Based on South Padre Island, Texas, What’s On Fishing specializes in taking their clients out for a great day on the water. Your age and expertise will not lessen your experience – the crew can cater to both complete novices and seasoned veterans. Families are also welcome to join in with this adventure!

Introduce your kids to fishing and enjoy a smile on your child’s face when they reel in their first ever fish. Bring your fishing buddies with you or have a ‘father and son’ day out on the water. Fish with your colleagues and friends and have fun! Truly everyone is welcome!

Just find a trip that suits you best and join the crew aboard the ‘What’s On?’. She is a beautiful 35’ Bertram with plenty of space for up to 6 anglers. The What’s On can cruise at a top speed of 24 knots thanks to her twin 320 Caterpillar engines. Built back in 1982, she was overhauled in 2017.

The What’s On is fully rigged with electronics and advanced technologies to put you on fish. She has a fighting chair, a flybridge, outriggers, and downriggers. As well as that, the What’s On has a restroom onboard.

Your trip will take you fishing for whatever patrols the waters up to 80 miles offshore, including, but not limited to, Red Snapper, King Mackerel, Wahoo, and Cobia, to name a few. If you are after something big and feisty, the crew will show you the hottest spots to battle Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, White Marlin, and Black Marlin.

Purchase a fishing license, grab your food and drinks, and step on board the What’s On. All rods, reels, tackle, bait, and lures will be provided for you on the trip. The crew will clean your keeper fish at the end of the trip so it will be ready to go straight into the frying pan when you get home!



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    6 Hour Trip AM
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    US $1,050
    On this morning trip, you will be fishing for whatever is in season, such as Cobia, Red Snapper, Kingfish, and more. Please check with the captain if there is an extra fuel surcharge for offshore trips.
  • Private trip
    8 Hour Trip
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    US $1,400
    On this eight-hour trip, you will be able to go for Wahoo, King Mackerel, Cobia, Red Snapper, and who knows what else? Please check with the captain if there is an extra fuel surcharge for offshore trips.
  • Private trip
    10 Hour Trip
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    10 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
    US $1,750
    This trip is for the more serious anglers willing to get their hands on Snapper, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Marlin, and more. Please check with the captain if there is an extra fuel surcharge for offshore trips.
  • Private trip
    12 Hour Trip
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    12 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
    US $2,100
    This full-day trip is exactly what the doctor ordered for those die-hard anglers. You will be fishing for Tuna, Marlin, Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and many other species depending on the season and what's biting. Please check with the captain if there is an extra fuel surcharge for offshore trips.
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FAQs about What's On Fishing

What's On Fishing offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $1,050 per group - 6 Hour Trip AM (6 hours)
  • US $1,400 per group - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)
  • US $1,750 per group - 10 Hour Trip (10 hours)
  • US $2,100 per group - 12 Hour Trip (12 hours)

When you book a trip with What's On Fishing, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet
  • Fighting Chair
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Flybridge
  • Live Bait Well
  • Outriggers
  • Ice Box
  • Radar

Trips booked with What's On Fishing include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait (Prepared in advance or caught during the trip)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • First Mate (Tips are not mandatory)

What's On Fishing offers the following type of fishing:
  • Offshore Fishing (Up to 80 miles)

What's On Fishing offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Popping
  • Drift Fishing
  • Deep Sea Fishing

Top targeted fish species with What's On Fishing include:
  • Cobia
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • King Mackerel (Kingfish)
  • Marlin (Blue)
  • Marlin (White)
  • Sailfish
  • Snapper (Red)
  • Tuna (Blackfin)
  • Tuna (Yellowfin)
  • Wahoo

Meet the Captain

J.W. Watson
South Padre Island, Texas, United States
186 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since April 2018
I grew up in South Texas, and have always enjoyed fishing out on the water. I enjoy getting to share this love of fishing with others. I believe that you can't catch a fish if your hook isn't in the water. For that reason, I incorporate trolling, bottom fishing, site-casting, and jigging, along with other methods to increase our productivity.

About this listing

Targeted species

Cobia Cobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
King Mackerel (Kingfish) King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Marlin (Blue) Blue Marlin

Boat specs

Bertram (Convertible) originally built in 1982, and restored in 2017. Powered by 2 320HP Caterpillar engines, with a maximum cruising speed of 24 knots.

Length
35 ft
Capacity
6 persons

Types of fishing

Offshore Fishing
Up to 80 miles

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Popping
Drift Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing

Amenities

Toilet
Fighting Chair
GPS
Fishfinder
Flybridge
Live Bait Well

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Prepared in advance or caught during the trip
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
First Mate
Tips are not mandatory

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 1 day prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 1 day before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
No min. age, life jackets supplied
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed

Payment

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Visa
Mastercard
Checks

South Padre Island Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.8 / 5
out of 5 stars from 186 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (185)
Fishing with J.W.
Fishing with J.W.
Fishing with J.W.
+182
Angler rating
166
16
4
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
96%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
99%
Appropriate for children
94%
Satisfied with the boat
99%
Caught fish
91%
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Showing:
5 of 186 reviews
Courtenay H.
Leander, TX
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with J.W.

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip AM on June 17, 2023
Captain and deckhand were amazing!  They put us on the fish and we will definitely be back!
Courtenay H. recommends What's On Fishing
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Courtenay H. recommends What's On Fishing
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Wayne T.
San Antonio, TX
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

6hr Snapper Trip

VERIFIED   8 Hour Trip on June 25, 2023
Easy to work with. Showed flexibility as original agreement changed
Wayne T. recommends What's On Fishing
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Wayne T. recommends What's On Fishing
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John B.
Port Isabel, Texas
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with J.W.

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip AM on June 24, 2023
John B. recommends What's On Fishing
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John B. recommends What's On Fishing
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Mike M.
Bokchito, OK
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

May fishing trip

VERIFIED   8 Hour Trip on May 31, 2023
Mike M. recommends What's On Fishing
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Mike M. recommends What's On Fishing
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Catherine B.
Holland, TX
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

8 hour day trip.

VERIFIED   8 Hour Trip on May 23, 2023
Catherine B. recommends What's On Fishing
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Catherine B. recommends What's On Fishing
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