If you’re looking for an unforgettable angling adventure, cast off with Down South Fishing Charters! Departing out of Port Isabel, you’ll have the chance to experience the inshore fishing that the lower Laguna Madre has become famous for. Even better? You’ll be guided on your trip by Captain Chris Cole, who grew up fishing these waters. He knows a thing or two about what it takes to hook the catch of your dreams.
Capt. Chris has plenty of angling experience, both personally and as a charter captain. With this experience comes the opportunity to share his love of the outdoors with his clients. This is something that he feels privileged to do. He especially loves taking new anglers out and loves watching their reactions if they’ve never been on a boat before. It reminds him to never take his love for these waters for granted!
You’ll be fishing from Capt. Chris’s 21’ Shallow Sport bay boat. She’s built for cruising narrow, shallow waters, making her the perfect vessel for exploring Laguna Madre. Capt. Chris can accommodate up to 6 guests, and warmly welcomes families with little ones on board, too. Your vessel is decked out with top-quality navigational and safety gear, as well as plenty of storage, so you don’t need to worry about bringing your own cooler.
When it comes to fishing, there’s a reason why Laguna Madre is so beloved by anglers! Capt. Chris will have you targeting exciting species such as huge Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, and Black Drum. You’ll be using light tackle to hook your catch, and your captain will show you how to wield your rod for the best results. Catch and release is encouraged – why not help preserve this excellent fishery for generations to come?
Rods, reels, and tackle are included in your trip, as well as drinking water. Live bait can be purchased at an additional cost, and you’ll need to pick up a fishing license beforehand. Then it’s time to cast off on an incredible angling adventure with Down South Fishing Charters!
Captain
Christopher Cole
Most popular features:
In demand! Last booked: 3 days ago
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (39)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Appropriate for children
96%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
94%
Caught fish
93%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (AM) on April 19, 2025
It was great captain was very helpful and considering that the conditions were less then ideal he still put us on the fish
It was great captain was very helpful and considering that the conditions were less then ideal he still put us on the fish
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Full Day Trip on August 3, 2024
This was our daughter's first trip fishing and he made sure she had an amazing experience. Thanks Capt. Chris we will be back. The Steele's
This was our daughter's first trip fishing and he made sure she had an amazing experience. Thanks Capt. Chris we will be back. The Steele's
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (AM) on March 29, 2024
While we fared through the windy conditions, Captain Chris hung with us and tried many locations and different baits. He was patient with a Minnesota crew that included three kids under 16 and took the time to help teach us not just about fishing but about the ecosystem and wildlife around us. We may not have caught loads of fish, but Captain Chris tried his hardest, and we did leave for "home" with enough to enjoy for fish tacos with our group. We had a great time and I'd definitely book with Captain Chris again. Thanks, Chris!
While we fared through the windy conditions, Captain Chris hung with us and tried many locations and different baits. He was patient with a Minnesota crew that included three kids under 16 and took the time to help teach us not just about fishing but about the ecosystem and wildlife around us. We may not have caught loads of fish, but Captain Chris tried his hardest, and we did leave for "home" with enough to enjoy for fish tacos with our group. We had a great time and I'd definitely book...
Driftwood, TX
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (PM) on July 7, 2023
What a great time fishing! Not only was Captain Christopher’s knowledge of the area and best spots to fish near and far amazing but his great patience with the kids we brought with us youngest of which were 6 & 10 was also amazing and greatly appreciated. He showed them how it was done kindly corrected them when they needed to do something different and bountifully commended them for a job well done. As a result even the 6 year old had a great time and caught lots of fish. Captain even went a little farther than usual to find is a really great spot and stayed a little longer to help us catch our limit… had lots of oversized and undersized due to the narrow slot for specs right now but we had an amazing time. Highly recommend this kind gentleman and family man. He’s a gem and will call him again if I’m in the area and recommend him to others.
What a great time fishing! Not only was Captain Christopher’s knowledge of the area and best spots to fish near and far amazing but his great patience with the kids we brought with us youngest of which were 6 & 10 was also amazing and greatly appreciated. He showed them how it was done kindly corrected them when they needed to do something different and bountifully commended them for a job well done. As a result even the 6 year old had a great time and caught lots of fish. Captain even went...
Niederwald, TX
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (PM) on August 7, 2023
Friendly and knowledgeable captain who loves kids. Had no problem catching many fish on a windy summer midday. If you've never been to the bay for fishing, Captain Chris will make the experience worthwhile. After the catch, he cleaned the fish and even gave us a recipe. We highly recommend Down South and will be contacting them for future trips for sure.
Friendly and knowledgeable captain who loves kids. Had no problem catching many fish on a windy summer midday. If you've never been to the bay for fishing, Captain Chris will make the experience worthwhile. After the catch, he cleaned the fish and even gave us a recipe. We highly recommend Down South and will be contacting them for future trips for sure.
Down South Fishing Charters offers the following trips to customers:
When you book a trip with Down South Fishing Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
Trips booked with Down South Fishing Charters include:
Down South Fishing Charters offers the following types of fishing:
Down South Fishing Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
Top targeted fish species with Down South Fishing Charters include:
Port Isabel, Texas, United States
Captain Chris Cole has been fishingThe Lower Laguna Madre since childhood. He loves nothing more than taking customers who have never caught a fish (or have never caught a big fish!) out to explore the bay. He feels privileged that he gets to introduce these fishing grounds to people who have never seen the Lower Laguna Madre or have never been on a boat. Seeing how these customers react to their experience reminds him to never take his love for the bay for granted! As well as running charters, he also participates in all the major tournaments this area provides. He's more than equipped to take you on the adventure of a lifetime, and can't wait to welcome you on board!
Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
My normal range is inshore and nearshore. Inshore we could travel up to twenty miles nearshore seven to ten.
Wreck Fishing
Flats Fishing
Light Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Fly Fishing
Drift Fishing
GPS
Fishfinder
Live Bait Well
Rods, reels & tackle
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Fish cleaning will be done at the dock by me for free.
Drinks
Waters and Gatorade.
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.
Pickup agreed upon reservation
Transfer to/from departure site may be available and included in price depending on your location and distance from the dock.
Child Friendly
One of my specialties is children . I will focus on them allowing the parents to get more fishing time.
You Keep Catch
Book with 20% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 20% 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
American Express
PayPal