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South Padre Island, Texas

South Padre Island Fishing Charters

17 charter captains and guides fishing from South Padre Island, Port Isabel and the lower Laguna Madre, listed A to Z with their boats, trip types and published prices. Call the captain directly – we never take a commission.

17 captains and guides6 publish prices$499 typical half day
See the captainsSouth Padre Island conditions

The captains

South Padre Island fishing charters and guides, A to Z

Trip types, species and prices are shown as each operator publishes them. Ask the captain what fits your group, and confirm prices before you book.

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The one City Spotlight for South Padre Island sits here, above the A to Z list, labeled Featured. Only for captains who pass our listing rules. How it works

Austins Fishing & Hunting Guide Service

Meets guests at 101 Bridge St, Port Isabel, TX 78578

Capt. Austin Camacho

InshoreBay

Targets: Redfish, Sheepshead, Speckled trout, Flounder

Half Day Guided Fishing Trip (4 hr) $1,200Full Day Guided Fishing Trip (8 hr) $1,800
(956) 343-5816Website

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Breakaway Cruises

Sea Ranch Marina, 33384 State Park Rd. 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597

Isabella, 65 ft catamaran

BayParty boat

Targets: Whiting, Sand trout, Sheepshead, Shark, Black drum, Redfish, Speckled trout

Bay fishing (3-4 hr), adult 13+ $35Bay fishing (3-4 hr), child 3-12 $30
(956) 761-2212Website

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Crystal Flats Guide Service

South Padre Island

Capt. Cliff FlemingUp to 6 guests

Coast Guard license shown on their site checked October 2026

InshoreBayFlats

Targets: Redfish, Speckled trout, Flounder, Black drum, Sheepshead, Mangrove snapper, Tarpon, Spanish mackerel

(956) 346-0140Website

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Danny B Bay Fishing Charters

2305 Laguna Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597 (at Louie's Backyard)

Danny B, 50 ftUp to 43 guests

BayParty boat

Targets: Whiting, Sand trout, Black drum, Croaker, Sheepshead, Shark, King mackerel

Bay Fishing, per person (rod, reel, bait included) $35
(956) 761-1389Website

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La Mosca Charters

800 Pompano Ave, Port Isabel, TX 78578 (meeting point)

Capt. Roel Villanueva

InshoreBay

Targets: Redfish, Speckled trout, Flounder, Black drum

Half Day Fishing Trip in Laguna Madre (5 hr), from $475Extended Half Day Fishing Trip (6 hr), from $600Full Day Fishing Trip in Laguna Madre (8 hr), from $700
(956) 494-4201Website

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What's On Fishing

South Padre Island

Capt. JW Watson

OffshoreDeep sea

Targets: Red snapper, King mackerel, Cobia, Wahoo, Tuna, Mahi-mahi, Sailfish, Marlin

First Offshore Run from South Padre Island, starting at $1,410Build Your Offshore Game Plan, starting at $2,350Chase Trophy Game Beyond the Horizon, starting at $2,820
(956) 244-0118Website

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Listed alphabetically – this is not a ranking. Updated October 2026. How we list · Update or remove a listing

Trip types

Deep sea, inshore or party boat in South Padre Island?

How the 17 operators listed here split by the trips they run. Not sure which fits? Read inshore vs offshore fishing.

4

Deep sea and offshore boats

Offshore and deep sea trips run past the beaches to reefs, wrecks, ledges and open water for bigger fish. Expect longer runs, more swell and longer trips – full days are common.

Usually after: Wahoo, Mahi-mahi, Sailfish, Red snapper.

Show these boats

12

Inshore and bay guides

Inshore trips fish calm bays, flats, marsh and the passes close to land. Short runs, smaller boats and steady action make them the usual pick for kids and first-timers.

Usually after: Speckled trout, Redfish, Black drum, King mackerel.

Typical private half day: $499 (3 boats publish one).

