old shell beds, channel edges, and anywhere there's current carrying food. Peak season runs from late winter through early summer when big females move into shallow water to spawn. These fish are pure power, making long runs and using their broad bodies to fight in the current. Blue crab is their favorite meal, but they'll also crush fresh shrimp worked slowly along the bottom.
Sheepshead might be the most underrated gamefish in Texas waters. These black-and-white striped bandits have human-like teeth designed for crushing barnacles and small crabs off structure. Around Matagorda's jetties, bridge pilings, and oyster reefs, sheepshead provide consistent action during cooler months from November through March. They're notorious bait thieves with lightning-fast reflexes, so you need to stay alert and set the hook quickly. What makes them special is their excellent table fare – firm, white meat that rivals any restaurant fish. Plus, they're a blast to catch on light tackle, making subtle taps before committing to the bait.
Spotted sea trout are the perfect introduction fish for kids and beginners, but don't let that fool you – big trout are cunning predators that require skill to consistently catch. Matagorda's trout population includes everything from schooling 12-inchers up to wall-hanger sows exceeding 25 inches. They're most active during spring and fall when water temperatures are moderate, often feeding aggressively in grass beds where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Trout respond well to both live bait and artificials, making them versatile targets that keep everyone in the boat busy. Their delicate mouths mean you need to play them carefully, adding an element of finesse to the fight.
Southern flounder are the masters of disguise in Matagorda Bay, lying buried in sand and mud waiting to ambush passing prey. These flatfish are most active during their fall migration to deeper Gulf waters, typically September through November, when they bulk up before spawning. Flounder fishing requires patience and a slow presentation – they won't chase fast-moving baits like other species. When you do hook one, they make powerful runs close to the bottom before coming up with that distinctive head-shaking fight. Keeper flounder start at 15 inches, but the bay produces plenty of 18-20 inch fish that make excellent table fare with their mild, flaky white meat.
Time to Book Your Spot
Getting 18
Learn more about the species
Black Drum
Black Drum are the heavyweights of Matagorda Bay, typically running 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These bruisers love oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow structure where they crush shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. They're bottom feeders, so you'll find them rooting around in 2-15 feet of water, though they can go deeper. Guests love the strong, steady fight these fish provide. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent eating with firm, white meat. My go-to technique is fresh blue crab on the bottom - they can't resist it. Here's the key: use just enough weight to hold bottom and keep your drag loose. These fish will make long, powerful runs when hooked.
Redfish
Redfish are the crown jewel of Matagorda Bay - copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails. These fish run 18-40 inches and love super shallow water, often with their backs showing. You'll find them cruising oyster reefs, grass flats, and muddy shorelines in 1-4 feet of water. They're year-round residents but fall and spring offer the best action. Guests love watching them tail in skinny water and the explosive strikes on topwater lures. They're fantastic fighters with long runs and head-shaking battles. Great eating too, with firm white meat and mild flavor. They'll eat almost anything - topwater plugs, spoons, soft plastics, and live shrimp. Pro tip: when you spot tailing reds, cast well ahead of where they're moving and let your bait sit still. They spook easily in shallow water, so stay quiet and keep your distance.
Sea Trout
Spotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are prime targets in Matagorda's grass flats and shallow waters. These silvery fish with distinctive spots typically run 14-24 inches and about 1-5 pounds. They love grass beds, soft bottoms, and structure in 2-8 feet of water. Spring and fall are peak seasons, with dawn and dusk being magic hours. Night fishing under lights can be outstanding too. Guests appreciate their aggressive strikes and solid fights on light tackle. They're excellent table fare with tender, flaky white meat - just don't overcook them. They hit topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live shrimp with enthusiasm. My local secret: work the edges of grass flats during moving tides with a slow-sinking twitch bait. Listen for their feeding activity - they often make noise when busting bait on the surface.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are the "convict fish" of Matagorda Bay with their distinctive black and white stripes. These 1-8 pound fighters have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs around docks, jetties, and pilings. They're structure huggers - you'll rarely find them far from cover. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially around pier pilings and barnacle-covered structures. Guests love the challenge since they're notorious bait thieves with delicate bites. The reward is some of the best eating fish in the bay - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. Get your bait right against the structure and watch for subtle taps. Here's my tip: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crab, and when you feel them nibbling, don't wait - set the hook hard. Their bony mouths require a firm hookset.
Southern Flounder
Southern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flatfish bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to ambush prey. You'll find them ranging 15-18 inches typically, though some reach over 30 inches. They love shallow bays, estuaries, and sandy bottoms where they can camouflage perfectly. Both eyes sit on their left side, giving them that unique "flat" look guests always find fascinating. Fall and winter are prime time when they move through our area heading to deeper waters. They put up a surprising fight for a flatfish and make excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. Here's a local trick: when drift fishing, use a slow retrieve with live shrimp or bull minnows on light jigs. Feel for that subtle tap - they're notorious for stealing bait, so set the hook quick when you feel any weight.
