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Port guide / South Padre and the Lower Laguna / Texas
South Padre Island fishing guide
South Padre Island and Port Isabel sit on the Lower Laguna Madre at Brazos Santiago Pass, the southernmost pass on the Texas coast. You get shallow Laguna flats for trout, reds and flounder, the Brazos Santiago jetties for kingfish, Spanish mackerel and tarpon, and a short run to Gulf blue water. This is also the one corner of Texas where snook are a regular target, around pilings and structure in the lower Laguna.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
NOAA tides, SPI Brazos Santiago, TX (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Port Mansfield TX to the Rio Grande River out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around South Padre Island. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled trout | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Snook | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Southern flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Black drum | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good |
| King mackerel | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow | Slow |
| Tarpon | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow |
Speckled trout
Peak: March, April, May, September, October, November
Drift and sight cast the shallow Laguna Madre flats, and slide to deeper channels and harbors in cold snaps.
Redfish
Peak: September, October, November
Reds work the Laguna flats year round, and big spawning reds gather near the pass from mid August to mid October.
Snook
Peak: June, July
A warm water fish here; TPWD says most are caught in the lower Laguna Madre around pilings and structure, and they spawn near passes in June or July.
Southern flounder
Peak: September, October
Laguna flounder head for the Gulf in fall, but harvest is closed November 1 to December 14.
Black drum
Peak: January, February, March, April
TPWD says the Corpus Christi to Brownsville stretch holds the most black drum in Texas, with big fish schooling before the late winter spawn.
King mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Kingfish are a jetty and nearshore fish here.
Tarpon
Peak: June, July, August
Tarpon roll off the beachfront and around the jetties in summer.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Southern flounder, Texas waters
Flounder harvest is closed November 1 through December 14 (bag limit is zero); catch and release only during that window.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 (regulations valid Sept. 1, 2026 to Aug. 31, 2027) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, Texas state waters
Open year round for private recreational anglers in state waters. Circle hooks are required when using natural bait.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 to 2027 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal waters (private anglers landing in Texas)
The 2026 private recreational season in federal waters opened May 22, 2026. TPWD monitors harvest to set the closing date, and as of October 23, 2026 it remained open.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal waters (federal for-hire boats)
Federal for-hire season has a fixed closure January 1 to May 31, and the 2026 season closes October 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
The 2026 recreational season opened September 1 and closed October 14, 2026. Fixed closures run August 1 to 31 and November 1 to July 31.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 to 2027 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
The 2026 recreational season ran September 1 to October 1, 2026, and is now closed.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, federal waters
Fixed recreational closures run January 1 to February 28 and June 1 to July 31.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Shallow water grouper (including red grouper), federal waters
Closed February 1 to March 31 seaward of the 20 fathom contour.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Jetty
Brazos Santiago jetties
The jetties hold kingfish, Spanish mackerel, tarpon and grouper.
- Flats
Lower Laguna Madre flats
Shallow flats fished by drifting and sight casting for trout, reds, flounder and snook.
- Pier
Pirate's Landing Fishing Pier (Port Isabel)
Port Isabel's fishing pier, listed by the island's visitor bureau.
- Beach
Gulf surf
Surf fishing and wading along the Gulf beaches, with free Island Metro rides to beach access points.
- Offshore
Nearshore and deep Gulf
Offshore water within a few miles holds mahi, tuna, kingfish and grouper, with billfish farther out.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pirate's Landing Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | Port Isabel, TX |
| Jaime J. Zapata Memorial Boat Ramp and Kayak Launch Area (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Cameron County, near 26.0022, -97.2985 (San Martin Lake area) |
| Marisol Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | South end of Laguna Boulevard at Palm Street, South Padre Island, TX |
| Town of South Padre Island public ramps at Palm Street and Polaris Street (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Palm Street and Polaris Street, South Padre Island, TX |
| Isla Blanca Park (Cameron County) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | Isla Blanca Park, South Padre Island, TX |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Local shops and guides. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle
| Shop | Where | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Stop (opens in a new tab) | 501 W. Highway 100 | (956) 943-1159 |
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Osprey Cruises (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Captain Murphy's (Isla Tours) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Breakaway Cruises (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Texas International Fishing Tournament (TIFT) (opens in a new tab)
usually late July into early August, Port Isabel and South Padre Island
2027: July 28 to August 1 (2025 ran July 30 to August 3)
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing South Padre Island, asked and answered
Can you catch snook at South Padre Island?
Yes. Texas Parks and Wildlife says snook are most often caught in the lower Laguna Madre near pilings and other structure. They are a warm water fish that spawn near passes in June or July.
What do the Brazos Santiago jetties hold?
Kingfish, Spanish mackerel, tarpon and grouper. Tarpon roll around the jetties in summer.
When is TIFT?
The Texas International Fishing Tournament runs out of Port Isabel and South Padre Island in late July and early August. The official site lists July 28 to August 1, 2027.
Where is the closest tide and water temperature station?
NOAA station 8779749, SPI Brazos Santiago, at the pass. It has tide predictions and reports water temperature and wind.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to South Padre Island
Sources for this guide (20), last checked 2026-10-26
- assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/southpadretx/Anglers_Guide_to_ (opens in a new tab)
- assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/southpadretx/Fishing_Guide_wit (opens in a new tab)
- fishgame.com/2025/10/flounder-closures-coming-up/ (opens in a new tab)
- islatours.com/contact-page/ (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/blackdrum/ (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/reddrum/ (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/snook/ (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/strout/ (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/tarpon/ (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits/flou (opens in a new tab)
- tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits/snap (opens in a new tab)
- visitsouthpadreisland.com/things-to-do/outdoors/fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- breakawaycruises.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- cameroncountytx.gov/parks-coastal-parks__trashed/parks-jaime-zapata-48/ (opens in a new tab)
- coastalcharterstx.com/the-catch/port-aransas-fishing-calendar/ (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal- (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/2025-2026-and-2026-2027-gulf-america-rec (opens in a new tab)
- lsonews.com/new-public-ramp-open-on-spi/ (opens in a new tab)
- ospreycruises.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- tift.org/ (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for South Padre Island
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.