There are many advantages in going
on a
guided fly fishing trip or a deep sea sport fishing
charter for a South Padre fishing vacation. Fishing
guides and fishing charter captains are often very
knowledgeable about their local waters.
They can offer sport anglers instruction and fishing
techniques that are unique to Laguna Madre. The primary
job of a fishing guide or
charter boat captain is to
locate and put their clients on fish, as well as offer
their knowledge on the fishing environment and fishing
techniques required to pursue the quarry of the day.
In many cases, fishing guides and sport fishing charters
specialize in specific game fish fishing excursions.
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND OFFERS A FISHERMAN'S PARADISE
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas, March 26, 2010 - South Padre
Island is Texas' southernmost beach locale. This unique
geographic location lends a bit of tropical feel to
South Padre Island and its surrounding waters. For
anglers, this adds up to year-round salt water angling
options for species not generally found elsewhere in the
Lone Star State.
With more than 600 different fish species inhabiting the
Island's waters, sport fishing is a favorite year-round
activity, from surfcasting to deep sea fishing. South
Padre Island has many experienced fishing guides,
serving both large and small groups. They will work to
ensure the success of your outings. Additional
information on fishing and fishing guides can be found
on
www.gofishsouthpadre.com
Nearly 2,000 anglers convene on the Island each August
for two popular annual events, the Texas International
Fishing Tournament in and the Ladies Kingfish
Tournament. The Island boasts restaurants from casual to
upscale, all with a diverse range of offerings, but
seafood is the town's top specialty. Wild Texas Gulf
shrimp are harvested in the region, and with the
Island's abundant sport fishing, many restaurants will
cook an angler's catch to order.
South Padre Island Calendar of Fishing Opportunities
January - January sees the true beginning of the surf
fishing season. Most beachfront fishermen are looking
for pompano, whiting, sand trout, red drum, and
jackcrevalle. In the bay, good numbers of speckled trout
and redfish will still be found in shallow water during
the warmer afternoon hours. Snook and mangrove snapper
can be consistently found in the deeper waters of the
Brownsville Ship Channel and Port of Port Isabel. And,
most years find good numbers of kingfish patrolling just
offshore - a rarity in winter elsewhere along the Gulf
Coast.
February - By February, the beachfront is full of
pompano - and fishermen hoping to catch them.
Additionally, the consistent catches of whiting, sand
trout, red and black drum, and jacks continue for
fishermen plying the beachfront. Catchable numbers of
redfish and speckled trout are still found in the bay.
Black drum are also a popular target for bay fishermen.
Snook and mangrove snapper are still reliable around
deeper water structure. However, February is the month
when the focus of most bay fishermen changes from
school-size speckled trout to trophy trout, as the large
female specks begin to fatten up in anticipation of
their annual spawn.
March - Despite huge Spring Break crowds on land, the
bay system is relatively empty in the third month of the
year. However, shallow water fishing is just starting to
heat up. Expect to find good schools of redfish and
trout
along the channel edges and on the flats during warmer
days. Flounder are also a little more common in March.
Snook, mangrove snapper, and lookdowns will still be
solid in the ship channel, but will begin making their
way back into the bay system. Sheepshead will be ganged
up around the jetties and will have plenty of suitors as
anglers line the rocks to try and land these tasty
panfish.
April - Winds are still strong in South Texas during
April, but that doesn't hinder the fishing any. By
April, the water temperatures are warm enough to make
fishing earlier in the day practical - particularly for
those looking to sight-cast on the flats. Reds and
specks will be spending more time in the shallow water
and there will still be plenty of big trout cruising the
flats preparing to spawn. April is one of the better
months to tangle with one of these trophy trout in the
Lower Laguna Madre. April also sees the bluewater
currents begin swinging closer to shore. Kingfish
frequently get within reach of jetty anglers during
April and can be consistently found within a few miles
of the beach. The first few tarpon of the year typically
show up in April as well.
May - May is usually the final month to find spawning
speckled trout in the Lower
Laguna Madre, so anglers are generally focused on
landing a trophy. Redfish are really active in May,
which seems to be one of those months were the water is
not too warm and not too cold and all species of fish
seem to show a bit more spunk.
Most fishermen will be focused on redfish in the shallow
flats, but they can also be found on the deeper flats
and ledges. By May, jetty fishing has become really hot.
