Capt. Cooper Hartmann is originally from Johnson City, TX, where he grew up fishing small rivers and lakes in the surrounding Texas hill country. As a boy, his passion was bass fishing, but that all changed while on a family vacation down in Port Mansfield, TX. That’s when Cooper learned a lot about sight-casting to redfish, and consequently fell in love with saltwater fishing. Capt. Cooper hasn’t looked back since that family vacation to the south Texas coast, and today has even made it to the top of the competitive saltwater fishing community by winning the coveted Rudy’s Redfish Championship, as well several other top-5 finishes in the Elite Redfish Series, and other tournaments too numerous to list. Capt. Cooper enjoys his ability to make a living at doing what he loves to do most in life, and he’s been doing it for the past 13 years as a member of the team of professional Bay Flats Lodge guides. His teaching skills allow him to share with guests the proper way to fish that, in turn, gives them the best opportunity at catching fish. Capt. Cooper’s personable attitude provides guests with a sense of comfort the moment they meet him, and his top-of-the-line equipment and boat help in maintaining his guest’s comfort throughout the entire day on the water.

Capt. ‘Lil John Wyatt has been fishing along the Texas Gulf Coast most all his life, and he has been doing it professionally now for more than twenty years. His amazing love of the outdoors, and his experience in wildlife and agricultural management of a 500-acre ranch near Seadrift, has allowed him to build lasting relationships with many of the guests he has hosted over the years. Additionally, his talent and extreme professionalism has provided him with a truly gifted ability to mentor to novice sportsmen in all aspects of hunting and fishing.

Those who know him may say Capt. ‘Lil John is a natural-born hunter and fisherman, as he enjoys nothing more than being afield or out on the bay. His vast hunting knowledge extends beyond his world-class level of trophy whitetail deer, dove, turkey, and even the ever-popular feral hogs, as well. But that’s not the end of John’s hunting knowledge. He has also made a name for himself over the years as being well versed in the fine art of hunting trophy speckled trout and redfish with artificial lures along the shallow bay shores of Port O’Connor and Seadrift.

John currently fishes out his beautiful El Pescador 24 Cat that makes plying the sometimes-angry waves of the open bay, or the skinniest waters of Matagorda Island’s back lakes, seem like a walk in the park compared to other boats out there these days. But not only does he have a smooth riding boat, John also possesses an ability to smooth the edges of a long day of hunting or fishing for his customers through his passion for cooking, which he has been doing for quite some time now.

Capt. Jeremy McClelland grew up owning his first fishing pole before he could crawl, and was right at home when it came to hunting and fishing – literally! He was raised on a 3,500-acre working cattle ranch in Jack County, Texas, that was owned by his grandparents, and where his parents lived while they managed the ranch. Between the ranch and another 10,000-acres his family had access to, there were twenty stock-tanks and two huge lakes that were each filled with bass, crappie, blue gill, and channel catfish. As a kid, if Jeremy was awake, he was fishing – hopping from one pond to the next while fishing out of an old round, rubber tire inner tube. But, Jeremy’s love of the outdoors didn’t stop at the ponds.

As one might only imagine, Jeremy has also enjoyed hunting all of his life, and never recalls being left at home whenever his father, and two older brothers, would decide to go hunting instead of fishing. He and his brothers were introduced at a young age to the hunting of quail, dove, turkey, whitetail deer, hogs, squirrel, rabbits, raccoons, coyotes, ducks, and probably just about any other wild animal that happens to be readily available in the upper mid-portion of Texas.

However, all of the time that Jeremy had spent on the water as a young boy had worn a special spot in his heart for the sport of fishing. At about the age of eight, Jeremy began traveling to Port O’Connor with his uncle to enjoy brief periods of wade fishing with lures. Jeremy had already mastered fishing with a large variety of plugs and plastics in many different freshwater applications, so it only took a couple of these Port O’Connor trips before Jeremy was hooked for good on what would later in life become his dream – to be a Texas coastal fishing guide somewhere near the town of Port O’Connor.

