Best Times & Seasons to Fish at South Padre Island
South Padre Island is one of the best fishing destinations on the Gulf Coast and even the country. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish these rich waters can lead to even better fishing success than other anglers could dream of.
The best time to fish South Padre Island is from June to October when the fishing really heats up and opens the door to fishing for several of the species the Gulf waters have to offer.
| Fish Species | Best Seasons & Peak Fishing Window |
| Redfish | Good fishing August to November & March through May |
| Tuna | Best fishing is May through August |
| Tarpon | August through October is the best fishing window |
| Snook | March through mid-fall is the best fishing season |
| Sharks | May through September, especially good at night |
| Snapper | Best fishing is July through October |
South Padre Island is on the southeast corner of Texas and is home to some of the deepest waters in the Gulf. This makes it the perfect place for larger pelagic species and fish you can’t find anywhere else in the State of Texas.
In this article, we are going to break down the best times to go after the most popular species to make your fishing trip a success. Click here to find out the favorable times for fishing trips in Texas.
Best Time to Fish South Padre Island
Many of the species you’ll find in the Gulf are migratory species, meaning they will go wherever the water is most comfortable. As the waters of the Gulf heat up, many will come in and around South Padre Island.
This makes the summer months the best season to fish South Padre Island, from June to October. There are some, however, which will be around in the cooler months as the waters of the Gulf never get too cold for some.
Some of the species you may target during the summer include wahoo, dolphin fish, tuna, and billfish. This also includes some sharks as well are tarpon and snapper in the shallower waters.
Check out this helpful guide to the best fishing times for Port Aransas. You may also be interested in this article on the best times for Galveston fishing.
South Padre Island Species Breakdown (Best Times)
Sharks
Sharks are becoming increasingly popular among South Padre Island anglers as they appeal to the dangerous side of many. What’s even better is that many are caught right off the beach and in the bay.
That being said, as you get into the deeper waters of the Gulf, bull sharks and hammerheads are possible. Shark season peaks during the summer, and especially at night.
Redfish
The redfish is one of the main staples of the South Padre Island fishing scene. They are most popular in the shallows and flats. The largest are often found nestled in the seagrass of Laguna Madre.
The redfish action peaks between the months of August and November, with a slight rise in action again from March to May. Though you’re more likely to land the smaller redfish, a large one will put up a fight you’ll love, especially on medium gear.
Snook
South Padre Island is the only place in Texas you can find snook. What’s better is they are one of the species which stay in the area all year round and never migrate out.
This means the action can heat up as early as March and last well into the fall, though the slow down is only minimal in the winter months. During the colder months look for them around deeper channels.
Tarpon
Tarpon make an appearance in South Padre Island as well, especially as the waters warm up in the late spring. However, the best time to target the tarpon is during the late summer and fall months, August to October. This is when you’ll be able to find them near the beaches and rock jetties.
Snapper
Snapper, namely red snapper, are prominent in the waters around South Padre Island. They are, however, a regulated species across most of the country, the Gulf included, but only in federal waters.
In federal waters, there are only a couple months out of the year you can fish for red snapper. In Texas state waters, though, there are no such limitations. The best time to target snapper in South Padre Island is from July to October.
Tuna
When you think of Texas fishing, tuna isn’t likely to be on your list, and rightfully so. South Padre Island, though, is home to an incredible tuna population during the summer.
You’ll definitely need a full-day trip to target them as they are 30+ miles offshore. However, the trip is worth it. While trolling for tuna you’re also likely to land marlin and sailfish, as well. The best season to fish for tuna in South Padre Island is the summer.
Recommended Fishing Charters in South Padre Island
These South Padre Island-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charter | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Red Vision Fishing Charters | Inshore & Nearshore |
| What’s On Fishing | Offshore & Big Game |
| George’s Fishing Charters (Port Isabel) | Inshore & Nearshore |
| Dunkin Guide Systems | Backcountry & Inshore |
| Todds Sportfishing | Offshore & Big Game |
| Bode’s Bay Fishing | Inshore & Nearshore |
Best time of the day to fish South Padre Island
The morning hours are considered by many locals to be the best time of the day to fish in South Padre Island.
That’s because the morning tides are often when the most movement in the water occurs, sparking a feeding frenzy for large and small fish alike. This is especially the case in fishing the shallow waters or from the beaches.
South Padre Island Fishing and Tidal Impacts
The best tides to fish in when visiting South Padre Islands is the tidal change between low and hide during the morning hours.
During this tidal shift, you’ll find larger fish come up to the shallower waters as the movement in the water stirs up baitfish. You’ll also find more fish in the shallow flats during these hours as well.
Top Fishing Spots South Padre Islands (Best Seasons)
Texas Clipper
A 473-foot drop sits about 17 miles from the coast of South Padre Island and is a treasure troth of species.
Here, you’ll find the hard-hitting barracuda and kingfish, as well as snapper, spadefish, and grunt. The best time to fish the Texas Clipper is during the summer between July and September.
Brownsville Ship Channel
When it comes to late-season snook, this is the place to go. There will be large schools gathered in the deeper waters here during the fall and winter months.
That’s not all you’ll find here, though. If you come during the summer, the tarpon, snapper, and trout will be the main acts, with many more species included. The best time to fish in Brownsville Ship Channel is from August to October.
South Bay
South Bay is home to some of the best kayak fishing spots in all of Texas. The bay is remote, meaning not many anglers will venture to it, but the rewards far outweigh any travel time you might have.
