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Jon Darnell
Captain

Jon Darnell

Corpus Christi, United States
100+ reviews
I love to fish and take people fishing, and have been fishing the Texas coast from the Upper Laguna Madre to Baffin Bay for over 20 years. Specialize in catching speckled trout, redfish, flounder and black drum in the upper Laguna Madre, Baffin Bay and Landcut. Enjoy drift fishing with lures and live shrimp.

Charter

Rating

5.0
144 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

98%
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
99%
Satisfied with the boat
98%
Caught fish

All reviews (144)

Showing 1 – 5 of 144 reviews
  • Mark Barbosa
    Mark Barbosa
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    You can’t ever catch enough fish!

    4 Hour Trip — Bay Fishing • 2 adults

    Captain Jon was terrific! We met up early, and headed out immediately. He put my girlfriend and I on the fish and kept us there all four hours of our trip. We couldn’t keep up with the amount of fish biting. A lot of them weren’t “legal”, but we both caught our limit. When we got back, Captain Jon cleaned and filleted and bagged our catch. I highly recommend him and his charter. Great time and he means what he says, “no catch, no pay”. Thanks again, Jon!

    Reported catch:
    Redfish
    Speckled Trout
    Response from Captain

    Thank you Mark! So glad y’all enjoyed!

  • Robert Sane
    Robert Sane
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    Great trip

    5 Hour Trip — Bay Fishing • 2 adults

    Captain Jon, our captain, was a super guy to head our trip. He knew the wind was going to be stronger the day of our trip and called to see if we go could go a day earlier. Worked out great for us. Caught several good Red fish and Trout. I will be recommending Jon to all my friends.

    Response from Captain

    Thank you Bob! So glad y’all enjoyed!

  • Tyler Jackson
    Tyler Jackson
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

    5 Hour Trip — Bay Fishing • 2 adults

    If you’re looking for an unforgettable day on the water, I can’t recommend Jon highly enough. From the moment we set out, it was clear he knows his craft inside and out. His knowledge of the local waters, fish behavior, and best techniques made all the difference—not just in how much we caught, but in how much we learned along the way. What really stood out was Jon’s patience and attitude. He’s the kind of guide who genuinely wants you to succeed and have a great time doing it.The equipment was top-notch, the boat was clean and well-maintained, and every detail was handled professionally. But beyond that, Jon just makes the whole experience enjoyable—easygoing, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what he does.By the end of the trip, it felt less like hiring a guide and more like spending the day fishing with a friend who happens to know all the best spots. I’d book with Jon again in a heartbeat and would recommend him to anyone looking for a first-class fishing experience.

    Reported catch:
    Speckled Trout
    Black Drum
    Redfish
    Response from Captain

    Thank you Tyler!! So glad y’all enjoyed!

  • Kristen Garza
    Kristen Garza
    us
    South Carolina, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Awesome Trip!

    4 Hour Trip — Bay Fishing • 3 adults

    We caught a ton of trout and some solid reds. We hit our limit for both! Captain Jon clearly knows the bay and the good spots to reel em all in. We had a blast on our trip and getting to see dolphins was the cherry on top. Thanks, Captain Jon!

    Response from Captain

    Thank you Kristen! So glad y’all enjoyed!

  • Ashton Banta
    Ashton Banta
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    incredible trip

    5 Hour Trip — Bay Fishing • 2 adults

    Capt Jon was an excellent guide, putting on limits of trout despite poor weather. He was patient and knowledgeable, teaching us new tips and tricks to catch fish. We had a great time and will definitely book again in the near future.

    Reported catch:
    Black Drum
    Redfish
    Speckled Trout
    Response from Captain

    Thank you Ashton! So glad y’all enjoyed!

Real catches shared by our community

  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    Great guide to use.
    Rogelio M.
    Rogelio M.
  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    You can’t ever catch enough fish!
    Mark B.
    Mark B.
  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    Great trip! Beyond expectations.
    Rafaela R.
    Rafaela R.
  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    Awesome Trip!
    Kristen G.
    Kristen G.
  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    Great trip!!
    Daniel F.
    Daniel F.
  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    incredible trip
    Ashton B.
    Ashton B.
  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    Great Experience
    Benji C.
    Benji C.
  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    Captain Jon
    Melissa F.
    Melissa F.
  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    Catching fish all day
    Greg C.
    Greg C.
  • Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay
    Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No PayCorpus Christi, TX
    Lots of fish
    Jerry B.
    Jerry B.

What's biting with Laguna Lure Fishing: No Fish No Pay in Corpus Christi

As the weather settles into its fall patterns, adult Bull Redfish gather at the beaches and jetties to spawn. This is one of the best times to fish in Corpus Christi. The Flounder migration is also in full swing and will last through December. 

Top catches for October

Fishing reports

Three anglers proudly display their catch of various fish, including speckled trout and flounder, arranged neatly on a dock after a successful fishing trip.

Limits of trout, big redfish & flounder!

Jan 15, 2020 • Corpus Christi
New clients had an action packed morning catching their limits of trout along with a big redfish & a big flounder on cool foggy morning!
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An angler proudly displaying a Redfish while fishing on a boat in a coastal environment.

Lots of redfish on first saltwater trip!

Mar 28, 2016 • Corpus Christi
This was the first saltwater trip for two brothers from Wisconsin with their sons & it was a good one! The weather was not very cooperative, but after dodging a thunderstorm early the weather cleared up & it turned out to have a fun day on the water for everyone. A total of 32 redfish were caught & 10 keepers boxed with everyone getting in on plenty of action!
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An angler proudly displaying a Speckled Trout while fishing on a boat, showcasing a successful day on the water.

Boy's first redfish!

Mar 15, 2016 • Corpus Christi
I had a great father and son duo from the San Antonio area on a fishing trip to Baffin Bay, and the son caught his first keeper redfish! He was very happy about it & enjoyed the great fight big redfish always give! We caught several more redfish and speckled trout, with some big ones over 20 inches long caught by the father! Everything was caught on soft plastic artificial lures. It was a great day on the water and fun was had by all!
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