Time passed, and when he was finally old enough to drive, Jeremy made his way down to Port O’Connor and Seadrift at every opportunity. He spent most of his time fishing and exploring the vastness of Espiritu Santo Bay and San Antonio Bay, and the myriad of back lakes located out on Matagorda Island, saving freshwater fishing as only a fill-in for when he was unable to make it to the coast. He had already begun his guiding career a couple years earlier, running hunting and fishing trips on private land at the age of fourteen, but he never lost his passion for the pursuit of the saltwater.

Jeremy later started guiding trophy bass and trophy crappie fishing trips for a large outfitter at the age of twenty, while also opening a newly established home building business that he started that same year. Now, after twenty years of owning and operating a successful business he built on integrity and trust, Jeremy is now retired from the business world and is enjoying his lifelong ambition of being a saltwater fishing guide on the Texas coast. He possesses a keen knowledge of the San Antonio Bay fishery that anglers of all levels can benefit from, and he is well versed at all types of bay fishing, to include artificial lures, as well as live bait. So, next time you’re fishing with us here at Bay Flats Lodge and you want to ensure a great day out on the water, make it a point to inquire about Capt. Jeremy’s availability. He’ll keep you focused on having a good time!

Perry hails from the Lake Jackson area where his father owned a marina, and most of his memorable years were spent either on, or near, the water. As a young adult, Perry dedicated 6 years to the Airforce and obtained a degree in Equipment Engineering. He traveled to Idaho and worked in the semiconductor industry. That took him to Oregon, where he continued to saltwater fish for salmon and halibut. After his high-tech career, he went to the British Columbia wilderness where he was a guide for a lodge for eight plus years. He eventually moved back to Texas where he pursued his true passion for Gulf Coast inshore fishing.

Born and raised in Yoakum, Texas, Capt. Kevin Matula graduated from Victoria High School, and later attended San Jacinto Community College. After his first year in college, Kevin realized that he simply wasn’t cutout for sitting inside a classroom, so he joined the U.S. Navy where he served for the next two years before being honorably discharged.

Upon his release from the Navy, Kevin moved to Oklahoma where he took courses and began training for a career in welding while attending the Tulsa Welding School. Being in Tulsa also presented Kevin with a chance to participate in the fine art of bull riding as part of the North American Bull Riding Association (NABRA). He later moved back to Texas in 2000 and went to work for his uncle’s construction company as a carpenter until he was hired by Harmony Construction at Formosa Plastics in Point Comfort, Texas, as a welder. In 2005, Kevin became a general mechanic for Alcoa’s Point Comfort Operations for more than eleven years before falling victim to a mass-layoff in 2016 resultant of Alcoa’s decision to end all their production efforts in Point Comfort. That’s when Kevin decided to begin chasing his passion for saltwater fishing – a chase which Kevin turned into a career.

Ever since he can remember, Kevin has loved to fish. It all started with a cane pole, some monofilament, a hook, a cork, and a grasshopper (or worm). Kevin recalls spending many days catching perch, bass, or catfish in a pond, and he never grew tired of it. His first taste of saltwater fishing came as just a young boy when he went with his dad to a small town he had never heard of before, Indianola, Texas. They took his dad’s little fiberglass boat, and they camped on what is now known as the spoils in Lavaca Bay. It was love at first cast in the saltwater. Kevin stayed awake all night fishing. Although he only caught hardheads, he couldn’t get enough of it. That was also the first time Kevin got a taste of wade fishing. After that, he was hooked.

It was nearly a two hour drive from Kevin’s house to the bay, so he didn’t have many chances to fish saltwater while growing up. However, he started fishing saltwater on a regular basis when he moved back to Texas in 2000. Saltwater fishing soon became Kevin’s “drug-of-choice” – wading in the water as the sun came over the horizon, seagulls gawking, waves lapping the shore, and throwing the old original tout tails. His passion is wade fishing with artificial baits, and his experience doing so, is what he has to offer his clients. Treat yourself to a fun-filled day out on the water by requesting Capt. Kevin Matula during your next stay at Bay Flats Lodge.

