Half Day Guided Fishing Trip In South Padre Island
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Halfday inshore fishing for redfish, trout, and flounderExpert crew provides all equipment, tackle, and refreshmentsSmall group experience with maximum two guests per trip
South Padre Island's back bay waters are calling, and Old Salt Charters knows exactly where the fish are biting. This half-day guided fishing adventure puts you right in the heart of some of Texas' most productive inshore waters, where redfish cruise the grass flats and speckled trout ambush bait along drop-offs. Our experienced crew has been working these waters for years, reading the tides and seasons like a favorite fishing report. Whether you're casting your first line or you've been chasing reds for decades, we'll put you on fish and make sure you walk away with stories worth telling. The beauty of fishing Port Isabel and South Padre's bay system is the variety – one cast might bring in a hefty black drum, while the next could hook a fiesty flounder hiding in the sandy bottom.
Your fishing day starts early when the water's calm and the fish are most active. We'll meet you at the dock where our boat is loaded and ready to roll – all rods, reels, tackle, and bait are provided, so you can focus on what matters most: catching fish. The trip covers prime inshore spots around South Padre Island and Port Isabel, hitting shallow grass flats, oyster reefs, and channel edges where different species like to hang out. Our guide will position the boat based on wind, tide, and recent fishing reports, then walk you through the techniques that work best for each spot. We're talking about sight fishing for reds in skinny water, working soft plastics along structure for trout, and bottom fishing for black drum and flounder. Between the action, you'll stay hydrated with complimentary water, Gatorade, and snacks. The whole experience runs about half a day, giving you plenty of time to learn the water and hopefully fill your cooler.
We fish light to medium tackle here – perfect for the inshore game where finesse often beats brute force. Spinning reels loaded with 15-20 pound braid are the standard, paired with fluorocarbon leaders that won't spook wary fish in clear water. Live bait like shrimp and finger mullet work great, but don't sleep on the artificials. Soft plastic paddle tails, topwater plugs during low light, and gold spoons can absolutely light up the bite when fish are aggressive. Our guides will show you how to work a MirrOlure for trout, bounce a jig head along the bottom for flounder, or sight cast to tailing redfish with a weedless spoon. The key is matching your presentation to the conditions – fast and loud when fish are feeding aggressively, slow and subtle when they're being picky. We fish everything from two feet of water on the flats to deeper holes and channels where big trout and drum like to stage up.
Redfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishery, and South Padre's bay system is absolutely loaded with them. These copper-colored fighters typically run 20 to 30 inches, with plenty of slot-sized fish perfect for the dinner table and bigger bulls that'll test your drag system. Fall and spring are prime time when reds move shallow to feed, often giving you sight fishing opportunities that'll get your heart pumping. What makes catching redfish special here is their aggressive nature – they'll crush topwater baits, inhale live shrimp, and absolutely demolish soft plastics worked near structure.
Speckled trout are another customer favorite, and our waters produce some beautiful fish with that classic spotted pattern and canine teeth. They average 15 to 20 inches but don't let their size fool you – specks fight hard and taste even better. These fish are structure-oriented, hanging around oyster reefs, grass beds, and drop-offs where they can ambush prey. Winter months can be phenomenal for bigger trout, especially when working deeper channels with slow-moving baits.
Black drum might not win any beauty contests, but they're absolute bruisers that'll give you a workout. These bottom-dwellers can push 30 pounds or more, using their broad tails and stubborn nature to test every knot in your tackle box. They're year-round residents that love crab and shrimp, making them reliable targets when other species are finicky. Landing a big black drum is like arm wrestling a truck – pure power that reminds you why heavy drag isn't always the answer.
Southern flounder are the masters of disguise, lying flat against sandy bottoms waiting for an easy meal to swim by. They're fantastic table fare with their mild, flaky white meat, and catching them requires a different approach than other species. Slow presentations along bottom structure and channel edges work best, and feeling that subtle tap-tap bite takes some practice. Fall runs can be spectacular when flounder stage up before heading to deeper water.
Lane snapper add some variety to the mix, especially around structure where they school up in good numbers. These smaller snappers are scrappy fighters with excellent eating quality, and kids especially love the fast action they provide. Sheepshead round out our target list – these black and white striped convicts have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs. They're notorious bait thieves, but hooking a big sheepie around a pier piling or jetty rock is always satisfying.
