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Gus McGarraugh
Captain

Gus McGarraugh

Port Isabel, United States
10+ reviews
Hello i am Capt. Gus. i have been a full time guide and outfitter in the lower laguna madre near South Padre Island for the last 10 years. i specialize in speckled trout, redfish and shark fishing here in our bay system. I have the perfect boat for the family looking to fish on their vacation or the most experienced angler looking for their next saltwater adventure of a lifetime. Come experience what South Padre Island is hiding in its pristine bay system we call the Laguna Madre.

Charter

Rating

4.9
22 reviews
4.8
Boat & Equipment
4.9
Captain & Crew
4.9
Fishing Experience

All reviews (22)

Showing 1 – 5 of 22 reviews
  • Adam Murillo
    Adam Murillo
    Repeat angler
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2025
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great Family Fishing Trip with Captain Gus!

    Night Fishing South Padre Island • 5 adults • 3 children

    We had a great time fishing with Captain Gus in South Padre Island! My son and I were the ones fishing, while my wife and daughter came along for the ride. Gus did a great job making sure everyone felt included and acknowledged, even though they weren’t fishing. He was friendly, patient, and made the whole experience enjoyable for our family. We also tried to find some dolphins while we were out, but unfortunately they weren’t cooperating that day 😂. We really appreciated Gus making the effort to look for them anyway. Overall, it was a great family experience and a fun day on the water. We would definitely book with Gus again next time we’re in South Padre! Highly recommend!

  • Zachary Milliron
    Zachary Milliron
    us
    Wyoming, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Best Trip Ever⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    5 Hour Trip (PM) • 2 adults

    I can honestly say this was one of the best fishing experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment we got on the boat, it was clear that our captain genuinely cared about making sure we had a great trip and caught fish. His knowledge of the water, the fish, and the conditions was incredible, and it showed all day long. One thing that really stood out was that he actually reached out before our trip and suggested pushing our start time back because he had noticed the fish were biting later in the evening the day before. He absolutely did not have to do that, but he wanted to give us the best chance possible to be successful. That level of honesty and dedication says a lot about the kind of guide he is. He wasn’t interested in just taking us out for a few hours. He wanted us to have the best experience possible. The fishing itself was phenomenal. We caught fish all throughout the trip, including a beautiful 30 inch redfish, a stingray, and more sea trout than I could count. Every time the bite slowed down, he was already thinking ahead and moving us to another productive spot. We never spent time sitting around wondering if fish were there because he was constantly working to keep us on them. What made the trip even better was how personable he was. It felt less like hiring a guide and more like spending the day fishing with a friend who happened to know everything about the area. He was funny, easy to talk to, and made the entire trip enjoyable from start to finish. He was also a fantastic teacher. Whether it was explaining why we were fishing a certain area, helping with techniques, or sharing local knowledge, he took the time to make sure we learned something and became better anglers. I’ve been on fishing trips where the captain simply drives the boat and hopes for the best. This was the complete opposite. He worked hard the entire trip, paid attention to every detail, adapted to changing conditions, and genuinely cared about our success. You could tell he takes pride in what he does and wants every customer to leave with great memories. If you’re considering booking a charter, stop looking and book this one. Whether you’re an experienced angler or someone who has never held a fishing rod before, you’ll have an incredible time. We caught a ton of fish, learned a lot, laughed even more, and made memories that we’ll be talking about for years. This was a true five star experience in every way, and I wouldn’t hesitate to book again the next time I’m in the area. Highly recommended.

    Reported catch:
    Speckled Trout
    Response from Captain

    dang zack gonna make me all teary! thanks my friend it was wondeful getting to know yall. see you for duck season!

  • Katie Boul
    Katie Boul
    Repeat angler
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2025
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    life long memories!

