Full Day Redfish Hunt in South Padre Waters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour inshore fishing charter targeting redfish, trout, and flounder.Multiple techniques including drift fishing, jigging, and bottom fishing.Small group capacity with experienced Captain Chris guiding the trip.
Captain Chris knows these South Padre Island waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish during this top-rated 8-hour adventure. This isn't your typical half-day trip where you're just getting warmed up when it's time to head back. With a full day on the flats and channels, you'll have real time to work different spots, adjust techniques, and dial in on what the fish want. Limited to just 2 anglers, this customer favorite gives you the personal attention and elbow room that makes all the difference when the bite gets hot.
You'll launch early and spend the day exploring South Padre's renowned inshore fishery, targeting prime structure and grass flats where redfish, trout, and flounder love to hang out. Captain Chris rotates between proven techniques based on conditions – one minute you might be working a Carolina rig along the bottom, the next you're drifting with live bait over a drop-off. When the fish are shallow and spooky, he'll break out the popping corks to call them up, or switch to jigs when they're hugging structure. The beauty of an 8-hour trip is adapting to what Mother Nature throws at you, whether that's moving water, changing winds, or fish that decide to relocate mid-day. This world-class fishery delivers consistent action, but having the time to really work it makes all the difference.
Captain Chris comes loaded with everything you need – quality rods, reels, tackle, and bait are all included. The boat's rigged for multiple techniques, so you can seamlessly switch from bottom fishing with circle hooks and sinkers to working topwater plugs when the fish are aggressive. Drift fishing is huge here, especially when targeting trout over grass beds or working channel edges for flounder. The captain's also equipped for gigging when conditions are right – there's nothing quite like sight-fishing a big red in clear, shallow water. Live bait, artificial lures, and cut bait all have their place depending on what the fish are telling you. The key is staying versatile, and with 8 hours to work with, you'll get to experience the full range of inshore techniques that make South Padre Island fishing so addictive.
Redfish are the crown jewel of South Padre's inshore scene, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-28 inches and fight like freight trains, making blistering runs that'll test your drag and your nerves. Fall and winter are prime time when big schools of reds move through the area, but you can find them year-round in the back lakes and along the surf. They're not picky eaters – live shrimp, cut mullet, or a well-placed soft plastic will all get their attention. What makes reds special is how they eat – that deliberate pickup followed by a freight-train run that reminds you why you fell in love with fishing in the first place.
Speckled trout are the bread and butter of South Padre fishing, and they're always willing to play when you find the right depth and structure. These spotted beauties typically run 14-20 inches, with the occasional gator trout pushing 25+ inches and providing a memory you'll never forget. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action as water temperatures hit that sweet spot, but summer mornings and winter warm-ups can be magic too. Trout are structure-oriented, holding around grass beds, oyster reefs, and drop-offs where baitfish concentrate. They respond well to both live bait and artificials, making them perfect for anglers who like to experiment with different presentations.
Southern flounder are the ultimate ambush predators, and South Padre's sandy bottoms and channel edges provide perfect habitat for these flatfish masters. Running anywhere from 14-22 inches, with doormat fish occasionally topping 6-7 pounds, they're surprisingly strong fighters that use their flat profile to maximum advantage. Summer through early fall is prime flounder season when they're most active and feeding heavily before their offshore spawning migration. They're suckers for live bait bounced along the bottom, but skilled anglers can also tempt them with soft plastics worked slowly near structure. The thrill of flounder fishing is in the subtlety – feeling that gentle tap, setting the hook, and realizing you're connected to a fish that fights way above its weight class.
This best trip combination of expert guidance, prime fishing grounds, and a full day to make it happen is exactly what serious anglers dream about. Captain Chris has built his reputation on putting clients on fish while sharing the knowledge that makes each trip a learning experience. With only 2 spots available, you'll get the personalized attention and fishing room that group trips just can't match. South Padre Island's inshore fishery is trending upward, and there's never been a better time to experience what these waters have to offer. Whether you're looking to check multiple species off your list or focus on that personal-best red, this 8-hour adventure gives you the time and expertise to make it happen. Don't wait – prime dates fill up fast, especially during peak seasons when the fishing is at its absolute best.
This 18-foot Shallow Sport center console is your ticket to South Padre's best inshore action. Built specifically for shallow water fishing, this bay boat handles the flats like a dream while the 150HP Mercury gets you to the hotspots fast, cruising up to 40 knots. Perfect for up to 2 anglers who want room to work without bumping elbows. The GPS keeps you on track while the fish finder helps locate those schools of trout and redfish holding in the grass beds and drop-offs. Whether you're drifting over oyster reefs for flounder or working the shallows for reds, this boat's shallow draft design gets you into spots bigger boats can't reach. Captain Chris knows these waters inside and out, and this rig is dialed in for bottom fishing, jigging, and all the techniques that put fish in the box during your 8-hour adventure.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing here. Most run 20-35 inches, but we regularly see bulls pushing 40+ inches and 30 pounds. They cruise our shallow flats in 1-4 feet of water, often with their backs showing. You'll find them around oyster bars, grass beds, and drop-offs. Spring through fall gives us the most consistent action, though they bite year-round. What guests love is the visual aspect - watching these copper-colored fish cruise the shallows and explode on topwater baits. They fight hard and taste great too. My go-to tip: look for nervous water or baitfish getting pushed around. When you spot a red, cast well ahead of where it's heading and let the fish find your bait.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout around South Padre typically run 14-24 inches and about 1-5 pounds, though we've seen some real slabs pushing higher. They love our grass flats and shallow waters, especially at night when they get aggressive on topwater. During cooler months, they school up in deeper channels which makes for some solid action. What makes trout fishing fun is their willingness to hit artificials - plastic tails, topwater plugs, and soft plastics work great. They're also fantastic eating with that flaky white meat. Here's a tip: when you're working the flats, slow your retrieve down more than you think. These fish will follow a lure for quite a distance before committing, so patience pays off.
Paralichthys LethostigmaFlounder fishing is all about reading the bottom around here. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches, though we catch some nice ones over 20. They bury themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms near drop-offs, channels, and structure where baitfish travel. Fall and early winter are prime time as they move toward deeper water. What makes flounder special is the challenge - they're masters of camouflage and require a different approach than other species. Plus, they're hands-down some of the best eating fish in the bay. The key is drift fishing with live bait like bull minnows or shrimp on a light jighead. Feel for that subtle tap-tap, count to three, then set the hook. Patience is everything with these fish.
South Padre Island