Inshore fishing charters in South Padre Island: all 12 guides →

2

Party boats

Party boats (head boats) sell spots per person, bait and tackle included. They are the cheapest way onto the water, and the crew helps beginners.

Usually after: Whiting, Sand trout, Sheepshead, Shark.

Show these party boats

Heading farther? Cancún fishing charters · Cozumel fishing charters.

Today on the water

Conditions in South Padre Island right now

Next high tideLive

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NOAA Queen Isabella Causeway

Next low tideLive

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NOAA Queen Isabella Causeway

Water temperatureLive

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NOAA South Padre Island CG Station

Wind nowLive

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National Weather Service

Air pressureLive

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National Weather Service

SunriseLive

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Sunset after load

Live from NOAA tide station 8779724, NOAA station 8779748, the National Weather Service. Tide times are predictions. Sunrise and moon are calculated for South Padre Island.

Full tide table and what is biting: South Padre Island fishing report.

Prices

What a fishing charter costs in South Padre Island

Calculated from the prices captains publish (private trips for the whole boat, not per person), checked October 2026. Most prices cover up to 4 to 6 anglers; tips, fuel surcharges and fish cleaning can be extra.

TripMedianRangeBoats
Private half day (about 4 hours)$499$475 – $1,2003

Compare towns: fishing charter prices across the US.

Seasons

What is biting in South Padre Island, month by month

The main months for each fish, so you can match your dates to what you want to catch.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Red snapper
Southern flounder
Snook
King mackerel

Shaded months are the main season or open season for each fish, from the state wildlife agency or local captains’ own published calendars. Seasons and limits change – check current rules before you go. Sources: tpwd.texas.gov, spifishingtrips.com.

Know before you go

Fishing in South Padre Island: local notes

Texas state waters extend 9 nautical miles into the Gulf; red snapper there are open year-round (4 fish, 15 in), while federal waters beyond have a separate season and a 2-fish, 16 in limit for private anglers.

Source: tpwd.texas.gov

Snook may be kept only within a 24-28 inch slot, one per day, with no closed season.

Source: tpwd.texas.gov

Lower Laguna Madre guides fish Brazos Santiago Pass, South Bay, Boca Chica Bay, Bahia Grande, the Arroyo Colorado, Laguna Vista Cove and the Port Mansfield and Port Isabel channels.

Source: lamoscacharters.com

Some SPI guides run jetty and Brownsville Ship Channel trips for snook, tarpon, mangrove snapper and mackerel in addition to Laguna Madre flats trips.

Source: fishingsouthpadresisland.com

Bay fishing party boats on SPI (Danny B on Laguna Blvd, Breakaway Cruises at Sea Ranch Marina) charge about $35 per adult with rod, reel and bait included.

Source: breakawaycruises.com

Questions

South Padre Island fishing charter questions

How many fishing charters are in South Padre Island?

We list 17 charter captains and guides fishing from South Padre Island, Port Isabel and the lower Laguna Madre, A to Z – not ranked.

How much is a fishing charter in South Padre Island?

Among 3 boats that publish a private half-day price, the median is $499 (from $475 to $1,200). Prices are for the whole boat, usually up to 4 to 6 anglers.

What fish can you catch in South Padre Island?

The species South Padre Island captains list most often are Speckled trout, Redfish, Black drum, King mackerel, Flounder and Snook. In October, the season calendar above shows Southern flounder, Snook in season.

Do I need a fishing license on a charter in Texas?

Ask the captain when you book: in many coastal states a licensed charter boat covers its paying passengers, but not in every state or on every trip. A Texas resident annual license is $30 and a nonresident annual license $58. Texas fishing license prices and rules.

Does Gone Fishing HQ take a commission?

No. You book with the captain directly by phone or on their own website, and they keep 100% of the trip price.

More in Texas: Galveston · Port Aransas · Corpus Christi · Lake Fork · Lake Texoma.

For captains and guides

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