5.0(1 Reviews)Afternoon Inshore Charter: Redfish & Trout
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fivehour afternoon charter targeting redfish and spotted seatroutAll fishing equipment and safety gear provided onboardExpert guide navigates South Padre Island flats and channels
If you're not an early morning person but still want to experience some of the best inshore fishing South Padre Island has to offer, this afternoon charter is your ticket to success. Captain Arturo runs a top-rated 5-hour trip that starts when most other boats are heading back to the dock, giving you access to prime fishing waters without the dawn patrol wake-up call. You'll fish the renowned flats and channels around South Padre Island using both artificial lures and live bait, targeting some of Texas' most sought-after inshore species. With all gear provided and only 2 anglers max, you get personalized attention and plenty of room to cast without bumping elbows.
This trip takes advantage of those magical late afternoon conditions when fish start moving and feeding patterns shift. You'll launch into the protected waters behind South Padre Island, where shallow flats, grass beds, and deeper channels create the perfect habitat for redfish, spotted seatrout, and other inshore favorites. Captain Arturo knows these waters like the back of his hand and will put you on structure where fish are actively feeding. The afternoon timing means you'll often see different behavior than morning trips - redfish cruising shallow flats, trout working baitfish against drop-offs, and drum rooting around oyster bars. Weather conditions are typically more settled by afternoon too, making for comfortable fishing and easier spotting of tailing reds in skinny water.
You'll use a mix of artificial lures and natural bait depending on conditions and what the fish are showing you. Soft plastics like paddle tails and shrimp imitations work great when sight fishing for redfish on the flats, while live shrimp under popping corks can be deadly for trout hanging around grass lines. All rods, reels, and tackle are included - typically medium-light spinning setups perfect for the 15-25 inch fish you'll be targeting. Captain Arturo will teach you how to work topwater plugs during those evening feeding periods, and if you're new to inshore fishing, he'll show you how to read the water and spot fish movement. The boat is equipped with a shallow water anchor system for precise positioning when you find active fish, plus all required safety gear so you can focus on fishing.
"What a great experience. Fishing with captain Arturo. I felt like I was Fishing with one of my friends back home. Very experience and welcoming. And fun to fish with. Definitely a 5 star. Please get a chance to come out and fish with him. He will put you on the fish 🐟" - Miguel
Redfish are the crown jewel of South Padre Island inshore fishing and the primary target on this trip. These copper-colored bruisers typically range from 20-30 inches in these waters, with some slot fish pushing the upper limits. Reds are year-round residents but really turn on during late summer and fall when they school up for their spawning runs. What makes them so exciting to catch is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll peel drag and make multiple runs before coming to the boat. Look for them tailing in shallow water during the afternoon hours, especially around oyster bars and grass flats where they're rooting for crabs and shrimp.
Spotted Seatrout, or "specks" as locals call them, are another customer favorite that inhabits these waters year-round. Most fish run 15-20 inches with occasional 3-4 pound gator trout mixed in during cooler months. They're structure-oriented fish that love grass beds, shell reefs, and channel edges where they ambush baitfish. Trout have a soft mouth so you need to play them carefully, but their aggressive strikes and acrobatic jumps make them a blast on light tackle. They're particularly active during the afternoon and evening hours when shrimp and small baitfish move through their feeding zones.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore world, and South Padre Island's waters hold some genuine trophies alongside smaller "puppy drum" that make excellent table fare. These fish are bottom dwellers that cruise oyster reefs and mud flats looking for shellfish and crustaceans. They can range from 2-3 pound juveniles up to 20+ pound bulls that will test your tackle and endurance. Black drum are often overlooked but provide some of the strongest fights you'll experience in shallow water. They're most active during moving tides when they're searching for food stirred up by current flow.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of inshore fishing - they're notorious bait stealers with incredible eyesight and a light bite that requires finesse to hook up. These black and white striped fish hang around any hard structure like docks, pilings, and rock jetties where they pick barnacles and small crustaceans. Most run 12-16 inches but occasional 4-5 pound specimens show up to test your skills. They're excellent eating with firm white meat, making them worth the extra effort required to fool their cautious nature.