Capt. Todd Jones was raised by his grandparents in Victoria, Tx, and spent his early years with his grandfather down on the Texas Gulf Coast, between the two small fishing communities of Seadrift and Port O’Connor. He must have swallowed just enough saltwater over the course of those early years to keep it permanently coursing through his veins, because he hasn’t been able to wander too far away ever since.

Capt. Todd married shortly after graduating from Victoria High School, and after one year of college he realized a better course for his family. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served four years stationed at Camp Pendleton while assigned to HMLA 367, MAG 39, a helicopter squadron. After being honorably discharged, Capt. Todd decided the west coast was just too far from the salt waters of the Gulf, so he and his family returned to Victoria.

After attending the police academy, Capt. Todd served as a police officer with the City of Victoria, as well as the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office. He spent time as an undercover narcotics officer, patrol officer, and a detective.

At a crossroads, Capt. Todd decided to return to school, pursuing an interest in the healthcare industry. He then spent several years in a managerial position in the nursing home industry, providing long term care for the elderly, who have always held a special place in his heart.

From there, Capt. Todd decided it was time to take the leap and dedicate himself to a passion that he feels is his true calling.

Capt. Todd has spent years in the many back lakes in the San Antonio Bay area casting to tailing or cruising redfish, seeking that adrenaline rush of witnessing a redfish just before it turns on a lure in a torpedo-like motion and latches on. He also enjoys that solid thump of a hungry speckled trout when it grabs your croaker, or as it inhales your plastic bait when you twitch it a few times. Those are a couple techniques Todd has learned on his own over the years, but there are many others he learned through the vast knowledge of other experienced anglers.

Capt. Hoop McClelland grew up in the country on plenty of land, which enabled him to enjoy his favorite hobbies of hunting, fishing, and shooting of guns. In school, Hoop was a member of AG and FFA, and he participated in every sport that school had to offer. His favorite was basketball, and he was all about winning and being a team player. He was selected to the Varsity team as a freshman, where he not only became one of the team’s starters, but was also unanimously voted Newcomer of the Year by all the school coaches in his school district. He made the Varsity team each year thereafter, and later went on to become Team Captain in his senior year.

Fishing has always been a major part of Hoop’s life. So much so that after graduating from high school, Capt. Hoop knew he wanted nothing more than to follow in his dad’s footsteps by becoming a professional fishing guide. In fact, Capt. Hoop will tell you that between the amount of time he’s spent fishing throughout the years with both his dad and his granddad, he has spent more time on the water than just about anyone else his age.

Capt. Hoop is a Christ follower, and he attends the First Baptist Church in Port O’Connor. It’s truly refreshing to see such a young Captain with such a keen focus on learning. His level of eagerness, politeness, and professionalism is matched by few others his age, and his fishing talents serve those fishing with him very well, each and every time.

The last name Hunt couldn’t have been any more perfect for a south Texas boy like Capt. John Hunt. Hunting and fishing is Capt. John’s biggest passion, and he wakes up every day feeling blessed that he gets to make a living doing what he loves.

He was born and raised in Port Lavaca, Texas, but he now resides in the small bayside town of Seadrift with his wife and children. He has worked in construction as a rig welder for the past several years, but has always loved the water. Ever since he can remember, John’s been on the water with his dad and uncle running the bays and learning how to target fish. From East Matagorda Bay, all the way to Carlos Bay, and everywhere in between, Capt. John’s affection is catching fish and killing ducks. He strives to be the best that he can possibly be, and he absolutely loves the look on a guest’s face when they catch a good fish. He is truly devoted to helping folks make memories that’ll last a life time.

Capt. Rick Oliver was raised in the small community of Schroeder, TX, located between Victoria and Goliad (don’t blink on your way through town, or you might just miss it altogether)!

Rick grew up sitting on shorelines fishing with his grandparents and parents and loved it, but he always wanted more. He began fishing Port O’Connor, Seadrift, Indianola and every place in between, and at age 17 was given his first boat. It was a flat-bottom boat that he named “Three Man Operation” (because it required 3 people to keep it operating). It wasn’t an ideal boat, but for this teenager, it meant that the sky was the limit.

