5.0(2 Reviews)Full Day Inshore Fishing Charter - South Padre Island
5.0(2 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day inshore charter targeting redfish and spotted seatroutProfessional vessel equipped with safety gear and modern navigationSuitable for both novice and experienced anglers alike
When you're serious about fishing the legendary inshore waters of South Padre Island, a full day charter is the way to go. This eight-hour adventure with Get'm Hook'd Fishing Charters gives you the time you need to really explore what makes these Texas coastal waters so special. We're talking about prime redfish and speckled trout territory, plus plenty of shots at black drum, snook, and southern flounder. Captain Arturo knows these flats, channels, and grass beds like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on fish whether you're slinging lures or soaking live bait.
Your full day starts early when we meet at the dock, ready to make the most of prime feeding times. The beauty of an eight-hour charter is we're not rushed – we can follow the bite, adjust to tide changes, and really dial in on what's working. South Padre's inshore system is incredible, with miles of productive water from shallow grass flats to deeper channels and bayous. We'll move around based on conditions, targeting structure like oyster reefs, drop-offs, and sandy potholes where gamefish love to ambush baitfish. The boat comes fully rigged with modern electronics, safety gear, and everything you need for a professional fishing experience. Just bring yourself, some snacks, and plenty of water – this is Texas, and the sun can get intense out there.
Inshore fishing here is all about versatility, and that's exactly what we'll focus on during your full day trip. We'll start with artificials – soft plastics rigged on jigheads are absolute money for both reds and trout. You'll learn to work these baits along grass edges, bounce them off structure, and twitch them through the water column. When the fish are active, topwater plugs create explosive strikes that'll get your heart pumping. If the artificial bite slows down, we switch to live bait – fresh shrimp under popping corks is a South Padre classic that produces consistently. Captain Arturo will teach you how to read the water, spot nervous baitfish, and identify the subtle signs that indicate feeding gamefish nearby. We're fishing light tackle here, typically spinning gear in the 2500-3000 size range spooled with 15-20 pound braid, so every fish puts up a real fight.
"We booked an 8 hour trip with Captain Arturo Calderas with Get'm Hooked Fishing Charters. It was our first time doing a trip like this because we are from Colorado. My son and I are just used to regular fishing at lakes and ponds. So Visiting South Padre Island and getting this trip marked off our bucket list was an awesome experience and Also it was his birthday gift he requested. Our captain took extra care of my son and put on us on some really good hot spots, we caught a total of 20 fish and my son caught 16 and I caught 4. My son was so excited and that's all that mattered to me. Thanks to our Captain, he was very knowledgeable of the area and made this experience one not to forget. Thank you Get'm hooked/ Arturo Calderas." - Manuel V. "The captain and I had communicated about my style of fishing and how I preferred to fish if possible and Arturo came through. We started out chasing birds and casting for speckled trout and i caught them for 2 hours straight! We switched to live bait to go for a big speck and i nailed it! Right under 20inches for my limit of specks. We switched to red fish and Arturo got me onto a big red fish immediately! I enjoyed myself and will be using Arturo again and i suggest you do to! Friendly, professional and most importantly caught fish!" - James
Redfish are the crown jewel of South Padre inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers patrol the flats year-round, with fish ranging from slot-size reds around 20-28 inches up to bull reds pushing 40 inches or more. Spring and fall offer the best action when reds school up in shallow water, often tailing in just inches of water as they root for crabs and shrimp. What makes catching reds so addictive is their aggressive nature – they'll crush a topwater plug with reckless abandon or inhale a soft plastic worked along an oyster bar. The fight is incredible too, with powerful runs and head-shaking that'll test your drag system.
Spotted seatrout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are the bread and butter of South Padre fishing. These beautiful gamefish are abundant throughout our bay system, with good numbers of keeper-size fish in the 15-20 inch range and trophy specks over 24 inches always a possibility. Trout are most active during cooler months from October through March, when they congregate around deeper channels and shell beds. They're incredibly fun on light tackle, with acrobatic jumps and a delicate mouth that keeps you on your toes. Specks are also excellent table fare, making them a favorite target for anglers who want to take home a fresh fish dinner.