South Padre Island's inshore fishing scene delivers year-round action, but the best trips book up fast during peak seasons. Old Salt Charters has earned its reputation by consistently putting clients on fish while sharing the knowledge that makes each trip a learning experience. Our small boat capacity means personalized attention and more fish per angler – no fighting crowds or waiting your turn to cast. Remember to grab your Texas Parks and Wildlife fishing license with saltwater stamp before the trip, pack polarized sunglasses for sight fishing, and dress for the weather. The memories you'll make and skills
Meet "Shallow Stalker" – your ticket to prime fishing waters around South Padre Island! This sharp 20-foot bay boat runs on a reliable 150-horsepower Suzuki engine, perfect for navigating the shallow flats where redfish and trout love to hang out. Built in 2021, she's equipped with GPS and a fish finder to put you right on top of the action. The onboard bait tank keeps your live bait fresh and frisky, giving you the edge when targeting those finicky inshore species. With room for up to 2 anglers, you'll have plenty of space to cast and fight fish without bumping elbows. Whether you're sight-fishing the grass flats or working structure for black drum, this boat handles the Texas coastal waters like a dream. The shallow draft design gets you into those back-country spots where the big fish hide.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our local waters, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. They're gray to black with powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs. These fish make actual drumming sounds you can hear underwater, especially during spawning season in February and March when they school up in huge numbers. You'll find them around oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow structures from 1-100 feet deep. They're incredibly adaptable to different salinity levels. Guests enjoy targeting them for the solid fight and the fact that smaller ones (under 15 pounds) are excellent eating - flaky white meat. Bigger ones get tough and stringy. Best bait is fresh blue crab or soft shells since catfish won't steal it. My tip: fish right on the bottom during spawning season around oyster reefs for your best shot at multiple hookups.
Lutjanus SynagrisLane Snappers are pretty little fish with pink-red bodies and yellow striped fins that look like candy canes running down their sides. Most run 10-14 inches, but you'll occasionally see one pushing 20. They're not too picky about bait - shrimp, squid, or cut bait works fine. What makes them fun is they're aggressive little fighters and often show up as a bonus when you're targeting other snappers or grouper. They hang around coral reefs and vegetated sandy bottoms, usually in 70-230 feet of water. Best fishing is March through September during spawning season when they school up. The meat is excellent table fare with a mild, sweet flavor. Here's a tip: they're not as line-shy as other snappers, so don't overthink your tackle - just get your bait down and be ready for that quick bite.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our flats fishing - copper-red backs fading to white bellies with distinctive black spots near the tail. Most run 20-35 inches, but we see plenty of bulls pushing 40+ inches in deeper water. They love super shallow water from 1-4 feet around oyster reefs, grass flats, and marsh edges where their backs sometimes stick out of the water. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring are prime time. What makes them special is that explosive topwater strike and the way they'll peel drag on long runs. The meat on keeper-sized fish is firm and sweet. They'll eat almost anything - live shrimp, topwater plugs, spoons, soft plastics. My go-to trick: work a gold spoon slowly over shallow grass flats on incoming tide. When you see that wake or tail, cast past them and work the lure back - the strike will get your heart pumping every time.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are beautiful silver fish covered in black spots with that classic trout shape. Most run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, though bigger ones are out there. They love grass flats and shallow bay waters, especially at night when they move up to feed on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring through fall offers the best action in 2-6 feet of water, though winter finds them schooled up in deeper channels. Guests enjoy them because they're scrappy fighters and excellent table fare - soft, white, flaky meat that's perfect fried or grilled. Just don't overcook it or it gets mushy. Topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live shrimp all work well. They're pretty aggressive when feeding. Local tip: work the grass edges at dawn and dusk with a slow-sinking MirrOlure or soft plastic - let it fall naturally and be ready for that telltale thump.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are nicknamed "convict fish" for their black and white stripes, but they're famous for having human-like teeth that can crush barnacles and crabs. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, living up to 20 years around any structure - docks, bridges, piers, jetties. They're notorious bait thieves who'll nibble your hook clean before you know it. Best fishing is February through April during spawning season when they gather in big schools. Guests love them because the white meat is sweet and delicious, though the tough scales make cleaning a chore. They rarely venture far from cover, so get your bait tight to the structure. Live or fresh dead shrimp works best, but fiddler crabs are gold. Pro tip: use a small hook, keep your bait pinned tight, and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight - they've got those crushing teeth for a reason.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are those flat, oval-shaped fish with both eyes on one side - usually the left. They're masters of disguise, burying themselves in sand and mud to ambush prey like shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Most run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, though big ones can hit 20+ pounds. You'll find them on sandy, muddy, or rocky bottoms in shallow coastal waters, bays, and estuaries. Adults head offshore during winter, so your best shots are spring through fall in the shallows. Guests love them because they're great table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. Still fishing or drift fishing with live shrimp, bull minnows, or mullet works best. Pro tip: use a 1/4 to 3/8 ounce jig head and fish it slow along the bottom - they like to think about it before they bite.
South Padre Island