Full Day Inshore Fishing on South Padre Island
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day inshore fishing targeting redfish, trout, and flounderEquipment, bait, and tackle provided by experienced Captain ChrisSmall group experience with maximum capacity of two guests
Captain Chris knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on fish in the productive flats and channels of the Lower Laguna Madre. This full-day trip gets you away from the crowds and into the heart of some of Texas' best inshore fishing. You'll launch early and spend the day working structure, grass beds, and drop-offs where redfish cruise and speckled trout ambush baitfish. With everything provided except your cooler full of snacks, this is fishing made simple – just show up ready to cast and let Captain Chris handle the rest.
Your day starts with a brief rundown of the tackle and techniques you'll be using, then it's off to find fish. The Lower Laguna Madre is a massive estuary system with endless opportunities, and Captain Chris reads the conditions daily to put you on the most active fish. You might start the morning working shallow grass flats for tailing redfish, then move to deeper channels as the sun gets higher and trout start feeding more aggressively. The boat stays comfortable with just two anglers max, giving everyone plenty of room to fish and fight their catch without tangled lines or crowded conditions. Bring your own food, drinks, and plenty of sunscreen – South Texas sun can be brutal, especially with the reflection off the water.
Captain Chris provides all the rods, reels, tackle, and bait you'll need for a successful day. Expect to throw a mix of live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater plugs depending on conditions and what the fish are hitting. The tackle is sized perfectly for inshore species – light enough to feel every bite but with enough backbone to turn a big redfish away from structure. You'll learn to work soft plastics along the bottom for flounder, pitch baits to redfish in skinny water, and maybe even get some explosive topwater action if conditions are right. Whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, Captain Chris adjusts his approach to match your skill level and keeps everyone engaged throughout the day.
Redfish are the bread and butter of South Padre Island fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 20-28 inches in these waters and put up a serious scrap when hooked. They're year-round residents that feed aggressively in shallow water, often with their backs and tails visible as they root around for crabs and shrimp. Fall and spring offer the best action, but summer fishing can be fantastic early and late in the day. What makes reds so special is their willingness to eat and their never-give-up attitude – they'll make blistering runs and use every trick in the book to throw your hook.
Speckled trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the other mainstay of Laguna Madre fishing. These beautiful fish with their distinctive spots run anywhere from 15-25 inches, with the occasional monster pushing 30 inches or more. They're structure-oriented fish that love to hang around grass beds, shell pads, and channel edges where they can ambush passing baitfish. Specks are most active during cooler months from October through March, but you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. They're excellent table fare and provide fast action when you find a school.
Summer flounder are the masters of camouflage in these waters, lying flat on sandy bottoms and striking with lightning speed when prey passes overhead. Most run 14-20 inches, but the Laguna Madre produces some true doormat flounder that can stretch the tape past 25 inches. They're most active from late spring through early fall, and catching one requires a different approach – slow presentations along the bottom with soft plastics or live bait. Flounder fishing teaches patience, but the payoff is worth it when you connect with one of these pancake-flat fighters.
Black drum are the bruisers of the flats, with adult fish commonly reaching 20-40 pounds in these waters. They're bottom feeders with powerful crushers in their throats, perfect for eating crabs and shellfish in the shallows. Spring brings the best black drum fishing as they move into shallow water to spawn, often in water so skinny their backs are exposed. These fish don't jump or make flashy runs, but they'll test your drag and your patience with their bulldogging power. Many anglers underestimate black drum until they hook their first one – then they're hooked for life.
Snook are the wild card in South Padre waters, reaching the northern edge of their range here. These subtropical gamefish are built for speed with their distinctive black lateral line and sloping forehead. When conditions are right – usually warmer months with good water quality – snook provide some of the most exciting fishing on the coast. They're ambush predators that love structure like docks, mangroves, and bridge pilings, and they'll absolutely crush a well-presented lure. Snook are catch-and-release only in Texas waters, but the fight they provide makes them a favorite target for sport anglers.
