Texas Outdoor Organizers

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Freshwater Fishing
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass

The largemouth bass has the largest following in Texas, and for good reason. Lakes such as Fork, Sam Rayburn, Ray Roberts, Falcon, and O.H. Ivie are noted for their outstanding Trophy Bass fishing. Any of the well known lakes can give you a realistic chance at catching a double digit bass. The chances of catching good numbers of  bass in the 3-8 lb range are good on so many lakes that T.O.O. prefers to find out where you are traveling to in Texas, instead recommending a particular lake. If you are open to travel to any part of Texas, we can book a trip in the current hot lakes. Otherwise all regions of Texas have lakes that produce outstanding largemouth bass fishing. The Texas record is currently over 18 lbs.

Smallmouth bass fishing is less widespread, but many lakes offer excellent Smallmouth Bass, Whitney, Meredith, Canyon, Texoma, and LBJ are among the best in the Southern U.S. The Texas record is currently just under 8 lb's. Most bass guides charge around $300 for a day of bass fishing.

Striped Bass

Striped bass, or Stripers, are a stocked fish with a couple of exceptions. Most striped bass fishing is done on large deep water lakes that have a huge forage base, mostly shad. Lakes such as Texoma, Whitney, Canyon, and Amistad and rivers such as the Brazos and the Guadalupe offer outstanding striper fishing. Depending on the time of year you can fish topwaters, work big jigs, or drift live bait to catch these tough fighters. The current Texas record is over 50 lbs! It was caught from a river, as were several previous state record fish. Most Stripers will weigh between 5-20 lbs, so a 5 fish limit can weigh between 20 and 100 lbs! Most Striper guides charge about the same as a bass guide usually about $300 for a day of catching and then eating some good fish.

Hybrid/striper and Whitebass 

Of all the fish to catch in Texas, these two species are perhaps the most fun. Generous bag limits, tough fighters, plentiful in almost every region of Texas, these fish are the perfect beginners and family outing. Whether using topwaters, spoons, jigs, trolling, or live bait, Hybrids and White bass are an absolutely great way to introduce or reinforce someone to fishing. Most Hybrids will run about 3-10 lbs, with some reaching over 12 lbs. Most white bass will weigh between 1-3 lbs, with the larger fish caught usually during the spring run. Most Texas lakes have a 3 or 5 fish Hybrid-Striper limit, with an 18" minimum size. Most Texas lakes have 25 white bass limit. Most guides also charge less than $300 for a day of red-hot action. Like Largemouth bass fishing, T.O.O. breaks down the Hybrid and white bass fishing into regions, if your from an area or going to a particular region, we can find the right lake and guide for you in that location. These fishing trips are perfect for the traveler who is coming to a particular city and would like to fish in the evening.

Crappie

While not as big, tough, or strong as some of the other species of freshwater fish, the crappie fishing in Texas is first class. The best fishing lakes for crappie are east of IH 35 for the most part. Again generous limits and many lakes with a huge population make it very popular fish in Texas. It's considered the best tasting fish in freshwater by many. Most crappie guides charge less than $300, with many charging closer to $200 for a day or night of fishing.

Catfish  

All three main species of catfish are abundant in Texas. The Channel and Blue catfish are the most sought after species. Again, liberal bag limits and good size fish make for wonderful fishing. Most lakes have a 25 fish limit, and it's common to have everyone catch their limit on guided trips. Most Channel cats run between 1 and 10 lbs, while the blue cats will average 3-15 lbs. Of course there will be exceptions with larger fish being caught. Many Texas lakes have records of over 60 lbs on Blue cats. As most areas of Texas have outstanding catfishing, T.O.O. prefers to organize a trip based on where you are or where you will be in Texas. Prices for a guided catfishing trip usually are less than $300 for a full day of fishing. 

Redfish

There are several freshwater lakes in the San Antonio and the North Central areas of Texas that offer fishing for Red Drum. These fish are the same species as the saltwater redfish. They are stocked in several lakes and offer some outstanding fishing. Redfish can reach over 30 pounds in these lakes and offer a chance to catch a truly large fish. The current state record is over 35 pounds. There is no maximum size and the daily limit is 3. Most guides charge less than $300 for a redfish and/or Hybrid-Striped Bass fishing.