Snook are a bonus species that shows up when conditions are right, particularly during warmer months. These silvery gamefish with their distinctive black lateral line are originally more common in Florida waters, but South Texas populations have been growing. They're ambush predators that love structure and moving water, often hiding near docks, bridges, and mangrove-lined shorelines. Snook are catch-and-release only in Texas waters, but their explosive strikes and gill-rattling jumps make them one of the most exciting fish you can hook on light tackle.
This afternoon charter offers the perfect solution for anglers who want world-class inshore fishing without the early morning
Hit the prime inshore waters around South Padre Island aboard our 2020 Majek 25-footer – a serious fishing machine built for these Texas flats. This center console bay boat cuts through the shallows with its 300HP Suzuki, getting you to the productive spots where redfish and spotted seatrout like to hang out. The GPS keeps us on track while the fish finder helps locate schools and structure. With an icebox onboard, your drinks stay cold during those hot Texas afternoons. Perfect for a couple of anglers who want to fish the late-day bite when things really heat up. This boat handles the skinny water like a dream and gives you the casting room you need when those reds start tailing in the grass.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bulldozers of the flats. These gray-black fighters typically run 5-30 pounds, though we see some monsters over 50. They love shallow, muddy areas and oyster beds where they crush shellfish with those powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll find the most action. What guests love is the steady, strong fight they put up, plus that drumming sound they make when hooked. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. They're bottom feeders, so fresh crab or cut bait works best. Pro tip: use just enough weight to stay on bottom and watch for that subtle tap-tap bite - they're not aggressive strikers.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our flats fishing, with that copper-bronze color and distinctive black eyespot near the tail. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches, perfect for the dinner table. They cruise super shallow water - sometimes with their backs showing - around grass flats, oyster reefs, and shorelines. Year-round fishing here, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they're feeding heavily. Guests love their powerful runs and that classic "redfish pull" that bends rods. They eat well with mild, sweet meat. They're not picky - live shrimp, cut bait, and artificials all work. Best tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish, then make quiet presentations ahead of their path. Once hooked, let them run or they'll head straight for structure.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout are perfect for light tackle fishing, usually running 14-20 inches with those pretty silver sides covered in black spots. They cruise grass flats and shallow waters, especially at dawn and dusk when they're feeding actively. Spring through fall offers the best action, and they school up in deeper channels during winter cold snaps. What makes them popular is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they're outstanding table fare with tender, flaky white meat. They have soft mouths, so don't horse them in. Topwater plugs and soft plastics work great over the grass beds. Local trick: look for slicks on the water where they're feeding, and if you catch one, work that area thoroughly since they travel in schools.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with those distinctive black and white stripes, and they've got human-like teeth for crushing barnacles off pilings. Most run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, perfect pan-size fish. You'll find them around any structure - docks, bridges, jetties - especially where there's barnacle growth. Spring months are best when they're most active. Anglers love the challenge since they're notorious bait thieves with light, nibbling bites. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in the Gulf with sweet, white meat. They're picky eaters that prefer fiddler crabs or shrimp. My advice: use small hooks, keep your bait tight to structure, and set the hook hard at the first sign of weight - they'll steal your bait otherwise.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are ambush predators with sleek bodies and that distinctive black lateral line running down their sides. Most run 1-3 feet, but the bigger ones can push 4 feet and really test your drag. They love structure - mangroves, docks, creek mouths - anywhere they can hide and surprise baitfish. Best fishing happens May through September when they're spawning and more aggressive. What makes them special is that explosive strike when they come out of cover, plus they're fantastic eating with white, flaky meat. They're temperature-sensitive, so cooler months can slow the bite. My tip: get your lure right up against the structure where they're hiding. Don't be afraid to lose a few lures - that's where the fish are.
5.0 out of 5.0What a great experience. Fishing with captain Arturo. I felt like I was Fishing with one of my friends back home. Very experienc...
South Padre Island