Rick attended Schreiner University on a baseball scholarship, but his college baseball career later ended unexpectedly when he threw out his arm with only 22 games remaining. Consequently, he returned home and began buring himself in work, but fishing always remained his passion. He went on to become a licensed USCG Captain in 2002. Aside from his passion for bay fishing, Capt. Rick also enjoys floundering and duck hunting on his Floral City Airboat.

Rick is an outdoor enthusiast who loves to spend the day on the water teaching and entertaining clients. Regardless of whether you’re wanting to use artificial or live bait, fishing from the boat, or wade fishing, Capt. Rick will most certainly provide you with a day full of enjoyment. He’s spent more than 30 years fishing our local area waters, and will probably spend the rest of his life doing so. Capt. Rick is definitely an asset you’ll wish to take advantage of during your visit at Bay Flats Lodge.

Capt. Julian Martinez is a native of our small community of Seadrift, TX. He grew up shrimping and oystering on his days off from school, but the one thing that truly stuck with him was fishing. As a young boy, he began fishing the San Antonio Bay complex with his father. He first learned to fish using live bait, but later progressed to throwing artificial baits. He learned how to use all different kinds of lures, but the one that remains his absolute favorite are top water baits – they’re his “go-to” baits when wading shorelines for big reds and speckled trout.

His passion for fishing is what led Julian to pursue his professional guiding license. He has since passed the knowledge along to his sons, and has watched them take the torch and run with it. In all his years of fishing, the most important thing he’s learned is to always be respectful of the other guy. Capt. Julian loves sharing explanation of all his fishing techniques, and is great with novice and expert anglers alike.

With a deep-rooted passion for the outdoors and an unwavering love for fishing, Captain Conner Hedrick exemplifies the dedication and craftsmanship that define Bay Flats Lodge. From an early age, Conner developed an appreciation for the bay through countless days on the water that shaped both his respect for the environment and his commitment to the sport.
 
Conner’s pursuit of excellence in fishing began during his high school years, when he spent extensive time studying the bay system and refining his skills. Driven to continually improve, he later attended Captain School, where he strengthened his technical knowledge and professional foundation as a guide.
 
As an integral member of the Bay Flats Lodge team, Conner brings a thoughtful, guest-focused approach rooted in preparation, precision, and consistency. His time on the water has provided a comprehensive understanding of the standards and attention to detail required to deliver a first-class fishing experience.
 
When he’s not guiding guests to productive days on the bay, Conner can often be found fishing with close friends and family. His strong work ethic, professionalism, and genuine enthusiasm for the sport make him a standout guide at Bay Flats Lodge. Whether welcoming seasoned anglers or first-time guests, Captain Conner is committed to delivering safe, memorable, and rewarding experiences on the water.

Capt. Chauncey was born and raised in Victoria, Texas, and grew up fishing in the Port Lavaca and Port
O’Conner areas. At the age of 16 while wade fishing Boggy Bayou shoreline with a red and white queen
Cocahoe Minnow, he experienced a thump that sent a shock wave up his spine and made the hairs on
the back of his neck stand up. When he set the hook and saw that speckled trout come out of the water
thrashing her head side-to-side, he was hooked! So, at the age of 18, Chauncey purchased his first boat and has
owned one ever since. He’s currently running a 2021 24’ Haynie Cat equipped with a 300 Mercury engine.

For the last 26 years, Capt. Chauncey has been fishing up and down the Texas coast, from Galveston Bay
to the lower Laguna Madre, chasing the elusive trophy speckled trout. He also enjoys targeting redfish,
black drum, and flounder while wade fishing. He obtained his U.S.C.G. captain’s license in 2021, and now
resides here locally in Seadrift, Texas, where he enjoys great fishing and the tranquility of a small town!

When asked why he finally decided to become a guide he stated, “I enjoy teaching people how to locate
and target fish, and showing them what I’ve learned throughout my lifetime of fishing. Also, there’s
nothing better than seeing the smile and excitement on people’s faces as they land their first trophy
redfish, speckled trout, or flounder!”