Whether fishing the rocks by boat or by foot, odds are
you can reasonably expect to have a chance to catch
snook, ladyfish, jack crevalle, tarpon, mangrove
snapper, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, speckled trout and
more. Offshore fishermen are also starting to see a bit
more variety, as fish such as bonito, wahoo, sailfish,
and ling become more common catches and add to the
regular bags of kingfish, Spanish mackerel, red snapper
and grouper found by these anglers.
June - As the temperature rises, so does the intensity
of the fishing. In June, it becomes hard to decide what
to fish for. In the bay, redfish, speckled trout,
ladyfish, flounder and snook will be common catches.
Along the jetties, anglers will be covered up with
kingfish, Spanish mackerel, snook, tarpon, grouper,
mangrove snapper, jack crevalle, ladyfish and more. And
offshore, fishermen
can expect to find sailfish, kingfish, ling, wahoo, red
snapper, grouper and, occasionally, marlin and tuna.
July - By July, summer is in full swing. Crowds are more
common on the bay, but with so many options available,
the water hardly feels crowded. Speckled trout are
generally found along the channel edges and deeper
flats, while redfish will still be found cruising the
shallow water flats. July is also the first full month
that sees snook consistently found on the flats of South
Bay. Offshore action is also in full swing by July, with
marlin, sailfish, ling, kingfish, red snapper, wahoo and
blackfin tuna being the main focus.
August - August is the month for the nationally-renowned
Texas International Fishing Tournament as well as the
Ladies Kingfish Tournament. Folks looking to take one
last fishing trip before school's back in session will
have plenty of options. Speckled trout, redfish,
flounder and snook will all be plentiful in the bay.
Along the beachfront, snook, tarpon and kingfish will be
common. Offshore, virtually every Gulf species will be
within range, including yellowfin and blackfin tuna,
blue marlin, sailfish and wahoo.
September -In September, redfish will be grouping up and
preparing for a mass exodus into the Brazos Santiago
Pass for their fall spawn. These huge pods of
fish are easy to spot as they hassle baitfish on the
flats and can provide fast and furious action for
anglers chasing them. Speckled trout are also preparing
for a
secondary spawn in the fall. The best fishing in
September involves snook in South Bay and Mexiquite
Flats and tarpon in the Brazos Santiago Pass. Both of
these exotic, tropical species are extremely active -
and accessible - in September, as are kingfish, tuna and
a host of offshore species.
October - Pods of "tailing" redfish are the signature of
fall flats fishing in the Lower Laguna Madre. The calm
winds of October make the task of fly casting to
these fish a breeze, making October one of the most
popular months among the fly rod ranks. As the month
wears on, these fish will begin making their way to the
Brazos Santiago Pass. Spawning specks will also be
prowling the flats and plenty of smaller trout will be
in the deeper water. Snook will still be good in South
Bay, but will begin making their way back into the
deeper water of the shipping lanes. October is also an
exciting time offshore, as blue water anglers begin
tackling with tuna on a regular basis. Red snapper,
grouper, kingfish will also be regular targets of
offshore fishermen. Tarpon will still be around until
the end of the month.
November - Flats fishing is still hot in November and
the cooler air temperatures make for comfortable fishing
throughout the day. Speckled trout and redfish will be
found on the shallow flats. Snook will begin settling in
along the Brownsville Ship Channel. Mangrove snapper
will be thick around the jetties. The big draw for surf
and jetty anglers in November, however, will be the big
"bull" reds which have moved in for their annual spawn.
Good numbers of bull reds can be taken from the Brazos
Santiago Pass, along the South Padre Beachfront, and at
the Port Mansfield Cut at the northern end of the
island.
December - The final month of the year still holds
promise for fishermen along South Padre Island. December
usually ushers in the start of pompano and whiting
fishing along the beachfront. Redfish and speckled trout
are still consistently caught throughout the bay.
December is one of the best times to seek snook in the
Brownsville Ship Channel. Although the water
temperatures have cooled off, these warm-water fish can
be consistently found around the docks, pilings and
channels off the ship channel and in the Port of Port
Isabel and Brownsville shrimp basin.
ABOUT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
South Padre Island is a 34-mile long barrier reef island
located on the tropical tip of Texas. On the same
latitude as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the Island is known
for its white, fine-sand beaches, tropical blue waters
and consistently warm temperatures year-round. It's been
ranked as one of the country's top beaches by
publications from Men's Fitness to Conde Nast Traveler.
For more information on accommodations, attractions and
activities, Visit
www.sopadre.com for
more info
