Welcome to SPI Freedom Fishing! Now is the time to have an amazing fishing experience and create great memories with your loved ones. Captain John Fowler is eager and fighting to make every trip better than the last. He thrives off of seeing smiles on the faces of his guests and hoping each one gets to create a memorable experience.

You’ll be fishing aboard a 1985 38’ Delta, repowered in 2021. The boat is upgraded with twin 375 HP Caterpillar engines and reaches the speed of 20 knots. The boat offers modern navigational electronics and top-notch fishing equipment. For better comfort, there’s also a private toilet, an air-conditioned cabin, kitchen appliances, and a perfect ride on a flybridge.

The trips range from 5-hour family tours to 12-hour hard-core adventures. It all depends on what you want to go after and how much you want to challenge yourself. Closer to the shore, you get to target King Mackerel, Snapper, Cobia, and Triggerfish, while far offshore spots bring big game fish into the game - Sailfish, Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Barracuda, and many more.

All fishing equipment and bottled water are included in the price. Feel free to pack your food, drinks, and sun protection for your day out. The crew will also let you keep the catch and clean it for you when you get back to the marina.

The crew hopes everyone aboard Freedom gets to feel how great freedom is on the Gulf of Mexico! SPI Freedom Fishing hopes to catch fish with you on our next trip!



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    Half day A.M.
    In demand! Last booked: 5 days ago
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    US $975
    On this trip we will troll out the jetty targeting fast swimming pelagic species. Once we get to the reef we will be bottom fishing for reef species that include, red snapper, grouper, triggerfish, and any other species we can catch on the reef. This is a great trip to get your family on the water and experience the beautiful waters off of South Padre Island.
    Targeted fish
    Cobia
    Cobia
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Jack Crevalle
    Jack Crevalle
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    Snapper (Red)
    Red Snapper
    Grouper (Gag)
    Gag Grouper
  • Private trip
    Half day P.M.
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
    US $975
    On this trip we will troll out the jetty targeting fast swimming pelagic species. Once we get to the reef we will be bottom fishing for reef species that include, red snapper, grouper, triggerfish, and any other species we can catch on the reef. This is a great trip to get your family on the water and experience the beautiful waters off of South Padre Island.
    Targeted fish
    Cobia
    Cobia
    Jack Crevalle
    Jack Crevalle
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    Snapper (Red)
    Red Snapper
    Grouper (Black)
    Black Grouper
    Triggerfish (Gray)
    Gray Triggerfish
  • Private trip
    8 Hour Trip
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    US $1,350
    On this trip, you'll get more time to target multiple species of fish and try different fishing tactics. This will include, trolling for King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Cobia, Bonito, and always have the chance for a possible Marlin or Tuna!
  • Private trip
    10 Hour Trip
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    10 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
    US $1,950
    This trip is a trip for more experienced anglers who are not afraid to spend a good time on the water. The time you have on this enables you to do some more serious fishing. On this trip, you'll target all the species of the 8 hour but work harder towards landing bigger gamefish. This trip will allow the customer to get a great experience on the water and a higher shot at the fish of a lifetime!
  • Private trip
    12 Hour Trip – Angler’s Dream
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    12 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
    US $2,350
    On this trip it will be all about targeting a trophy. This trip is not for the faint of heart and is for anglers who really want to put in the time and try and catch the fish of their dreams. If it’s a slow day and everything else fails, the crew will be sure to put you on different species. But this trip is all about targeting trophy fish and giving you an amazing experience.
  • Private trip
    14 Hour Trip – Marlin
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    14 Hour Trip, starts at 4:00 AM
    US $2,750
    On this trip, you will be focusing solely on trophy fish and Marlin. It’s a long day spent trolling and possibly live bait throwing at Marlin, or Tuna busting the surface. This is a trip specifically for hunting a trophy. You can go bust or you can go home with the memory of a lifetime. One thing is for sure, the crew will do everything possible to put a monster on board!
  • Private trip
    Swordfish Trip
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    24 Hour Trip, starts at 5:00 AM
    US $3,950
    On this trip we’ll be targeting the mighty swordfish. Reeling up a giant from depths of 1500-2500 feet. Along the way we’ll troll for mahi mahi, wahoo, and tuna. When we bottom drop for the swords we also have opportunities at giant blue fin tuna, tile fish, and other deep drop species.
    Targeted fish
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Marlin (Blue)
    Blue Marlin
    Swordfish
    Swordfish
    Tuna (Yellowfin)
    Yellowfin Tuna
    Wahoo
    Wahoo
    Tuna (Blackfin)
    Blackfin Tuna
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FAQs about SPI Freedom Fishing