Born and raised in Victoria, Texas, Capt. Bryan Steubing has been fishing the waters from Port O’Connor all the way down to Rockport his entire life. The unknown of what was at the end of a screaming clicker at a young age is what sparked Capt. Bryan’s passion for the saltwater. From the time he could walk, Bryan and his family have either been on the water fishing, or in the woods hunting. He’s an avid outdoorsman who is right at home on the boat, in the deer blind, or out on the golf course.

After spending many, many years in the construction field, Capt. Bryan has now returned back to his roots of chasing redfish and speckled trout in San Antonio Bay. Come see him during your next visit to Bay Flats Lodge.

Capt. Matt Lough was introduced to the sport of fly fishing back when he became a teenager. He loved it so much that fly fishing with his grandpa soon became a favored pastime of his, and it then grew even quicker to become nothing less than his passion.

Capt. Matt has since put several years of fly guiding in the rear-view mirror. He acquired a great deal of his experience while wading, rafting, and poling in places like Broken Bow in Oklahoma, on various rivers and lakes on the Lower Mountain Fork River in Colorado, and later Lake Ray Roberts in the northern portion of Texas.

Back in 2020, Matt set out to explore all that the Texas coast has to offer in the way of fly fishing, and it was there and then that he quickly realized an immediate love specifically for the salt and for the amazing opportunities for sight casting to rowdy redfish. He’s now a firm believer in the sport of Texas coastal fly fishing, and he’s come to thoroughly enjoy being able to ignite and cultivate other fly anglers’ love for the sport while poling a technical skiff in just inches of pristine coastal saltwater.

Doron Lovett was introduced to fly-fishing as a teenager. Growing up on a cattle farm in south central Oklahoma just minutes away from the blue river, he was fortunate enough to spend a lot of his childhood wading the spring fed waters in search of trout, smallmouth bass and common carp. Doron quickly became obsessed with fly fishing. So much so that he decided to pursue a career as a professional fly-fishing guide. With the knowledge and his love of the sport Doron has been fortunate enough to share his skills with many clients from across the country. Doron guided for the beaver’s bend fly shop in southeast Oklahoma, on the lower mountain fork river along with the sportsman fly shop in lake city Colorado during the summer months. In 2020, Doron set out to explore all the Texas coast had to offer and quickly became obsessed with sight fishing for redfish on the fly. Fast forward to now, Doron lives on the Texas coast near Bay Flats Lodge to further pursue his passion as a fly-fishing guide and is looking forward to sharing his knowledge of the bay with his clients.

He runs a 2024 Black Duck Mantis skiff designed in Rockport, Texas with a 60/40 jet drive which will get you to and from the skinny flats. He has been custom tying flies for 10-years precisely for the bay system he poles. He is a member of the Winston Fly Rods and Bauer reel preferred lodge program.

Doron prefers wearing Simms, Duck Camp, and Howler Brothers gear.

Doron has competed in the Port O’Connor Borracho Pescador fly fishing tournament over the past three years. In 2022 he and his teammate won first place out of 165 teams. In 2024 they placed in the top 10 out of 200 teams. You will find fly-fishing with Doron is like going out with your best friend.

My name is Capt. Trace Monse. I was born in Victoria, Texas, and currently reside in Port O’ Connor. It has been a dream of mine since I was little to be a hunting and a fishing guide. I have fished the Port O’Connor and Seadrift waters with my father since the young age of three. Working for Bay Flats Lodge allows me to share my passion and love that I have for the water with others. It brings me joy to see the smiles on my client’s face when they catch their first fish or shoot their first bird. It would be my privilege to share these outdoor adventures with you.

Growing up in the Texas Hill Country on Lake LBJ and going out to my father’s property on the Llano River kicked off my fishing addiction as far back as I can remember. I remember going to our hunting lease in Utopia, TX, and eagerly anticipating getting out of the deer blind to run down to the Sabinal River to catch whatever fish I could find.

Growing up on the water, it was hard for me to leave it for any length of time. In fact, through college, I worked on Lake Travis for a Marine Construction company building and maintaining anything from marinas to boat docks,  and would often fish throughout every lunch break while hoping the boss wouldn’t discover me.