Here you’ll find plenty of redfish, trout, and snook. The best time to fish South Bay is from June to September, though it’s a great place to find snook in the fall and winter as well.
Rio Grande Valley Reef
This is not a spot for novice anglers and is more for an experienced kayak angler as it is an 8-mile paddle from the tip of the South Padre Island to the reef. If you can make it to the structure you’ll find the likes of snapper, mackerel, and spadefish, just to name a few. The summer months are best for fishing the reef, especially in the morning hours.
Pirate’s Landing Fishing Pier
Pier fishing is great on South Padre Island and Pirate’s Landing Pier is among the best. It is the longest fishing pier in all of Texas. The pier offers access to the likes of trout and croaker, as well as catfish, flounder, and many more inshore species.
If you’re wanting to hit the pier, you had better get there early in the morning as it gets packed during the summer as it is a popular way for tourists to dabble in South Padre Fishing without being out too much money.
Oil Rigs
It would be hard to name just one oil rig as being better among the others as there are so many in the Gulf, ranging from 10 miles to 140 miles from South Padre Islands.
If you can make it out to the further ones you are sure to find the fish of a lifetime. They are great places to find sailfish, tuna, and marlin as well as dolphin fish and dorado. The best time to visit these rigs is during the summer and fall months.
Booking Charters in South Padre Island
The waters around South Padre Island are filled with reefs, oil rigs, and shipwrecks which make perfect places for fish to hang out.
The only way to really reach these places is on a fishing charter. Booking a fishing charter in South Padre Island doesn’t have to be difficult. Here we give you some of the information to consider when booking your charter.
Best Season to Go
The best season for booking a charter in South Padre Island, and have the most success, is the summer season. This is when the fishing really heats up, pun intended. This is, however, when the majority of tourist traffic hits the island, meaning the competition for the best charters can be fierce.
While there are charters you can book same day in the marina, you’re best option is to book well in advance. If you want the best value without the crowds, consider planning your trip in September or October.
Morning vs. Evening
For many species, the morning is going to be the best time of day to get on the water. That’s when they tend to be the most active in feeding. This is especially the case during the low-light times of the early morning hours. This will be dependent, though, on the size of the fish.
Larger deep-water species will actually feed all day long. That’s why it’s not uncommon for charters to pull in multiple fish in one trip, even in the afternoon. However, the morning does allow you to beat at least some of the heat of the summer.
Trip Length
The length of trip you book is totally dependent on the experience you wish to have. Let’s break down what you might consider when deciding on how long to stay on the water.
Half-day
Half-day trips are perfect for those families looking to spend some time together on the water making memories. These trips allow even the most novice of anglers to enjoy the fishing without subjecting them to a full day, especially on choppy waters.
Because these islands are already out in the Gulf, you’ll be able to get on schools of large fish relatively quickly, such as mahi mahi and wahoo, though you might not have the time to land a large billfish.
Full day
A full-day trip fully immerses you in the world of deep-sea fishing. You’ll have the time to travel to where the larger fish are, including marlin and sailfish. This makes for the perfect fishing experience as it gives you the chance at more action with iconic species.
Multi-Day
While not every charter offers this ability, there are some who will allow you to book multi-day trips. During these trips, you’ll have the ability to on ship and go to waters you would never be able to fish on a single day.
They are often considerably more expensive than your standard charter, though they include everything you will need, including gourmet meals while onboard.
Storms & South Padre Fishing
South Padre Island gets hit by its fair share of tropical storms and hurricanes. These tend to be a greater occurrence during the summer months. If it’s a simple rainstorm, the fishing won’t be as affected. However, tropical storms do wreak havoc on fishing trips.
Fish don’t like rough seas, especially those fish who hang out above the 200-foot mark. When waters get rough, these fish go deep.
Even inshore species will find a place of cover as deep as they can go and sort of hang out there until the waters calm back down. The days leading up to a storm, however, are some excellent times to fish.
The fish will go into an induced feeding frenzy as they sense the change in pressure because they know there won’t be much food to hunt for the coming days. This means they will bite on almost anything and makes for some incredible fishing action.
Night Fishing in South Padre Island
Night fishing in South Padre Island is incredible, especially during the summer months. Many anglers will head out at night to beat the heat of the summer, but the fish do the same thing.
The waters are much cooler at night making it more comfortable for the fish to hunt. If you can head out on a full moon, the action will be even greater.
Sharks are predominantly nighttime hunters, especially the larger species. This makes night fishing for sharks an experience like none other.
Night Fishing is excellent on piers and shores as well as the crowds are slim and pressure on the fish nonexistent. What makes it better on the piers, too, is the artificial light that draws baitfish to the piers which make the predatory fish go crazy.
The best spots to fish on a pier at night is right outside the reach of the light on the water as that’s likely where the larger fish are waiting to strike.
Shore Fishing in South Padre Island
If you’re wanting to experience South Padre Island fishing but don’t have the ability to book a fishing charter, fishing from the pier is still a great alternative. The best time of the day to head to the piers is early morning, the earlier the better to beat the crowds.
The best season for shore and pier fishing is the summer season as the tides are higher during the summer, bringing more fish to the shallower waters.
Species you can expect to catch from the piers or shores include snook and trout, as well as catfish and juvenile tarpon. In fact, smaller shark species are also a popular catch among shore and pier anglers. This gives you the thrill of catching species you wouldn’t have seen normally while not having to pay the cost of a fishing charter.
