South Padre Island is located off the southern coast of Texas. It is known for dolphin research facilities, sea life nature centers, and more. Chances are, if you’re looking to travel to South Padre Island, you want to get away or to experience the sea life that surrounds the island.
This island off of Texas is one of the best places to go fishing and experience the amazing waters.
Before booking a trip, you will want to understand the regulations, the types of fish you may catch, and some of the tours you can take. There will be regulations you have to follow in any state you travel to or risk breaking the law. We’ve got your ultimate guide to fishing in South Padre Island!
About South Padre Island Fishing
Coming to South Padre Island can be a fantastic yearly getaway. During the summer, you will find plenty of fish to catch. This is a beautiful place to stay for a warm getaway and an even better place to fish. The waters are light and full of life that you can catch and photograph. The island population is small, but SPI attracts many tourists who want to enjoy the sun and enjoy the Gulf of Mexico. Here are some of the main things you need to know about fishing on South Padre Island.
There are rules that you will need to follow if you want to fish in South Padre. If you do not adhere to these rules, you may get fined, or in extreme cases, you may end up behind bars. Many of these regulations are easy to follow and not difficult to stick with.
For anyone over the age of 17, fishing in public water means you need to have a license. These are easy to acquire for a small fee. You can do it at Pirates Landing Fishing Pier or Blue Marlin Supermarket. The daily bag limit for each individual is five fish. You will get fined if you go over this amount. You can catch any type of fish and all subspecies, but you can only take five. Finally, there will be a size limit; if they are too small or too large, you will not be able to keep them. If you know what you will catch, you need to check the Texas government website to make sure you understand the size limit.
There are no seasonal closures for South Padre Island, but the best time to go fishing in the summer. If you are unsure about this information, the best thing you can do is get a charter; the captain will take care of the more minor details you may not know about.
Fish To Catch
There are ten common types of fish you can catch in South Padre. For each fish, you will have to research the size limits or ask the captain. Some of the best fish you should try catching while visiting South Padre include Tarpon, Snook, Bass, Snapper, Dorado, Catfish, Crevalle Jack, Tuna, Marlin, and Spanish Mackerel.
There are much more fish you can catch in South Padre Island, but you can also catch types of sharks. Fishing for sharks has become a big attraction on this small island and has driven many tourists. Blacktips and boneheads are some of the most common types of sharks you can catch in this area. There are more rules about shark fishing, and you will typically have to go out at night to catch them. To keep the population healthy, you should always throw sharks back in the water.
South Padre Island Fishing Charters
Using a charter boat and going with a captain is one of the best ways to get on a fishing trip while following all of the regulations you may not know about. Each South Padre Island fishing charter will be run by a different captain who is also an experienced fisherman. They may even have all of the supplies you need while touring and fishing. You will find that many tours cost between $30-$1,100 for fishing trips. Here are some of the best ones to check out.
Captain Murphy’s Charter Service
This is a one-of-a-kind deep-sea fishing tour; with this fantastic charter, the captain will give you everything you need to catch Red Snapper, Ling, King Fish, and types of Sharks. However, you will have to bring your own food and drinks. Tickets for this charter will cost between $75-$95, depending on what you are looking to do and when.
Osprey Cruises
The best news about Osprey Cruises is that there are several types of cruises to choose from at different price points. They not only have cruises where you can eat dinner and watch the sunset, but they also have deep-sea fishing. You can either watch people fish or be the one fishing!
For a five-hour deep sea fishing experience, you can expect to pay between $35-$70 for the day, or you can go Bay fishing for $20-$30 daily. If you want to learn about the environment around the island, they also have an eco-tour that costs $20 per adult.
Captain Bryan Ray Fishing Adventures
If you have a big group of people and are trying to get on a boat with a captain, this should be your go-to option. This is slightly more expensive, but you will get the entire charter boat to yourself with just the captain and his small team. For four people, you can choose between a five-hour session or an eight-hour session. The five-hour session will be $700 for the four people, and the eight-hour session will be $1,100 for the four people. If you are looking to catch Red Snapper, Dolphin Fish, or Sharks, this is a great choice.
Plan Your Next Vacation
The best thing about staying on South Padre Island for a fishing vacation is that there are a ton of South Padre Island condo rentals to choose from. There are plenty of boat slips along the waterfront that you can rent out for the week as well.
Captain Lou Austin
Suppose you are looking for a charter that is a whole eight-hour experience with all of the necessary tools to experience your first-time deep sea fishing. In that case, this is the place to start. You will get the captain and team to yourself. For the first two people, the price is $350; any additional people will be $50. This is a steal for an eight-hour charter!
Where to Stay In SPI
Padre Getaways offers tons of unique South Padre Island rentals with boat slips. If you’re planning to rent a boat while you’re in town, staying in one of these accommodations can be a great option. You won’t have to worry about leaving your boat in a marina, and you can head out onto the water whenever you please!
You might also enjoy staying in one of our South Padre Island bayside rentals. These rental options put you directly on the water, so you can step outside and be at the Bay at a moment’s notice. When you don’t want to be out, you’re guaranteed a fantastic view of the waves from your patio or window!
South Padre Island is one of the best places to fish in the summertime. You can experience night fishing, shark fishing and find unique fish you won’t get in other areas. If you are not sure of the rules and regulations, you should go for a charter boat or take a tour. This can be one of the best fishing vacations you will ever go on! But before you can experience South Padre Island fishing for yourself, you have to call us and book your stay!