Saltwater Fishing

 Texas has some of the best saltwater fishing in North America. Only Florida compares to the amount of water and numbers of guides that are available in Texas. With so many guides and places, having a place to get things organized for a saltwater fishing trip is what Texas Outdoor Organizers is all about. 

Whether it's bay fishing for trout, red drum(redfish), Black Drum, or fishing off-shore for King Mackerel, Red Snapper, Tarpon,Tuna, Billfish, Dorado, or shark, Texas has a place to fish and a guide for you.

Bay fishing 

The bays of Texas vary from the Upper Texas Coast to the Lower Texas Coast. Whether you want to fly-fish, fish with lures, or use bait, there is a guide for you. The possibilities are almost endless. There is early morning top-water fishing for trout and reds, working the deep oyster reefs, rocks, and jetties, fishing the potholes of the flats, and even fishing the surf from a boat on a calm morning. Both redfish and trout are found throughout Texas' bays. The Black Drum, a cousin of the redfish, adds to the excitement. Black Drum can grow as big as 70 pounds, and it's not uncommon to hook a drum over 30 pounds in the spring.

 Speckled Trout (Spotted Weakfish)

 The speckled trout is the most sought after fish in Texas' bays. With a bag limit of 10 and a 15 inch minimum size,(except the Lower Laguna Madre from about Port Mansfield to South Padre Island, that area has a 5 trout per fishermen limit) these fish will "hook" you and you'll never recover. As of September 1st, 2003, there is an one trout over 25 inches per fisherman per day as a part of  the 5 or 10 fish daily limit. An honest "10-30", a 10 pound, 30 inch trout is the "Holy Grail", for many Texas fisherman. Not all Texas guides are capable of putting fishermen and women on a "Trophy Trout", and many guides will freely admit that. If a trophy is your goal, contacting T.O.O. is a wise choice. If your looking to fill the ice chest with great tasting fillets, T.O.O. is also the way to go. The current state record Speckled Trout is just under 14 pounds, truly an awesome fish!

Red Drum  (Redfish)

These are the junkyard dogs of the bays. They roam the shallow water flats of the bays, and hang out at the jetties and near shore. The are the toughest in-shore fish common to Texas bays', and are truly a wonderful fish to tangle with. Whether you use top-waters and other artificial baits, natural baits, or fly fish for them, they are a challenge on light tackle.
 As with the trout fishing some guides are "redfish masters" and T.O.O. knows which guides are specialist for redfish. Current state bag limit is 3 reds a day, with a keeper slot of 20-28 inches. Your saltwater license fee includes a oversized redfish tag, which allows you to keep one redfish over 28 inches per year. The current Texas redfish record is over 55 pounds, a magnificent creature! 

Guided Bay Charter Prices

The price for fishing the bay with a Coast Guard approved TP&W licensed guide will cost you in the range of $550-$650 for an eight(8) hour charter for 2 people. That is the market price throughout Texas. Additional people usually will cost somewhere between $25 and 75 per person. It varies from guide to guide. Some guides will charge extra for finfish bait(croaker, pinfish, etc) others absorb the cost for that type of summer fishing. All in all most guides stay competitive with each other, so a guide who charges more for two people might offer additional people at a lower cost than other guides.

T.O.O. will not book or list anyone not TP&W licensed, and Coast Guard approved. Period.
 There are also guides we will not book or list that are C.G. approved and licensed, due to negative feedback, unprofessional behavior, or safety reasons. We book your trip with safety and fun being the top priority.
  

Offshore  

Texas offers the best in offshore fishing. It is truly a year around sport. The fishing is influenced by two seasons, the earth's and the shrimper's.

Winter

 Winter is time for the big fella's to come out. While King Mackerel are still sometimes around far off-shore, the offshore fisherman or woman relies on the common winter species. These include Tuna,(Black-fin and Yellowfin), Amberjack, Shark (mostly Atlantic Sharpnose), Grouper,and the various Snapper other than Red Snapper. (Red Snapper season is scheduled to run from June 1st through either September 15th or Sptember 30th, 2008. Once we receive the official Red Snapper season from the Gulf Council we will update that information. While not as popular as the other seasons, winter offers less crowded boats and a more relaxed fishing style. That is until the tuna come up to the boat, or someone hooks a 60+ pound Amberjack. Then the fishing gets intense. Mild weather, usually calm seas, plenty of big fish,and a relaxed atmosphere means a enjoyable fishing trip.