Captain Chris has built his reputation on putting clients on fish and showing them a great time on the water. This full-day trip gives you the best shot at experiencing everything the Lower Laguna Madre has to offer, from sight-casting to cruising reds to working deep channels for trophy trout. The two-angler limit keeps things personal and productive, and with all tackle and bait provided, you just need to bring yourself and your sense of adventure. South Padre Island's fishing stays good year-round, but the best dates fill up fast during peak seasons. Don't wait – book your spot now and get ready for a day of world-class inshore fishing with one of the area's most experienced captains.
Captain Chris's motorboat cuts through the Lower Laguna Madre's productive waters, giving you and a buddy prime access to South Padre's best inshore fishing spots. This nimble vessel handles the shallow flats and grass beds where redfish cruise and speckled trout feed, while also reaching the deeper channels that hold quality flounder. With room for just two anglers, you'll have plenty of space to work your lines without crowding. The boat comes rigged with everything you need - rods, reels, tackle, and fresh bait - so you can focus on reading the water and landing fish. Captain Chris knows these waters like his backyard, positioning you over productive structure and adjusting tactics as conditions change throughout the day. Pack your cooler with snacks and drinks, slather on the sunscreen, and get ready to work some serious fishing spots that only locals know about.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our lagoon system and a favorite for families looking for solid action. These powerful fish typically range from 5-30 pounds, though we've seen some real monsters push 50-plus. They're bottom feeders with crushing jaws built for eating crabs and shellfish around oyster beds and muddy flats. You'll find them in 2-15 feet of water near structure, especially during their spring spawning runs when they school up heavy. What makes them special is their ability to make that distinctive drumming sound you can actually hear through the boat hull. They're scrappy fighters that'll test your gear, and the smaller ones make great eating. My go-to trick is using fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig - let it sit on bottom near oyster bars and be ready for that steady pull when they pick it up.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our flats fishing and what most guests dream about catching. These copper-colored bruisers with the distinctive black spot near their tail typically run 18-27 inches in the shallows, perfect slot-size fish. They cruise grass flats, oyster reefs, and shorelines in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs are out of the water. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they school up. What makes reds special is that explosive strike and bulldogging fight that'll test your drag. They're also excellent eating with a mild, sweet flavor. The sight-fishing aspect gets everyone excited - watching a red's wake as it cruises the shallows before making your cast. Best tip I can give is to lead them well and let your bait sink to the bottom before starting a slow retrieve. They typically pick up food off the bottom.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing and perfect for anglers of all skill levels. These spotted beauties typically range 14-18 inches with occasional "gator trout" pushing 20-plus inches. They school up over grass flats, oyster bars, and drop-offs in 3-12 feet of water throughout our bay system. Early morning and late evening are prime times, especially during spring and fall when water temps are comfortable. What guests love about specks is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they make fantastic table fare with flaky white meat. They're also great fighters for their size with some nice head-shaking runs. My favorite technique is working a soft plastic under a popping cork over grass beds. The key is varying your retrieve - sometimes they want it fast and aggressive, other times slow and subtle works better.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of the most exciting inshore targets we chase in these waters. These sleek, golden-colored fish with their distinctive black lateral line typically run 1-3 feet long, though bigger ones are always possible. They're ambush predators that love hanging around mangroves, docks, and structure in our estuaries and lagoons. The beauty of snook fishing is they can handle both fresh and saltwater, so we find them in creeks, passes, and shallow flats. Spring through fall gives us the best action, especially around the full moons when they're more active. Guests love them because they fight hard with explosive strikes and make excellent table fare. Pro tip: when you're working structure, cast your lure past the target and work it back along the edge - snook like to dart out from cover to grab their prey.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are the ultimate ambush predators and a blast to target on light tackle. These flatfish masters of camouflage typically run 15-20 inches, but the big "doormat" flounder can hit 5-6 pounds or more. They lie buried in sandy bottoms along drop-offs, channel edges, and around structure in 8-30 feet of water. Fall months from September through November give us the best shot at them as they fatten up before their offshore migration. What makes flounder fishing so rewarding is the subtle bite - they'll often just swim off with your bait before you know they're there. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish in the gulf with sweet, white meat. The key is using a slow drift with live finger mullet or mud minnows on a bucktail jig. Keep your bait moving just off bottom and give them time to fully commit before setting the hook.
South Padre Island, TX