Half Day Redfish Hunt in South Padre Waters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fivehour inshore fishing adventure targeting redfish, trout, and flounderMultiple techniques including bottom fishing, drift fishing, and jiggingSuitable for both beginners and experienced anglers
Captain Chris knows these South Padre Island flats like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish. This 5-hour inshore adventure isn't just another fishing trip—it's your chance to work the prime redfish, trout, and flounder grounds with a captain who lives and breathes these waters. Whether you're casting your first line or you've been chasing reds for years, Chris tailors every trip to match your skill level and the day's conditions. The fish are here year-round, but each season brings its own opportunities and challenges that make every outing unique.
You'll spend your morning or afternoon working the productive inshore waters around South Padre Island, where shallow flats, grass beds, and structure create perfect habitat for the area's top gamefish. Captain Chris runs a clean, well-maintained boat that gets you to the fish quickly and comfortably. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety—one minute you're sight-casting to tailing redfish in knee-deep water, the next you're working a deeper channel for speckled trout. The trip flows naturally based on tides, weather, and where the fish are holding that day. Chris keeps things relaxed but focused, sharing local knowledge about reading water, spotting fish, and working lures that'll help you become a better angler long after the trip ends.
Captain Chris employs a full arsenal of proven inshore techniques to maximize your hookup opportunities. Bottom fishing produces consistent action when fish are holding deep, especially for black drum and sheepshead around structure. Drift fishing lets you cover water efficiently while keeping baits in the strike zone longer. When the action calls for it, you'll work jigs vertically through promising water or pop topwater lures across shallow flats during prime feeding times. Gigging comes into play for flounder during their active periods, requiring stealth and precision that Chris has mastered over years of guiding these waters. The boat carries quality rods, reels, and tackle suited for each technique, though you're welcome to bring your favorite setup if you prefer. Live bait, artificials, and everything in between—Chris adapts the approach based on conditions and what the fish are telling him that day.
Sea trout are the bread and butter of South Padre Island inshore fishing, and these speckled beauties provide consistent action throughout the year. They school up over grass beds and sandy bottoms, especially during cooler months when they move into deeper holes and channels. Spring and fall offer the best opportunities for bigger trout, with fish pushing 20+ inches not uncommon. What makes them so popular with anglers is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they put up a respectable fight on light tackle. The meat is excellent too, making them a top choice for anglers who like to take fish home for dinner.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Texas inshore fishing, and South Padre Island consistently produces some of the best red drum action on the coast. These copper-colored fighters range from rat reds around 16 inches up to bull reds exceeding 30 inches and 20+ pounds. Summer months bring the most consistent action as reds patrol shallow flats and shorelines, often in water so shallow you can see their backs. They're aggressive feeders that'll crush everything from live shrimp to soft plastics, and their bulldogging fights make every hookup memorable. Fall months can produce spectacular schools of slot-sized reds that'll keep your rod bent all morning.
Southern flounder might not be the prettiest fish in the bay, but they're pound-for-pound some of the strongest fighters you'll encounter inshore. These ambush predators bury themselves in sand and mud bottoms, waiting to inhale passing baitfish and crabs. Fall months from September through November offer peak flounder action as they stage for their offshore spawning runs, often producing fish in the 3-5 pound range. What excites anglers most about flounder is the surprise factor—you're working a seemingly empty flat when suddenly your rod doubles over from a fish you never saw coming. They're also fantastic table fare, with sweet, flaky meat that makes them highly sought after by anglers who fish for the dinner table.
Captain Chris has built his reputation on putting clients on fish while showing them the techniques and spots that produce year after year. This isn't a cookie-cutter charter where you sit and wait—you'll be actively learning and fishing with a captain who genuinely enjoys sharing his knowledge of these productive waters. The single-angler capacity means you get personalized attention and instruction that's impossible on crowded boats. Whether you want to improve your technique, explore new fishing spots, or simply enjoy a day chasing quality inshore gamefish, this trip delivers the authentic South Padre Island fishing experience you're looking for. Don't wait for the perfect weather or conditions—Captain Chris knows how to adjust and find fish regardless of what Mother Nature throws at you.
This nimble 18-foot Shallow Sport center console is your ticket to the productive inshore waters around South Padre Island. Built specifically for bay fishing, this boat handles the shallows like a dream while the 150HP Mercury gets you to the fish fast, cruising up to 40 knots when conditions call for it. The center console design gives you 360-degree fishing access, perfect for working those redfish holes and trout grass beds that make this area famous. With GPS to mark your hot spots and a fish finder to locate structure and bait schools, you'll spend more time with lines wet and less time searching. The shallow draft lets Captain Chris slide into those back-country spots where the big reds like to feed, while still being stable enough for drift fishing the deeper channels when the trout are biting. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing redfish in skinny water or bouncing jigs along the bottom for flounder, this boat puts you right where the action is.
Sciaenops OcellatusReds are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing here at South Padre. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 20-30 inches, but we catch plenty of slot fish and some real bulls pushing 40+ inches. Look for them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster reefs, grass flats, and structure - sometimes so shallow their backs break the surface. They bite best during spring and fall, but summer mornings can be hot too. What guests love most is their raw power and that distinctive black spot near the tail. They're also fantastic eating with mild, sweet meat. Pro tip: when you spot a red tailing in skinny water, cast well ahead of where it's heading and work your bait slowly back toward its path.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout around South Padre typically run 14-24 inches and weigh 1-5 pounds, with their silvery bodies covered in distinctive black spots. These fish love our grass flats and shallow bays, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. Spring and fall offer the best action, but they bite year-round here. What makes them special is their delicate, flaky white meat - some of the best table fare in the Gulf. They're also scrappy fighters that'll test your drag. My go-to tip: work your lure slow and steady over the grass beds at dawn or dusk. They're ambush predators, so let that bait pause near structure where they like to hide and wait for an easy meal.
Paralichthys LethostigmaFlounder are the masters of disguise on our flats - these flatfish bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-18 inches, but we get some nice doormat-sized fish up to 25+ inches. They love sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow bays, channels, and around structure. Fall is prime time when they're fattening up before their offshore winter migration. What makes them special is their fight - they pull hard and sideways - plus they're some of the best eating fish in the Gulf with sweet, white meat. Here's the key: drift fishing with live bait like mud minnows or shrimp works best. Keep your bait on the bottom and when you feel that tap-tap bite, wait a second before setting the hook - they grab prey sideways first.
South Padre Island