About Your Guide

Zach D.

Independent Guide

Veteran

Talkative

Intense

Instructional

Beginner Oriented

Comfortable

Quality

Captain Zach is a Veteran of the Marine Corps and a licensed Coast Guard with a (20 ton) master. With over 25 years of experienced guiding, Captain Zach’s fishing and hunting trips have taken him across Northern Minnesota, all the Great Lakes, Canada, California, North & South Dakota, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Alaska’s inside passage.

Captain Zach came to South Texas as a professional Quail guide on the prestigious King Ranch, working with bird...

About Your Guide

Zach D.

Independent Guide

Captain Zach is a Veteran of the Marine Corps and a licensed Coast Guard with a (20 ton) master. With over 25 years of experienced guiding, Captain Zach’s fishing and hunting trips have taken him across Northern Minnesota, all the Great Lakes, Canada, California, North & South Dakota, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Alaska’s inside passage.

Captain Zach came to South Texas as a professional Quail guide on the prestigious King Ranch, working with bird dogs. Captain Zach is committed to delivering top-notch hunting skills and experiences in South Texas.

In 2017 Captain Zach founded his own guide service on Baffin Bay Riviera, Texas. Guiding fishing and hunting trips, along with Commercial fishing.

As a Marine Corps Veteran, Captain Zach instills the values of dedication, precision, and excellence into his business. You can trust that your adventure will be led with the utmost professionalism and commitment to providing a high-quality experience.

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Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

250 pd halibut

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

Fish or steak

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

250 pd halibut

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

Fish or steak

What’s your favorite band?

Toby Keith

What’s your favorite movie?

Lone survivor

What’s your drink of choice?

Colors light

What was your last halloween costume?

None

What do you want for Christmas this year?

Hunting gear

How did you get started guiding?

My dad

What makes you different from other guides?

Ambition

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Start Location & Lodging Options

Your guide can be flexible with your start location.

You can work with your guide after booking to set a more specific start location in the area.

Port Isabel, Texas

Areas Fished

South Padre Island

About Your Boat

Boat photo for Dove hunting South Padre Island

Boat Type: Center Console
Boat Manufacturer: Shallow sport x3
Year Built: 2017
Boat Length: 26'

About Your Boat

Boat Type: Center Console
Boat Manufacturer: Shallow sport x3
Year Built: 2017
Boat Length: 26'
Boat Restroom: No
Engine Manufacturer: Yamaha
Total Horsepower: 300
Number of Engines: 1
Additional Amenities: State of the yard electronics, dual power poles, casting platforms in the front of the boat. The boat is smooth and dry riding and I have an outstanding light system on it for early-morning runs.

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Trip Details & Amenities

Type

Duck

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Gun Availability

Gun rentals are available.

Fish / Game Cleaning

This guide will clean your catch for you.

Music

You can play your own bluetooth music.

Location

This guide can be flexible with the departure location.

Weather

You won't lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to small children.

Disability Friendly

This trip can accommodate those with disabilities.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 5 days before the trip.

Lunch

Lunch / light snacks are included.

Gear

You will need your own tackle / guns.

Waders

Wader rentals are not available.

Beer

No beer allowed.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Live Bait

Live bait is not used on this trip.

Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .

View Full Species Seasonality Chart »

Get it while it's HOT!
This species is in play.
You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

Techniques

Shotgun Hunting
Calling
Hunting from a Blind
Decoy Hunting

Everything Else to Know

I can provide shotguns and ammo at cost ice and drinks are included and I guarantee we will have a good time

You'll need to buy a fishing license before getting out there. Find out more about licenses here.

We use a cashless autopay system. We'll send you a boarding pass, and on the day of the trip, your guide will scan your boarding pass to automatically transfer the remaining balance. The only cash needed is to tip your guide (we recommend 20%).

Cancel for free up to 5 days before the trip and receive credit back to your account. Cancelling within 5 of the trip will forfeit your deposit to the guide. Day-of cancellations and no-shows will be charged the full balance of the trip to their card.

In the event of inclement weather you'll be covered by out 100% Weather Guarantee and will not lose your deposit.

Reviews

4.7

based on 6 reviews

Amy

Verified Review

March 26

We had a great time with Captain Jack! He made sure we caught fish, had fun and saw dolphins too! He provided us an evening fish so we were able to go before our vacation ended! Best guide around!

Amy

Verified Review

March 26

We had a great time with Captain Jack! He made sure we caught fish, had fun and saw dolphins too! He provided us an evening fish so we were able to go before our vacation ended! Best guide around!

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Trip: South Padre Island fishing 4 hrs

Joshua

Verified Review

January 12

Another awesome Adventure with Captain Zach. Our repeat trip back was another wild success as always with some great action and superb hospitality! Cannot wait to return next season!

Joshua

Verified Review

January 12

Another awesome Adventure with Captain Zach. Our repeat trip back was another wild success as always with some great action and superb hospitality! Cannot wait to return next season!

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Trip: South Padre Island Duck Hunting

Joshua

Verified Review

December 20

The hunting with Captain Zach was awesome!! Put us on a variety of birds over 3 days. Was lifetime experience!!

