A good guide saves you weeks of trial and error. They know where fish are this week, they have the boat and the gear, and they clean your catch. Here's how to pick one and what you'll pay.
What guides charge
From the rates Coastal Bend guides published in October 2026:
| Trip | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Half-day bay trip, 1 to 2 people | $500 to $600 per boat |
| Full-day bay trip, 1 to 2 people | $600 to $850 per boat |
| Each extra person | About $100 |
| Trophy trout (Baffin Bay), full day | $850 to $950 per boat |
| Bay party boat (walk-on) | From $53 per person |
| Offshore party boat | From $105 per person |
| Lodge package with meals | About $395 to $550 per person per day |
Try our trip cost calculator to price your own group, and plan to tip the captain 15 to 20 percent on a good day.
Licenses a guide should have
- Texas Fishing Guide License from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Anyone who takes paying customers fishing in Texas waters needs one.
- U.S. Coast Guard captain's license (often called a six-pack or OUPV license) to carry paying passengers on a boat.
- Insurance covering passengers.
Ask for them. Good guides are proud to show them.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is the price per boat or per person? How many people does it include?
- What's included: bait, tackle, ice, fish cleaning?
- Will we wade or fish from the boat? Do I need wading boots?
- What's the deposit and the weather cancellation policy?
- Where do we meet, and what time?
- Is the trip good for kids or beginners?
What to bring
- Your fishing license (anyone 17 or older)
- Polarized sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen
- Food, drinks and a cooler for your fillets, unless the guide says otherwise
- A rain jacket, plus layers in fall and winter
- Wading boots if you'll wade
- Cash for the tip and the fish cleaner
Find a guide
Our Coastal Bend guide directory lists published prices, what's included and the waters each guide fishes, from Baffin Bay to Port O'Connor.