Hey gang,

Recently jumped onto this forum for Catfishing tips and such. The family is taking a summer trip to Corpus at the end of July and I have never fished offshore in that area. We are wanting to do an offshore red snapper trip, but I don't want to break the bank doing it.

Any suggestions on captains to look up or outfitters?

Thinking of taking my little Tracker 170 with me to do some in shore fishing, but definitely want to take the family offshore in something a little bigger.

Leave that freshwater rig home, the salt will destroy it. Plenty of good wading spots you can walk into for inshore. You can check out fishermans wharf website they do group offshore runs that are affordable.

Leave the sled at home, it'll get terminal cancer if you drop it in the salt.
You might want to check snapper seasons before you take off, they change.
Miles of wadeable water, get a hooksetter wade & Paddle map. Plus the beach if the wind allows.

You might want to call Dolphindocks in Port Aransas and tell them what you are looking for. Their number is 1-800-EYE-FISH. Webpage dolphindocks.com They have 4, 8, 9, 10, 12 hour and longer trips. I have caught lots of fish with them over the years and you should have a great time. I would recommend asking about a state waters red snapper trip if red snapper season Is closed when you go. The Dolphin Express is also a really nice boat. They have all the gear you need.

You should also get some good weather for wade fishing in the beach. Gold/silver spoons and topwater plugs (Mirrolure and Rapala make good ones) will do well. You can float live mullet, croakers. or live piggies (similar to float fishing shiners or bluegill for bass), I like to freeline them while standing on the 2nd bar. Generally you can buy live bait on the way to the beach, but freelining piggies will pull more fish, and bigger, than you can catch with live shrimp. Hit the water right at first light (earlier if you want to wade in the dark), and post some picks bro

Oh man, thanks for all the great advice. I guess I will leave the tracker at home.
The AirBnb we are going to rent is in a cove on the water so I can fish from the dock. Would this even be anything I should try? or just head out to the beach and fish the sand bars?

Definitely try from the house. Start with shrimp, both under a float and on the bottom. You can catch pinfish with a very small hooks. Cut those up and use them as cut-bait. You will have a chance at redfish, flounder, and seatrout. The fun part about saltwater is that you never know what you will catch. If the place you are fishing has a green light then fish it at night or in the morning before the sun comes up. You should be able to catch seatrout on gold spoons or shrimp. Another fun fish to catch is ladyfish. You can catch them in the intracoastal, surf, or at the jetty on gold spoons. One word of warning is to be very careful with the hardhead catfish. They are common and will provide a very painful puncture from their barbs. Let us know how you do.

Oh, and don’t have to much fun. Saltwater fishing is very addictive.