On November 15th and 16th, 2025, my brother, my nephew, and I spent two fantastic half-days on the water with Captain James and I can say without hesitation it was the best fishing experience we’ve had in Port A. We’ve fished down there before, with different guides, but this was on a whole different level.

From the moment I booked the trip, I could tell Captain James runs a tight, professional operation. His communication was clear, his instructions were easy to follow, and he had everything lined up before we even showed up. His boat is set up perfectly for anglers, plenty of space, clean, organized, and optimized for fishing. You can tell he’s put real thought into how to make the day run smoothly. Even with all three of us up on the bow, all with fish on at the same time, Captain James kept the whole thing running like a well-oiled machine.

We booked morning half-day trips both days. The directions he sent took us straight to the launch without a single hiccup. Captain James was already there when we pulled up, boat in the water, gear ready, and you could tell he’d been there early making sure everything was perfect. Other guides sometimes have to run around grabbing bait or ice or “just one more thing,” but not him. We stepped onto the boat and immediately pushed off. No wasted time. No chaos. Just fishing.

The ride out was not that far, and we were on fish almost instantly. On Day one we limited out on black drum, caught six reds, and even picked up a trout. Every time we’d reset, it felt like someone was hooked up again. It was nonstop action, but still laid-back and fun. No stress, no pressure, just a really solid day on the water.

Day two somehow Captain James managed to top it. Same early start, same simple arrival, and once again, Captain James was ready for us. We headed straight out and immediately found black drum. Many that were bigger than some we caught the day before. We limited out on black drum again, brought in three more reds and another trout, There were stretches where the bite on the drum was so steady we couldn’t believe it. It’s rare to have two days back-to-back where the fishing is that consistent, but Captain James delivered.

What really stands out to me, beyond what was in the box, is Captain James himself. He’s a great guy. He’s friendly, patient, and clearly passionate about what he does. You never feel rushed, you never feel like you’re just another booking, and he doesn’t phone anything in. He genuinely wants you to have a great day, and it shows in every part of the experience. His knowledge is obvious, but his preparation and attitude are what make the trip special.

When I say this was the best experience we’ve had in Port A, I mean it. The fishing was incredible, the boat was top-notch, the preparation was flawless, and the whole feel of the trip was just right. If you’re thinking about booking a fishing guide in Port Aransas, stop looking and call Captain James. When we plan our next trip, it will be around his availability because after fishing with him, we’re not interested in going with anyone else.

We caught one red fish after another all day long. Most were keeper size. Jim knows the area very well. He was constantly checking and changing our bait on the hook to keep it fresh.  He filleted a couple of red fish for us so we could take it to a local restaurant for dinner.  He is a great communicator and was ready to take off as soon as we arrived.

low water steady wind. Captian worked the conditions as best as anyone could.  We landed a couple reds. Captian extended the trip an additional hour and probably would have gone longer but we called it off. I’ve fished with over 20 guides out of Port A and hes one of
the top 3! Dont hesitate to use his service. No one can control the tides or wind. I will book him again. He was great with my 15 yr old grandson!

Mr. James was an outstanding guide.  I’ve fished with several guides in the area and James is by far the best.  He exceeded our expectations.  He communicated well, answered questions and was excellent with my two younger boys.  And he put us on fish.  I would without a doubt plan another trip with James.

James went out of his way and took extra time out of his day to make sure we had a great day of fishing.  He was great at coaching us and my eleven year old daughter on different techniques so we were all catching redfish and black drum until our arms were tired. Limited out on black drum with 18 keepers overall, 3 big keeper reds, one just under 28”. Great guy. Great guide. Great gear. Great boat. Great knowledge of the area. Highly recommended.