Black drum might not be the prettiest fish in the bay, but they're absolute bulldogs that'll give you a workout. These bottom-dwellers can range from small puppy drum around 12-16 inches up to massive bull drum exceeding 30 pounds. They're most active in cooler weather and love structure like oyster reefs and channel edges. What's really cool about drum fishing is the technique – you'll often hear them "drumming" underwater before you see them, and the bite is typically a slow, steady pull rather than a violent strike. Southern flounder add another dimension to your fishing day, especially during their fall migration when big doormat flounder move
Your fishing platform for the day is a 2020 Majek 25-footer that cuts through South Padre's shallow waters like it was built for these exact flats. The 300HP Suzuki pushes this center console wherever the redfish are running, whether that's back in the skinny grass beds or out along the deeper channel edges where the trout stack up. With room for your small crew of 2, you'll have plenty of deck space to work lures and handle fish without bumping elbows. The onboard fish finder takes the guesswork out of reading structure, while GPS keeps you locked onto productive spots even when the landmarks blur together. Cold drinks and snacks stay fresh in the icebox during those long stretches between bites. This boat gets you to the fish efficiently and keeps you comfortable while you work the water for speckled trout, drum, and whatever else is feeding in the Laguna Madre system.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters hitting 50+ pounds. They're bottom feeders with powerful crushing jaws, perfect for their favorite foods - crabs, oysters, and shrimp. You'll find them around oyster reefs, muddy flats, and deeper channels in 3-15 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them easier to target. What makes them special is their incredible pulling power - they'll test your drag and your patience. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are great eating with firm, white meat. The big ones are better released as the meat gets tough. My best tip: use fresh, dead shrimp or blue crab on a fish-finder rig. Keep your bait on the bottom and be patient - they're methodical feeders who take their time.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our flats fishing, with their copper-bronze color and signature black spots near the tail. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches, but we see plenty of bulls over 30 inches that put up legendary fights. They love shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs are out of the water - around oyster bars, grass flats, and marsh edges. Year-round fishing is good, but fall is prime when they school up. What makes them special is their power and determination - they'll strip drag and never give up. Plus, slot-size fish are fantastic table fare with sweet, firm meat. They'll eat almost anything - shrimp, crabs, mullet, you name it. My favorite local tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish on shallow flats during moving tides. A weedless gold spoon worked slowly is deadly.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Seatrout, or "specks," are beautiful silver fish covered in distinctive black spots. Most run 14-20 inches, with keeper size at 15 inches. They prefer grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs in 2-8 feet of water. Spring through fall is prime, but night fishing in summer can be outstanding when they move into super shallow water to feed. What guests love is their willingness to hit artificials and their decent fight for their size. The meat is excellent - white, flaky, and sweet, though it's delicate so don't overcook it. They're opportunistic feeders that love shrimp, small crabs, and baitfish. My go-to technique: work a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jighead over grass flats during moving tides. Make long casts, let it sink, then work it back with short twitches. The bite often feels like a soft thump.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are sleek, silver fish with that signature black lateral stripe and a protruding lower jaw. Most run 18-28 inches around here, but the big females can push 30+ pounds. They love structure - docks, mangroves, jetties, and bridge pilings in 2-8 feet of water. Spring through early fall is peak season, especially around the full and new moons when they spawn near passes. What guests love about snook is their aggressive strike and acrobatic fight - they'll jump, run, and try every trick to throw the hook. The meat is outstanding, firm and mild. They're ambush feeders, so live shrimp, pinfish, or topwater plugs work great. Here's my local tip: target the shadow lines along docks and structures during moving tides. Cast your bait right into the shade and be ready for that explosive hit.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are flat, diamond-shaped fish that blend perfectly with sandy or muddy bottoms. They typically run 15-18 inches, though we see some pushing 25+ inches. These ambush predators bury themselves in sand with just their eyes showing, waiting for shrimp, crabs, and baitfish to pass by. You'll find them in shallow bays, around oyster reefs, and creek mouths throughout the year, but fall and winter fishing is prime time when they're moving toward passes. What makes them fun to target is their strong, dogged fight once hooked. The meat is excellent - white, flaky, and mild. My go-to tip: use a slow drift with live shrimp on a Carolina rig, keeping your bait right on the bottom. When you feel that subtle tap, give them a second to take it before setting the hook.
5.0 out of 5.0We booked an 8 hour trip with Captain Arturo Calderas with Get'm Hooked Fishing Charters. It was our first time doing a trip like...
The captain and I had communicated about my style of fishing and how I preferred to fish if possible and Arturo came through. We s...
South Padre Island