Angler on the Cedar Bayou surf beach at moonrise with a stringer of fish

Where the Gulf
Still Runs Wild

Remote surf fishing, wade flounder gigging, and bay trips at Cedar Bayou — one of Texas' most legendary and least-accessed passes.

Book a Trip Learn More
Surf Fishing Wade Flounder Gigging Bay Fishing Bird Watching Tours Cedar Bayou Pass Near Rockport TX Matagorda & St. Joseph Island Surf Fishing Wade Flounder Gigging Bay Fishing

Cedar Bayou:
Texas' Hidden Pass

Cedar Bayou is a rare, remote tidal pass separating Matagorda Island and St. Joseph Island along the Texas Gulf Coast — and it's one of the most productive fishing corridors in the state. Accessible only by boat, the pass channels nutrient-rich gulf waters into the back bays, creating an exceptional habitat where redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and bull reds congregate year-round.

As a captain who has spent years running this stretch, I know the tides, the bars, and the fish. Whether you want to wade the surf at first light, walk the beach casting into the breaks, or gig flounder after dark — this is the place, and Bechtol Outfitters will put you on fish.

Cedar Bayou Matagorda Island St. Joseph I. Gulf of Mexico Aransas Bay N

"A place so wild and productive, it feels like fishing Texas used to be."

Choose Your Adventure

🌊
Surf & Beach Fishing

Wade into the rolling surf or fish from the beach at Cedar Bayou. We target bull redfish, speckled trout, black drum, tarpon, and sharks where the pass meets open Gulf water. This is Texas fishing at its most raw and exciting.

Wade · Beach Cast · Tarpon · Sharks
🔦
Wade Flounder Gigging

An iconic Texas coastal tradition — wade the flats at night with a light and gig flounder in their natural habitat. Cedar Bayou's back-bay shallows are legendary flounder territory. An unforgettable experience for all skill levels.

Night Wade · Flounder · Gigging
Bay Fishing Trips

Explore the productive back bays and grass flats surrounding Cedar Bayou. We work structure, points, and tidal drains to find speckled trout, redfish, and flounder in the calm protected waters of Aransas, San Antonio, Mesquite, Carlos, and St. Charles Bay.

Trout · Redfish · Mesquite · Carlos · St. Charles
Bird Watching Tours

Cedar Bayou and the surrounding Aransas National Wildlife Refuge are world-renowned birding destinations — home to the endangered Whooping Crane, roseate spoonbills, pelicans, herons, and hundreds of migratory species. Let Captain Chase guide you through this incredible coastal habitat by boat.

Whooping Crane · Shorebirds · Wildlife

One of Texas' Last Wild Passes

Cedar Bayou is unique among Texas coastal passes — accessible only by boat, flanked by two undeveloped barrier islands, and fed by the rich tidal exchange between the Gulf and the back bays. No crowds. No paved roads. Just birds, fish, and the sound of the surf.

As your guide, I've spent years learning this water — the seasonal patterns, the tide windows, the exact bars where fish stack up. You bring the excitement. I'll bring the local knowledge.

2 Pristine barrier islands flanking the pass
Year
Round
Fishing with seasonal species variety
0 Roads. Boat access only — true wilderness
6 Primary target species across all trip types
Aerial view of Cedar Bayou Pass — one of Texas' last wild tidal passes
Texas Gulf Coast · Cedar Bayou Area

Contact Captain Chase

Ready to plan your trip? Reach out any way that works for you — I'll respond fast.

📞
Phone
Call or Text
(361) 230-1113

Call or text anytime to check availability or ask questions.

✉️
Email
Booking Inquiries
captchasebechtol@gmail.com

I'll reply within 24 hours with pricing and availability.

📸
Instagram
Trip Photos & Reports
@CAPT_CHASE_BECHTOL

Follow for fish photos and what's biting at Cedar Bayou.

👍
Facebook
Like Our Page
Bechtol Outfitters

Like our page for trip updates, availability, and fishing reports.

🎵
TikTok
Fishing Videos
@capt.chase.bechto

Watch Cedar Bayou fishing action and trip highlights.

📍
Meeting Location
Goose Island State Park Boat Ramp
202 S Palmetto St, Rockport, TX 78382 — Get Directions →