Spring  

This season is marked in red, as in Red Snapper. With the warming of the water of the Gulf of Mexico and the opening of Red Snapper season, the action takes a different turn. Red Snapper are the tasty deep dwelling fish that bring people from all over the U.S.A. to try to catch. (Red Snapper season is tentatively scheduled to open from June 1st through either September 15th or September 30th, 2008) and it lights up the fishing crowd when the Red Snapper season opens. The waters of the Gulf are warming so you see an increase in the migratory fish as the water reaches for the 80 degree mark.   
 Kingfish, ling, Dorado, sharks, including Blacktip and Spinner, (both great eating), and other species start showing up off the Texas coast. Shrimp boats will be a focus of the fishing boats. Once the shrimp season closes in mid-May you have the three "R"'s to fish. Rigs, Wrecks, and Rocks. Each will produce Red Snapper and each will also hold at various times the other species list above. During this time when the shrimp boats are not out in the gulf, the boats also will look at weed lines, where large amounts of weeds are gathered and also for rips, where two currents come together.

Summer   

The continued shrimp closure into the early summer keeps the focus on the above, until mid-July when the shrimp season re-opens. Then things really turn on. The three "R's" will continue to be a popular stop for red Snapper and other species, but the opening of the shrimp season brings the famous shrimp boat fishing. Many boats will spend at least part of the charter fishing behind dragging or anchored shrimp boats. If it's the right boat and you're there before the cull is pushed overboard, you might just see some of the best fishing ever. Kingfish, Dorado, Ling, and shark are all common in this situation.

Also during the later part of the summer is the "Tuna Bite". As early as late July, after the shrimp season reopens, and extending until December and later is the famous Tuna Drift. For the long range trips, 35-40 miles and farther, shrimp boats will drag their nets during the day. By late summer often the Black-fin and to some extent the Yellow-fin Tuna will be following the dragging boats. When the right boat is found again the fishing is nothing short of fantastic, filling the ice chest with delicious tuna.

Fall

This time of the year continues the summer pattern mentioned earlier. As the waters start to cool the migratory species start to thin out, and are replaced to a certain extent by more tuna, and Amberjack, with Red Snapper still fished until sometime in September. The weather is usually very nice, the boats and the Gulf less crowded, and the fishing just as hot. For most charter boats, they are looking for business, but with vacations over, the kids back in school, and parents back at work, the boats are willing to make deals. This is a perfect time to schedule a trip for a fishing event of a lifetime. Slowly as fall runs into winter you get back into the winter fishing, with captains quite honestly begging for bookings.

Billfish

Texas has good bill fishing, mainly for Sailfish, Marlin, and increasingly for Swordfish. You will have to run farther offshore, 80-100 miles is not uncommon, most of the time to find billfish. The exception to that is in September and early October there is often a gathering of Sailfish close inshore. Texas is not a Billfish hot spot such as Costa Rica or Cabo, but there are many Billfish caught and released off the Texas coast. Blue and White Marlin and Sailfish are the common species of Billfish caught off Texas shores.

Offshore Prices and Options 

There are three options available when allowing T.O.O. to work for the fishermen interested in fishing offshore. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.

1.Party Boat

 There are party boat operations in Galveston, Freeport, Port Aransas, and South Padre Island(SPI). For a sum between $70-$100 on average for an 8 to 12 hour trip you can book a walk-up party boat trip. You spend relatively little on a trip and usually you will catch some good size fish. Snapper, kingfish, shark are the most common species caught off the short trips. The disadvantage is that the boat may have 40 or more people on it, and usually a summer Saturday will have the boat limited out. This cuts down on the personal touch, the deck hands have to work with everyone on board. The boats are not as fast as the private boats and that cuts down on the fishing time. In all it is a good way to get the beginner hooked on offshore fishing.

