SPI Fishing Charters | 5 Hour Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fivehour inshore fishing charter targeting redfish and troutExpert Captain Ruben Riojas guides all skill levelsFree cancellation up to seven days before departure
Captain Ruben Riojas knows these South Padre Island waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish. This 5-hour charter with Slick Fin Charters targets the saltwater slam that makes SPI famous – black drum, redfish, spotted sea trout, and flounder. Whether you're a weekend warrior or seasoned angler, Captain Riojas will adjust his approach to match your skill level and get you hooked up. Just grab your fishing license and show up ready to fish – he's got everything else covered.
You'll meet Captain Riojas bright and early at the dock, where his well-maintained boat is rigged and ready for action. The beauty of fishing South Padre's inshore waters is the variety – one minute you're working shallow grass flats for redfish, the next you're drifting deeper channels for trout and drum. This isn't a cattle boat operation either – with just 2 anglers max, you get personalized attention and prime fishing real estate. Captain Riojas reads the conditions daily, adjusting his game plan based on tides, weather, and what's been biting. Some days that means sight fishing the shallows, other days it's anchoring up on structure and waiting for the bite to turn on. The flexible approach keeps things fresh and productive, which is exactly what you want when you're investing a full day on the water.
Captain Riojas runs a mixed bag of techniques depending on conditions and target species. Live bait fishing with shrimp, mullet, and croaker produces consistent results, especially when the fish are finicky or the bite is slow. He's also dialed in with artificial lures – soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons that trigger aggressive strikes when the fish are active. The tackle is tournament-grade stuff that can handle anything from schoolie trout to bull redfish. You'll fish with medium to medium-heavy spinning gear that's perfect for the inshore game – sensitive enough to feel light bites but with enough backbone to muscle fish away from structure. Wade fishing opportunities come up regularly too, especially on the flats where redfish cruise in skinny water. Captain Riojas carries quality waders and knows exactly which spots are worth getting your feet wet for.
Black drum are the bulldogs of South Padre's inshore waters, and landing one is like arm wrestling a truck tire. These copper-colored bruisers hang around oyster reefs and deeper channels, where they use their pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring and fall offer the best black drum action, when cooler water temps get them feeding aggressively. The fight is all about endurance – they don't jump or make flashy runs, but they'll test your drag and your patience with their bulldog determination. Anglers love them because once you hook up, you know you're in for a legitimate battle.
Redfish are the poster child of Texas inshore fishing, and for good reason. These bronze beauties with their distinctive black spots are sight fishing gold in South Padre's shallow bays and grass flats. Summer through early fall is prime time, when they school up in massive numbers and cruise the shallows looking for baitfish and crabs. What makes reds so special is their aggressive nature – they'll blow up topwater lures, crush live bait, and put on an aerial show when hooked. Plus, they're legitimate trophy fish that photograph beautifully and fight way above their weight class.
Spotted sea trout are the bread and butter of South Padre fishing, providing consistent action year-round with peak seasons in spring and fall. These silvery speedsters love soft bottom areas with good current flow, where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Trout fishing requires finesse – they have soft mouths and can throw hooks easily, but they make up for it with aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights. What anglers really appreciate about trout is their willingness to bite artificials, making them perfect for working lures and honing your technique.
Summer flounder, or fluke, are the shape-shifters of the inshore world. These flatfish masters of camouflage lie buried in sand and mud, waiting to ambush anything that swims by. Fall migration brings the best flounder action to South Padre, when they move from shallow bays toward deeper Gulf waters. The challenge with flounder is feeling the bite – they often just pick up your bait and sit there, so you need to stay alert and set the hook on anything that feels different. Landing a doormat flounder is a real trophy moment, and they're excellent table fare that makes the hunt even more rewarding.
Captain Riojas has built his reputation one satisfied angler at a time, and this top-rated charter fills up fast during peak seasons. The 7-day cancellation policy gives you flexibility if weather doesn't cooperate, but honestly, South Padre's protected inshore waters fish well in most conditions. Whether you're looking to cross species off your bucket list, introduce someone new to saltwater fishing, or just spend quality time on the water with a knowledgeable captain, this 5-hour trip delivers the goods. Don't sleep on booking – the best fishing dates go quickly, and you don't want to miss out on what could be the fishing trip that spoils you for everywhere else.
Your ride for the day is a 21-foot Shallow Sport flats boat that's perfect for hunting redfish and speckled trout in SPI's back bays. This 2012 model runs on a reliable 150HP Yamaha that'll get you to the fish quietly and efficiently. The shallow draft design lets Captain Ruben slide into skinny water where the big reds like to cruise the grass flats. With GPS navigation on board, you'll hit all the productive spots without wasting time. The boat comfortably handles up to 5 anglers, though your group of 2 means plenty of elbow room for casting. Built tough for these saltwater conditions, she's designed to handle everything from sight-fishing the shallows to working deeper structure for flounder and black drum.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our flats, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These gray-black bruisers love shallow muddy areas, oyster beds, and creek mouths where they crush crabs and shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming calls underwater. They put up a solid fight and smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with flaky white meat. The key is using fresh crab on the bottom - it stays put better than shrimp and doesn't get picked off by catfish. Look for them tailing in super shallow water during incoming tides.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the kings of our shallow flats, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and that distinctive black eyespot near the tail. Most fish run 20-30 inches, but we regularly see bulls over 40 inches cruising the shallows. They love water so thin their backs stick out, especially around oyster reefs, grass beds, and marsh edges. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall brings the best action when they school up. What hooks people is watching them tail in inches of water and that bulldogging fight once hooked. Smaller reds are fantastic eating too. The secret is a weedless gold spoon cast ahead of cruising fish - let it flutter down and hang on tight when they crush it.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are our bread and butter inshore species, typically running 14-24 inches with those beautiful black spots covering their silver sides. They love grass flats, shallow bay areas, and drop-offs where they cruise looking for shrimp and small baitfish. Dawn and dusk are magic hours, especially during spring and fall when water temps are just right. These fish hit hard and make great table fare with sweet, flaky meat that's perfect for the grill. They're also willing biters on both live bait and artificials. My go-to trick is working a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds - the noise draws them in and that slow fall gets them every time.
Paralichthys DentatusThese flatfish are masters of disguise, lying camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush baitfish. Most run 15-20 inches, though we see some real doormat-sized ones pushing 5+ pounds. They're scattered throughout our bay system but concentrate near structure like jetties and channel edges in 10-30 feet of water. Fall through early winter is when they really turn on before their offshore migration. What makes them special is that explosive strike when they nail your bait - plus they're hands down one of the best eating fish we catch. Try drifting live mullet or bouncing bucktails tipped with gulp near bottom structure. The trick is a slow retrieve since they attack from below.
South Padre Island