Your captain for the day is TJ Fairbanks. He is the founder/owner and operator of Wild Thing Guide Service. He has over 20 years of experience fishing the North Central and North East Texas Lakes for many species of fish.

Capt. TJ fishes off a 23’ Sea Hunt Bay Boat with a 250 HP Yamaha engine, a wireless trolling motor, all necessary electronics, a sound system, and top-of-the-line rods, reels, and tackle. This boat is a great fishing platform and caters to 5 guests. It is kept in immaculate condition, stored in a wood-framed insulated shop, and will always be clean for your trip.

He offers full-service fishing trips for Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Blue Catfish, and Flathead Catfish on Lake Tawakoni and Lake Lewisville. He also offers Largemouth Bass trips on Lake Bob Sandlin February–April (one of the most overlooked Bass lakes in Texas).

Your captain will provide you with everything you need for your day on the water, including ice, drinks, fish cleaning, and bagging, and live bait if necessary. If you have a favorite rod for a certain technique, feel free to bring it.

Capt. TJ understands that success means different things to different people when going on a guided fishing trip. He caters to the hardcore fisherman, novice angler, and everyone in between. When you book a trip with TJ he will fish at your pace and will do his absolute best to ensure that everyone has a great experience!

Explore the beautiful waters of Texas with Wild Thing Guide Service and have the fishing adventure of a lifetime!



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    6 Hour Trip – Striper & White Bass
    FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 5:45 AM
    Seasonal trip Apr 15 - Aug 31 (Sat, Sun)
    US $350
    On this trip, you will leave the dock at daylight and return around noon depending on the time of year, weather, and species you are chasing. There is a 6 person limit. All fishing gear is provided, just be sure to bring a Texas fishing license!
  • Private trip
    8 Hour Trip – Trophy Blue Catfish
    FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Dec 1 - Mar 15 (Sat, Sun)
    US $400
    This trip leaves the dock about 30 mins after daylight and returns before dark. From December–March lake Tawakoni is one of the few places in the country where you can expect to catch Blues in the 30 lb class and up almost every time you target them and there are days with multiple fish over 50 lb. This is the lake's premier trophy fishery. All catfish over 10 lbs will be released. 4 people max.

FAQs about Wild Thing Guide Service

Wild Thing Guide Service offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $350 per group, additional US $75 per person after 2 guests - 6 Hour Trip – Striper & White Bass (6 hours)
  • US $400 per group, additional US $75 per person after 3 guests - 8 Hour Trip – Trophy Blue Catfish (8 hours)

When you book a trip with Wild Thing Guide Service, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live Bait Well
  • Wireless Trolling Motor
  • Ice Box

Trips booked with Wild Thing Guide Service include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Drinks

Wild Thing Guide Service offers the following type of fishing:
  • Lake Fishing

Wild Thing Guide Service offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Popping
  • Drift Fishing

Top targeted fish species with Wild Thing Guide Service include:
  • Bass (Striped)
  • Bass (White)
  • Catfish
  • Hybrid Striped Bass

Meet the Captain

Tj Fairbanks
Quinlan, Texas, United States
3 Fishing Reports
8 Customer reviews
Response time 14 hours
Member since June 2017
My name is TJ Fairbanks and I am the founder, owner, and operator of Wild Thing Guide Service. I have more than 20 years of experience fishing the North Central and North East Texas Lakes for many species of fish. I understand that success means different things to different people when going on a guided fishing trip. That's why I cater to the hardcore angler, novice angler, and everyone in between. When you book a trip with me I will fish at your pace and will do my absolute best to ensure that everyone has a great experience!

About this listing

Targeted species

Bass (Striped) Striped Bass
Bass (White) White Bass
Catfish Catfish
Hybrid Striped Bass Hybrid Striped Bass

Boat specs

Sea Hunt (Bay boat) originally built in 2015. Powered by a 250HP Yamaha engine, with a maximum cruising speed of 45 knots.

Length
23 ft
Capacity
5 persons

Types of fishing

Lake Fishing

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Popping
Drift Fishing

Amenities

GPS
Fishfinder
Live Bait Well
Wireless Trolling Motor
Ice Box

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Drinks

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 14 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 14 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.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
Age 5 and up
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed

Payment

Book with 25% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 25% 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
American Express
PayPal
Checks
Bank Transfer

Quinlan Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.3 / 5
out of 5 stars from 8 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.6 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.3 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.1 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (5)
Hybrids
Outstanding half day trip with Captain TJ Fairbanks.
Outstanding half day trip with Captain TJ Fairbanks.
+2
Angler rating
5
0
1
1
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
67%
Friendly captain
67%
Recommend this charter
63%
Appropriate for children
67%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
67%
Sort by:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 8 reviews
Joseph E.
Arlington, TX
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Outstanding half day trip with Captain TJ Fairbanks.

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip – Striper & White Bass on June 25, 2023
Limited out on Hybrids.
Joseph E. recommends Wild Thing Guide Service
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Joseph E. recommends Wild Thing Guide Service
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Jose V.
Alba, Texas
Bad
2.0 / 5
Experience:
Good
3.0 / 5
Boat
Bad
2.0 / 5
Crew
Poor
1.0 / 5
Overall

Needs to work on customer service and personality

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip – Striper & White Bass on July 15, 2023
He gave no instructions when we began fishing, then yelled at my son, cursed at him actually about the fishing pole. I told...
Jose V. does not recommend Wild Thing Guide Service
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Jose V. does not recommend Wild Thing Guide Service
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9034977461 9.
Golden, TX
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half day trip (6 Hours)

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip – Striper & White Bass on July 19, 2020
Great trip!! Caught our limit of strippers.
9034977461 9. recommends Wild Thing Guide Service
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You and 1 other person found this review helpful
9034977461 9. recommends Wild Thing Guide Service
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Sharon H.
Rockwall, TX
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

June fishing trip

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip – Striper & White Bass on June 7, 2020
Sharon H. recommends Wild Thing Guide Service
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Sharon H. recommends Wild Thing Guide Service
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Uzooma O.
Garland, TX
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Split Day Trip - Striper/Hybrid Hunting

VERIFIED   Summer Split-Day Trip on July 21, 2018
Had a great day with Captain TJ on Lake Tawakoni. Lots of fun and caught our limit of stripers and hybrids. If you are looking...
Uzooma O. recommends Wild Thing Guide Service
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Uzooma O. recommends Wild Thing Guide Service
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