After turning 20 years old, fly-fishing became my first-love. And not having a single friend who was remotely interested in trying to this new venture, I learned a great deal of the sport the hard way, but have sense stumbled across many amazing friends in the fly world who have helped get me where I am today.

I started guiding the upper Guadalupe River in 2019 while running the oldest fully-operating barbershop in Texas (located in Comfort, TX) and tying flys on my slow days. Many of my clients would ask, “Where are you going to go fly-fishing?” I would graciously respond, “Just down here at the river.” After providing them with a casting class or two, many of my clients would then float the river with me and land fish they never knew they could catch on a fly rod. Around that same time, I started chasing redfish down in Baffin Bay and Seadrift with one of Bay Flats own Joe Sneed, not at all expecting to fall in love with the coast and all it’s potential. Needless to say, we moved down to the Texas coast in 2021.

When I’m not helping my amazing wife wrangle our two wild boys. I enjoy sneaking off to a flat and chasing those elusive 30-inch speckled trout on the fly. I think I’ve finally met my match!

Capt. Peter Kaple grew up in South Carolina, where a childhood spent chasing everything from largemouth bass to mahi mahi sparked a lifelong connection to the water. Early days spent outdoors taught him patience, awareness, and a love for the quiet rhythms of shallow places, values that continue to shape his approach to fishing today.

After graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Peter spent years working at sea in the offshore maritime industry. When not sailing around the world as a Merchant Mariner, he spent his time traveling the US, fly rod in hand, fishing everywhere from mountain streams to coastal flats. That passion eventually led him to the Texas coast, where he now guides full time, specializing in sight fishing for redfish in the back bays and marshes. His style is intentional and low-key, focused on reading water, tracking fish, and helping anglers experience the subtle magic of the flats.

I was raised in Plano, Texas, but spent my summers in Port O’Connor, where I developed a deep passion for fishing at an early age. I began fishing at just three years old, and in 2024, after my brother and I purchased a poling skiff, I fully committed to fly fishing – pursuing redfish in shallow water, a style of angling that had long drawn my interest.

Now based in Port O’Connor, I operate an 18-foot Ankona Shadowcast and specialize in sight casting to redfish on the fly. What I value most about guiding is the opportunity to share this exceptional fishery with others and to help clients build the same meaningful connection to these waters that has shaped my experience since childhood.

Captain Logan Crane is a proud Texas Coastal Bend native whose passion for fishing runs as deep as the bays he calls home. Having spent more than 30 years exploring the waters from Matagorda Bay to Mesquite Bay, Logan has developed an intimate knowledge of the region’s fisheries, seasonal patterns, and hidden hotspots.

In 2006, Logan turned his lifelong passion into a profession, launching his career as a fishing guide. Since making the switch to fly fishing, he has dedicated countless hours on the water, helping clients create unforgettable experiences while sharing his expertise and love for the Texas coast. His extensive time on the bays, combined with a commitment to customer service and conservation, has earned him a reputation as a knowledgeable and dependable guide.

Whether targeting trophy fish, introducing newcomers to the sport, or showcasing the natural beauty of the Coastal Bend, Captain Logan brings decades of experience, local insight, and genuine enthusiasm to every trip.

Captain Hayden Oliver developed a passion for fishing at an early age while exploring the San Antonio Bay system around Port O’Connor and Seadrift with his father and grandfather. Spending nearly every weekend on the water, he developed a lifelong appreciation for the Texas coast and its fisheries.

While attending Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science, Captain Hayden discovered fly fishing and began teaching himself the craft in the back bays of San Antonio, Aransas, and Corpus Christi Bays. Through countless hours on the water and with the guidance and encouragement of good friends, he refined his skills and gained an in-depth understanding of these unique coastal ecosystems.

After graduating from college, Captain Hayden began his professional career in maritime engineering with Encore Dredging Partners in Port Lavaca, where he continues to work full-time. During his 11-day off rotations, he guides anglers aboard his B&D Boatworks Wasp 178, sharing his passion for fly fishing and the Texas coast. His combination of lifelong fishing experience, technical knowledge of the local fisheries, and dedication to providing memorable experiences makes him a trusted guide for anglers of all skill levels.