SPI Freedom Fishing offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $975 per group - Half day A.M. (5 hours)
  • US $975 per group - Half day P.M. (5 hours)
  • US $1,350 per group - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)
  • US $1,950 per group - 10 Hour Trip (10 hours)
  • US $2,350 per group - 12 Hour Trip – Angler’s Dream (12 hours)
  • US $2,750 per group - 14 Hour Trip – Marlin (14 hours)
  • US $3,950 per group - Swordfish Trip (24 hours)

When you book a trip with SPI Freedom Fishing, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet
  • Fighting Chair Top of the line
  • GPS One of the best Simrad
  • Fishfinder Top of the line transducer with 3D
  • Bed
  • Flybridge When aboard enjoy riding up on the flybridge to se
  • Live Bait Well On boat
  • Kitchen Microwave
  • Multimedia System
  • Outriggers We can set outriggers out as we steam out of jetty
  • Ice Box Also microwave to heat
  • Radar Simrad top of the line USCG

Trips booked with SPI Freedom Fishing include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Drinks
  • First Mate (We provide 2 Deck mates)

SPI Freedom Fishing offers the following types of fishing:
  • Offshore Fishing
  • Reef Fishing
  • Wreck Fishing

SPI Freedom Fishing offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Drift Fishing
  • Deep Sea Fishing

Top targeted fish species with SPI Freedom Fishing include:
  • Amberjack
  • Barracuda (Great)
  • Cobia
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • King Mackerel (Kingfish)
  • Marlin (Blue)
  • Sailfish
  • Snapper (Red)
  • Spadefish
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Triggerfish (Gray)
  • Tuna (Yellowfin)

Meet the Captain

John D Fowler Sr
South Padre Island, Texas, United States
6 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
109 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since April 2021
I’ve been fishing since I could walk. I lost my father at a young age but it never stopped me from the outdoors. A lot of my younger life was spent in freshwater but as I went on through the years I felt like I mastered it, so I moved to saltwater. My inspiration has always been to show people a great experience and watch the smiles on people, and I love to make kids have a good time with their parents or family.

About this listing

Targeted species

Amberjack Amberjack
Barracuda (Great) Great Barracuda
Cobia Cobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)

Boat specs

Delta (Sportfishing) originally built in 1985, and restored in 2021. Powered by 2 375HP 3208 Caterpillar engines, with a maximum cruising speed of 20 knots.

Length
38 ft
Capacity
6 persons

Types of fishing

Offshore Fishing
Reef Fishing
Wreck Fishing

Fishing techniques

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

Amenities

Toilet
Fighting Chair
Top of the line
GPS
One of the best Simrad
Fishfinder
Top of the line transducer with 3D
Bed
Flybridge
When aboard enjoy riding up on the flybridge to se

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Drinks
First Mate
We provide 2 Deck mates

Cancellation policy

Deposit non-refundable

If it is unsafe to travel, you may still cancel free of charge or change the date(s) of your booking.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
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
American Express
Checks
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 4% charge will apply.

South Padre Island Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.7 / 5
out of 5 stars from 109 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.5 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.6 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (118)
Great trip
Knowledgeable crew and friendly
Call before booking
+115
Angler rating
84
18
5
2
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
85%
Friendly captain
99%
Recommend this charter
94%
Appropriate for children
92%
Satisfied with the boat
91%
Caught fish
89%
Sort by:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 109 reviews
Matt J.
San Antonio, Texas
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half day trip with Captain John

Half day A.M. on May 2, 2023
Captain John, and deck mates, Jake, and Jim were excellent. We had a party of 5 and we all had an amazing time. If we needed...
Matt J. recommends SPI Freedom Fishing
Mark review as helpful
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  John D Fowler Sr Captain replied

Levi H.
Brownsville, Texas
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

8 hour trip

8 Hour Trip on May 4, 2023
Captain John and crew were fantastic, I normally don’t leave reviews but captain John deserves one. We had a full boat (6...
Levi H. recommends SPI Freedom Fishing
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You found this review helpful
  John D Fowler Sr Captain replied

James G.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Knowledgeable crew and friendly

VERIFIED   Half day A.M. on September 30, 2023
First dad and son trip of hopefully many!  Unfortunately the little guy became sea sick and couldn’t stay the entire trip....
James G. recommends SPI Freedom Fishing
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  John D Fowler Sr Captain replied

Sarah L.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great trip!!

VERIFIED   Half day A.M. on November 8, 2023
We went out with the captain and crew yesterday and they were amazing! They made sure we had they best time. We caught so many...
Sarah L. recommends SPI Freedom Fishing
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  John D Fowler Sr Captain replied

Jevon D.
Excellent
4.3 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Very good
4.0 / 5
Overall

Beautiful day just no bites.

VERIFIED   NEW  Half day A.M. on March 30, 2024
The crew was great, it was beautiful day. Unfortunantly no catches, it was definitely a day of fishing. Tried multiple locations,...
Jevon D. recommends SPI Freedom Fishing
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Jevon D. recommends SPI Freedom Fishing
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful