What You Need to Know About South Padre Island Fishing

Fishing in South Padre Island provides a number of options for new and old fisherman. Its beautiful landscape and exotic list of fish provides a tempting environment for even the most seasoned fisherman. Currently, there are well over 500 different species that can include red fish, trout, flounder, drum, king fish, wahoo, tuna and many others. This wide assortment of fish lends itself to two types of fishing (1) Bay fishing and (2) Deep Sea Fishing.

Deep Sea Fishing
For those looking for a new adventure, look no further than deep sea fishing. Most newbies to this fishing come away transfixed with excitement and enjoyment. It affords you an opportunity to see a wide assortment of aquatic life from sting rays to sharks is a rare treat. Generally, most of the deep sea fishing is focused on catching fish like red snapper, mackerel, and pompano. With Deep Sea Fishing, most of the charters offer half day and full day options. The half day options usually run four hours and the whole day options run anywhere from 8 to 10 hours depending on the charter company. The private charter trip costs begin at $350 for 2 people for a half day trip and $500 for a full day trip. Party boat costs are $50 to $80 a person depending on the number of hours.

Bay Fishing
For something a little less challenging, you may want to try your hand at Bay Fishing in Laguna Madre Bay. Here, you can use rod and reel to go after some high quality South Padre fish in calmer waters and do it at potentially reduced rates. The two main options are: (1) fishing on a party boat or (2) private charter trip. The main difference deals with the number of people and individualized attention. Fishing party boats can have well over 10 people whereas a private charter trip is reduced to your party. Fishing on a party boat is cheaper in comparison with a cost of roughly $20 to $30 per fisherman. Private charter trips tend to begin at $350 for 2 people. Again, the main benefit of the private charter trips is their privacy and individualized attention. Most bay fishing trips are done in 3 to 5 hour intervals and go throughout the day.

Extra Considerations & Questions To Ask
Contact your captain to see if you will need a fishing license. If so, you can call 1-800-895-4248 to purchase one.

To help you decide which charter group to go with, we have included a few things you should keep in mind:

Captain’s experience level: You want to have a captain who has several years of guiding tours under his/her belt. This will increase your chances of having a knowledgeable guide and one who will know what to do if a problem should occur. Boat’s condition and age: The concern here isn’t really that the ship will be seaworthy. The concern is over whether you will run into any engine difficulties while on the sea. Your best bet here is to go with charters that have newer boats and appear to be in tip-top shape.

Fry or grill your catch: A number of charter places will let you cook your catch on the pier. Find out whether they do because eating your catch can be a rare treat after a long day fishing.

What gear is needed: Most places for deep sea fishing and private trips will provide you with rods and tackle free of charge. However, it is still a good idea to find out beforehand on whether you will have to pay extra. Also, a number of charters let you bring refreshments with you; however, some do not allow glass and some other materials. It is best to find out what you can’t bring before you get to the pier.

Experiencing South Padre Island Fishing is something everyone can enjoy. Kids love it and one of the fastest growing segments of fishing is women. For this reason, be sure to bring along the entire crew as all will be captivated by South Padre Fishing, especially deep sea fishing. Plus, for those who are really adventurous, consider trying your hand at Canyon Fishing.

Sam Malone has enjoyed South Padre Island for many years and welcomes you to do the same. For more tips and things to consider when at South Padre, please click here:
http://www.south-padre-island.net or South Padre Island Fishing