Full Day Guided Fishing Trip - South Padre Island
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full 8-hour inshore fishing adventure with Captain Elliott RodriguezTarget redfish, sea trout, snook, and southern flounder speciesAll gear, bait, snacks, and fish cleaning services includedPicture this: eight solid hours on the water with Captain Elliott Rodriguez, working the legendary Laguna Madre flats around South Padre Island. This isn't your average weekend fishing trip – it's a full-day commitment to putting you on fish. From sunrise to late afternoon, you'll be targeting the big four that make these waters famous: redfish, sea trout, snook, and southern flounder. Captain Elliott knows every grass flat, every drop-off, and every structure where these fish like to hang out. The 23-foot Majek Illusion is your floating base camp, built for stability and comfort while you focus on what matters – bending rods and landing fish. With everything included from tackle to snacks, all you need to bring is your Texas saltwater license and the determination to make some memories.
You'll meet Captain Elliott at 201 W Polaris Dr, where the day starts with loading your gear and talking strategy. The Majek Illusion is a serious fishing machine – 23 feet of shallow-water perfection that can get you into places bigger boats can't reach. Laguna Madre is a maze of grass flats, channels, and structure, and that's exactly where you want to be. The water here is gin-clear most days, which means sight fishing opportunities that'll get your heart pumping. Captain Elliott reads these waters like a book, positioning the boat based on wind, tide, and where the bait is moving. Some days you'll be poling through knee-deep flats, other times you'll be working deeper channels where the big trout stack up. The beauty of an eight-hour trip is you're not rushed – there's time to work different areas, adjust tactics, and really dial in what the fish want. When nature calls or you need to stretch your legs, there's plenty of room to move around comfortably.
Captain Elliott comes equipped with top-shelf gear that's perfectly matched to these waters. You'll be fishing with quality spinning reels spooled with braided line – the kind of setup that gives you the sensitivity to feel a redfish inhaling your bait from 50 feet away. The tackle box is stocked with everything from soft plastics to topwater plugs, live shrimp to cut mullet. Depending on conditions, you might be throwing spoons over grass flats, bouncing jigs along drop-offs, or working live bait under popping corks. The technique changes based on what's working, but the goal stays the same – putting fish in the boat. When the bite is hot on artificial lures, there's nothing like the strike of a redfish crushing a gold spoon. When they're finicky, live bait under a cork can save the day. Captain Elliott knows when to make the switch, and he's not shy about changing tactics until you find what works. The shallow-water fishing here means you'll often see your fish before you catch them, which adds a whole different level of excitement to every cast.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Laguna Madre, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers range from slot-size 18-inchers up to bull reds pushing 30 pounds. They're year-round residents that love cruising the grass flats, especially when the tide is moving. What makes reds so special is their fight – they'll make long, powerful runs that'll test your drag and your patience. Spring and fall are prime time when they school up in shallow water, sometimes in groups of 20 or more fish. The sight of a redfish tailing in two feet of water is something every angler needs to experience.
Sea trout are the most consistent biters in these waters, and they come in two flavors – the keeper-size specks that make great table fare, and the trophy gator trout that can stretch over 25 inches. They're structure-oriented fish that love grass edges, shell bars, and channel drops. Summer months bring the bigger females into shallow water to spawn, while winter pushes them to deeper holes. Sea trout are also the most accommodating when it comes to lures – they'll hit soft plastics, topwater plugs, and live bait with equal enthusiasm. A limit of quality specks makes for a great fish fry back home.
Snook are the wildcards that can turn a good day into a great one. These ambush predators love hanging around structure – docks, mangroves, channel markers – anywhere they can hide and surprise their next meal. They're warm-water fish, so your best shots are late spring through early fall when water temperatures climb. Snook have that classic gamefish look with their black lateral line and that bucket mouth that can inhale a baitfish in a split second. They're also notorious for their acrobatic fights, often jumping multiple times before you get them to the boat.
Southern flounder are the sneaky bottom-dwellers that many anglers overlook, but they shouldn't. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, burying themselves in sand and mud while waiting for prey to swim by. They're year-round residents that move between shallow flats and deeper channels based on temperature and bait movements. Fall months are prime time when they're feeding heavily before their winter migration. Flounder fishing requires a different approach – slow presentations along the bottom with jigs, live finger mullet, or mud minnows. They might not win any beauty contests, but a cooler full of flounder fillets will make you forget all about their looks.
This full-day adventure with Captain Elliott isn't just another fishing trip – it's your chance to experience some of the best inshore fishing Texas has to offer. Eight hours gives you the time to really explore what Laguna Madre has to offer, from shallow-water sight fishing to deeper structure fishing. The Majek Illusion provides the perfect platform, and Captain Elliott's local knowledge puts
This 23' Majek Illusion flats boat is your ticket to the productive waters of South Padre Island's Laguna Madre. Built specifically for shallow-water fishing, this sleek vessel cuts through the flats with ease thanks to its powerful Suzuki 200hp engine. The stable platform gives you and your fishing partner plenty of room to work the rods while targeting redfish, sea trout, snook, and flounder in the backcountry waters. Captain Elliott knows these waters like the back of his hand and will position the boat in prime spots where the fish are biting. The shallow draft design lets you access those hard-to-reach areas where the big reds like to hide. With comfortable seating for two anglers, you'll have space to cast, fight fish, and land your catch without feeling cramped. The boat's quiet approach won't spook the fish, giving you the best shot at filling your cooler during this full-day adventure.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our inshore fishing, easily recognized by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spots near the tail. Most run 20-32 inches and 5-15 pounds, with females growing larger. They cruise shallow flats, oyster bars, and grass beds in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs show. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer the best action. Reds are bulldogs that make long, powerful runs and rarely give up easy. They're also excellent eating with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Live shrimp, cut bait, and gold spoons are go-to baits. Key tip: look for nervous water and tailing fish on the flats, then make long, quiet casts ahead of their path.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful fish with silver sides covered in distinctive black spots. They average 14-18 inches but trophy fish over 5 pounds aren't uncommon. You'll find them over grass flats, around drop-offs, and near structure in 3-12 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months and low-light periods. Trout are scrappy fighters that make multiple runs, and they're excellent table fare with tender, flaky meat. They respond well to live shrimp under popping corks, soft plastics, and topwater lures early and late in the day. My go-to trick: work your bait slowly and listen for their distinctive croaking sound when they're feeding nearby.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the perfect ambush predator with their sleek bodies and that distinctive black lateral line. Most fish we catch run 18-30 inches, but they can push 4 feet and 50+ pounds. They love hanging around mangroves, docks, and structure in 2-15 feet of water throughout our bays and passes. Spring through fall is prime time, especially during moving water around new and full moons. Snook put up a strong fight with powerful runs and gill-rattling jumps. They're also top-tier eating with firm, white meat. Live shrimp, pilchards, and topwater plugs work great. Here's the key: cast past the structure and work your bait back to the cover - they rarely chase far from their hideout.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flat, oval-shaped fish can change color to match sand and mud bottoms where they ambush prey. They typically run 15-18 inches but can hit 33 inches and 20+ pounds. Both eyes sit on their left side, making them easy to identify. You'll find them in shallow bays, flats, and around structure in 2-10 feet of water. Fall and winter are prime time when they move toward passes. They're fantastic table fare with mild, flaky white meat. These fish hit live shrimp, mullet, and bull minnows fished on bottom. Pro tip: when you feel that subtle tap, count to three before setting the hook - they like to grab prey sideways before turning to swallow it.
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