ShoreThing Guide Service is your ticket to the stunning waters of Port Aransas. With Captain James at the helm, you'll have a knowledgeable and experienced guide that has fished these waters for over 20 years.
These waters are known for Redfish, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, Flounder, and more – with any luck, you'll have tight lines in no time. You'll target your catch by light tackle fishing, drifting, or maybe something more specialized in this area.
Thinking of bringing the whole family? Kids are absolutely welcome! Children must wear life vests, so find out if the appropriate size is available on board. And, you can't go wrong with snacks so that nobody gets cranky on an empty belly!
Your boat for the day is a 25' Majek with space for 4 passengers. It comes with all the essentials. Your captain will provide rods and reels, along with lures. Live bait is included depending on the time of year.
Before coming aboard, you'll need to buy a local fishing license for everyone in your group. This information is usually available online, or you can ask the captain. Some species might be protected or require a tag to keep them, so make sure you know what to expect.
Some essentials to bring are sunglasses, sunscreen (non-spray), bottled water, and a hat. Alcohol is allowed in moderation, just be sure to avoid hard liquor as well as glass bottles.
Go ahead and treat yourself to a day on the water with ShoreThing Guide Service.
Captain
Capt. James Welder
Most popular features:
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (3)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Caught fish
100%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (AM) on July 16, 2025
My wife and 8 year old grandson and me took in a great day of fishing. The day started slow but Capt. James kept looking and he found some trout. He then got us on the reds and in no time we all had our limit of reds. Capt. James was great with our grandson and us. We are already planning our next trip. Thanks Capt. James.
My wife and 8 year old grandson and me took in a great day of fishing. The day started slow but Capt. James kept looking and he found some trout. He then got us on the reds and in no time we all had our limit of reds. Capt. James was great with our grandson and us. We are already planning our next trip. Thanks Capt. James.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Full Day Trip on June 7, 2025
We had a great day on the water bay fishing with Captain James. It ended up being a windy day and tough day for fishing but Captain James knows the area extremely well and got us on some great fish to finish a very good day! Would definitely fish with. Captain James again!
We had a great day on the water bay fishing with Captain James. It ended up being a windy day and tough day for fishing but Captain James knows the area extremely well and got us on some great fish to finish a very good day! Would definitely fish with. Captain James again!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (AM) on June 21, 2025
Had a great day on the water and James’ disposition couldn’t have been better. Highly recommend and would book again when we’re back in the Corpus Christi / Port Aransas area.
Had a great day on the water and James’ disposition couldn’t have been better. Highly recommend and would book again when we’re back in the Corpus Christi / Port Aransas area.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (AM) on July 12, 2025
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (AM) on April 12, 2025
Fun day on the water. Captain James is very laid back and engaging with his clients.
Fun day on the water. Captain James is very laid back and engaging with his clients.
ShoreThing Guide Service offers the following trips to customers:
When you book a trip with ShoreThing Guide Service, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
Trips booked with ShoreThing Guide Service include:
ShoreThing Guide Service offers the following types of fishing:
ShoreThing Guide Service offers the following fishing techniques:
Top targeted fish species with ShoreThing Guide Service include:
Port Aransas, Texas, United States
Growing up in a ranching family that has been in the Victoria, Texas area since the 1870s, James F. Welder developed early on a deep appreciation for the land and wildlife. His passion for fishing the Gulf coast comes from spending weekends and summers in Rockport, Texas. There he began crafting his fishing skills at age 4 with his father, along the San Antonio Bay system south to Lower Laguna Madre. After attending Southwest Texas University, James obtained his Captain's license in 2005 to share his knowledge and experience on the water with others. In addition to conventional fishing, James has been an avid fly fisherman for 15 years. He has spent time in the Bahamas learning new techniques for fly casting, which he can pass along to fly-fishing clients at any level. His knack for teaching first timers with his carefree, relaxed attitude will make learning to fish a memorable and rewarding experience. Capt. James has been guiding since 2005 and has grown up fishing the Port Aransas and Rockport areas all his life. We will be fishing primarily for Redfish, Trout, Flounder and Black Drum. He uses a wide variety of techniques in order for his clients to have great day on the water. He runs a 25’ Majek Illusion. Kids are more than welcome.
Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Flats Fishing
Backcountry Fishing
Light Tackle
Fly Fishing
Drift Fishing
GPS
Fishfinder
Wireless Trolling Motor
Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.
Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
Book with 20% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 20% deposit to guarantee your reservation.
The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:
Cash
Visa
Mastercard
Checks
Bank Transfer
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3.5% charge will apply.