Joshua

Verified Review

December 20

The hunting with Captain Zach was awesome!! Put us on a variety of birds over 3 days. Was lifetime experience!!

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Trip: SPI Early season teal

Response from Zach:

Thank you very much, sir. I had a blast. I will see you later in January.

Response from Zach:

Thank you very much, sir. I had a blast. I will see you later in January.

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Ty

Verified Review

April 29

Zach is a nice guy and very personable, so I just want to give feedback to help him be a better guide.
1. Don't wear flip flops. Does not promote confidence.
2. Unless the paying party is killing it, the guide should not fish. It is clear that Zach likes to fish, but when a guide fishes, he is not paying attention to his customers. My son broke a reel because he was caught up...

Ty

Verified Review

April 29

Zach is a nice guy and very personable, so I just want to give feedback to help him be a better guide.
1. Don't wear flip flops. Does not promote confidence.
2. Unless the paying party is killing it, the guide should not fish. It is clear that Zach likes to fish, but when a guide fishes, he is not paying attention to his customers. My son broke a reel because he was caught up in some grass, and Zach was not paying attention because he was on his third cast to "show" my daughter how to reel properly. So my son kept cranking and broke the reel. Zach was not a happy camper, and frankly made my son feel like shit.
3. We caught one trout that was a keeper, and the rest were trash fish. He did fish longer than 1/2 day to try and find fish, but we did not have any luck.
4. Don't expect customers to bait hooks or take off fish, which we had to do both. That is what you pay a guide for. Zack cut bait on a cutting board on the front of the boat where we were fishing, and left everything, including the knife on the floor where there was a lot of foot traffic, so it was not the safest thing to do. and he did not pick any of it up when we moved spots so the knife was sliding on the floor all over the place.
Anyway, all of us were ready for the day to end and get back to the beach. Thanks for asking about our trip. I would not use Zach again because of the reasons above.

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Trip: South Padre Island fishing 4 hrs

Response from Zach:

Honestly, I don’t know what to say about that on every other platform I’ve ever had. I have five star reviews. The only reason I was fishing was because you guys couldn’t catch a cold if it hit you in the head and the flip-flop thing that’s just ridiculous. When you have four or five people in the boat, I can’t beat everywhere at once. Good luck with your future fishing trips....

Response from Zach:

Honestly, I don’t know what to say about that on every other platform I’ve ever had. I have five star reviews. The only reason I was fishing was because you guys couldn’t catch a cold if it hit you in the head and the flip-flop thing that’s just ridiculous. When you have four or five people in the boat, I can’t beat everywhere at once. Good luck with your future fishing trips.

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William

Verified Review

December 23

Had a great time fishing with Captain Zach. He worked hard in trying to find the fish. Had a very nice boat to fish with and an overall extremely nice Captain. Would recommend fishing with Captain Zach anytime.

William

Verified Review

December 23

Had a great time fishing with Captain Zach. He worked hard in trying to find the fish. Had a very nice boat to fish with and an overall extremely nice Captain. Would recommend fishing with Captain Zach anytime.

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Trip: South Padre Island fishing 4 hrs

Dallas

Verified Review

November 4

Me and my family went out with captain Zach and had an awesome day. Weather wasn’t in our favour but made the best of it and landed some fish! Captain Zach was very helpful, runs good fishing gear and has a beautiful boat. Will be booking our next trip with him when we’re back in south Padre for a family vacation!

Dallas

Verified Review

November 4

Me and my family went out with captain Zach and had an awesome day. Weather wasn’t in our favour but made the best of it and landed some fish! Captain Zach was very helpful, runs good fishing gear and has a beautiful boat. Will be booking our next trip with him when we’re back in south Padre for a family vacation!

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Trip: South Padre Island fishing 4 hrs

Response from Zach:

Thank you, Dallas. I appreciate it. How’s my little buddy?

Response from Zach:

Thank you, Dallas. I appreciate it. How’s my little buddy?

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First Time Booking with Us?

Captain Experiences is home to thousands of quality, vetted fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports guides across the US and beyond. Our mission is to Unlock the Outdoors by making it quick and easy to book the trip of a lifetime every time with our Damn Good Guides.

We vet our guides and only partner with the best of the best. Our guides do their very best to keep you safe, show you a great time, and send you home with a memorable experience shared with family and friends.

Once you've paid your deposit at checkout, we'll send you a QR Code boarding pass. Just show your guide your boarding pass on the day of the trip, they'll scan it, the remaining balance will transfer automatically, and you'll be all set to get out there. Just make sure you bring a cash tip for the guide!

In the event of inclement weather, our guides will check the conditions and make the final call on whether its safe to go on the trip. If they decide the trip needs to be postponed, we'll work closely with you to reschedule or provide a credit for the full deposit, which can be applied to any of our trips in the US and beyond.

Each trip's price is determined by the guide and reflects all associated costs. A significant factor in pricing is often the type of boat and the corresponding fuel expenses. Additional costs may include leases, marina or slip fees, and the expenses involved in providing and maintaining the necessary gear for your trip.

After booking your trip, we'll connect you directly with your guide to discuss additional details. In the meantime, our team is here to answer any questions via email, text, or phone.