T.O.O. generally will only book open spots on a party boat with a minimum of 5 people going in a group. The Fishing Docks are generally set in the type of fishing they do on open trips, and T.O.O. does not feel it is a good practice to charge you our standard amount for a $70-$100 fishing trip. If you wish to go through with it and have T.O.O. book your open trip, we will do so. We just feel that the limited options on open party boats will make it easier and more cost effective for you to book a trip yourselves.

2. Private Charter 

After a few party boat trips, a lot of people decide that an offshore private charter is something they wish to do. They might realize that the cost, which can run from $600 to $1,800 for a 8,10 or 12 trip for up to 6 people, fits them better. Less anglers on a boat and a more maneuverable, faster boat generally means a more successful trip per person. The price does reflect the type of boat chartered. The typical offshore "Sportfisher" boat, with beds, Air conditioning and tuna tower that so many people associate with offshore fishing will cost you more on average than smaller less expensive "Center Console" boats. 
 Center Console boats usually are equipped with dual or even triple outboards, and range on average from 26' to 36' in length. They are typically faster than the "Sportfisher" type boat, and you can get out there and fish quicker.
 However the drawback is that these Center Console boats can not handle waves and swells as well as a Sportfisher can in the Gulf of Mexico. As such the Center Console charters are more suspect to being cancelled during the windy times of the year.
 Another factor in price since 2004 has been fuel prices. Offshore charters have been forced to add on a fuel surcharge or to simply raise their prices with fuel currently being in the $2.00- $3.00 a gallon range. The captains don't like it, but they can only absorb so much expenses and stay in the business.     

  This is where the hard part comes in. Are you prepared to spend a lot of time and money making the calls and emailing the different captains? Are you sure who is the best at what you want to fish for? That's where T.O.O. comes in, we have the knowledge and the input needed for you to find the right type of offshore trip. We will find the trip that fits your criteria and we will do our best to make sure the trip is a success.

3. Private Chartering a Party Boat

The third option is to private charter a part boat. Most Fishing Docks will private charter their boats, usually after snapper season is closed. Some of the Docks have multiple boats and will private book during the slow days even in snapper season.The slow days are generally Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Privately chartering a party boat is a great way to offer a business, a group of clients, a large family and friends, or just a big group of guys and girls a way to get some wonderful fishing in out in the Gulf of Mexico. Costs for these trips can run from under $2,000 for 10-20 people and up to $4,000-5,000 for a 24 hour trip.
 Let T.O.O. organize a private party boat charter for you, and save time and money by letting us do the work.
 Again, most Party boat operations have raise their prices in relation to the fuel price increase. Currently the main long range, 48-52 hour charters are charging between $5,000 and $10,000 Total cost for up to 15 people fishing a long range trip, and as high as $26,000 for one specific long range Texas party boat that can take 40 people on their long range trips. These are basically two day/two night fishing trips.

T.O.O.'s Schedule of Fee's and Services for Saltwater Fishing Charters
  

Option 1- List of Guides/Captains that fits your criteria:
A fishing list is based on the cost of the boat chartered. T.O.O.'s price for fishing lists are as follows: 
Charters up to $500 - $50 for up to 10 charters/guides 
Charters from $500-$1000 - $60 for up to 10 charters/guides 
Charters over$1,000 - $100 for up to 10 charters/guides 

Option 2: Booking a trip through T.O.O.
To book a trip through T.O.O. and utilize our knowledge and experience, our fees are:
Charters up to $500-$60.
Charters from $500-$1,000 - $75.
Charters from $1,000-$2,000- $100
Charters over $2,000- 10% of the charter cost or less, depending on the criteria presented to T.O.O.
(Fishing trips that are $2,000 and higher are usually long range off-shore boats that can take 6 to 40 people fishing on 12 hour to 52 hour and longer trips.)
T.O.O. offers discounts for multiple boat bookings, as well as multiple day bookings. Please contact T.O.O. for details.

To set up a fishing trip, contact Willie at Texas Outdoor Organizers at (210) 215-3877 or by emailing us at too@outdoorstexas.com 
 Paypal payments are available at www.paypal.com Our email address for payment is too@outdoorstexas.com