    Shark night charter • 3 adults

    We had a great time on our fishing trip and made some wonderful memories. The crew was friendly, helpful, and worked hard to make sure everyone had a good experience. The part that stuck with me most happened after the trip. As soon as my son got in the car, he said, “Momma, when I do fishing trips when I get older, I’m going to keep the prices low because I want people to be able to afford it and take their kids fishing and experience this.” To me, that says everything. The trip made such an impression on him that he was already thinking about how he could help other families make memories like we did. Thank you for giving us an experience we’ll be talking about for a long time.

  • Jaymee Burns
    Jaymee Burns
    Repeat angler
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2025
    5 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Big Shark Baby!

    Shark night charter • 3 adults

    Definitely best fishing trip we’ve been on. Gus and Jimbo were very knowledgeable and hilarious. Started off catching our bait for sharks which went great, caught a few good sized fish! my brother landed a stingray and in the moment Gus guaranteed us a shark and boy was he not lying! We landed a 6’3” black tip that was roughly 150lbs! If you wanna catch big fish and some good vibes this is definitely the guy to book with. We will be booking again next summer without a doubt!!!

  • Jose Rios
    Jose Rios
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    worth every penny!

    Shark night charter • 2 adults

    from beginning to end gus made the experience worth it! we caught about 14 fish between two people and ended the night strong with a 6’5 250 pound shark! honestly one of the best experiences out there I highly recommend booking i know i will when i come back.

    Reported catch:
    Bull Shark

Real catches shared by our community

  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresPort Isabel, TX
    Angler proudly displaying a large shark on the dock at night, showcasing a successful fishing trip.
    Fish 1
    Nurse Shark
    Jose R.
    Jose R.
    from beginning to end gus made the experience worth it! we caught about 14 fish between two people and ended the night strong with a 6’5 250 pound shark! honestly one of the best experiences out there I highly recommend booking i know i will when i come back.
  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresPort Isabel, TX
    A young angler proudly displaying a large Speckled Trout during a nighttime fishing adventure.
    Fish 1
    Speckled Trout
    Dave H.
    Dave H.
    Great time out on the bay with Captain Gus and Juan. Had a great time even though we didn’t land amy shark, we did land a bunch of Trout and a ribbonfish and some skipjack. my 12 y/o son had a blast. Big thanks to Capt. Gue and Juan for a great night out on the water.
  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresPort Isabel, TX
    Angler holding a large shark while fishing at night, showcasing the excitement of a successful catch.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Hammerhead Shark
    Charles B.
    Charles B.
    cuaght a limit of trout, a big red, large stingray, and good sized black tip shark. weather was oerfect snf a great night of fishing. highly recommend Captain Gus and Juan. music was on point as well
  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresPort Isabel, TX
    Angler proudly holds a large shark beside a fishing boat at a nighttime marina dock.
    Fish 1
    Bull Shark
    Jaymee B.
    Jaymee B.
    Definitely best fishing trip we’ve been on. Gus and Jimbo were very knowledgeable and hilarious. Started off catching our bait for sharks which went great, caught a few good sized fish! my brother landed a stingray and in the moment Gus guaranteed us a shark and boy was he not lying! We landed a 6’3” black tip that was roughly 150lbs! If you wanna catch big fish and some good vibes this is definitely the guy to book with. We will be booking again next summer without a doubt!!!
  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresPort Isabel, TX
    A collection of speckled trout neatly arranged on a cleaning table at a dock, showcasing a successful night fishing trip.
    Ryan P.
    Ryan P.
    The 3 hour 8pm-11pm trip was fantastic. The captain was friendly and knowledgeable. Got us on the fish quickly and had a plan to keep us on them. Recommend to anyone of any skill level fishing.
  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresPort Isabel, TX
    Group of adult anglers posing beside multiple speckled trout and a large redfish arranged on a dockside fillet table at night.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Speckled Trout
    Jennifer R.
    Jennifer R.
    This guy knows his fishery and knows it well. Got everyone hooked up and made sure the everyone was taken care of. You can tell Capt Gus does this purely for the love of the game. great guide and awesome dude!
  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresPort Isabel, TX
    Angler proudly displaying a large Redfish while fishing with friends in a coastal setting.
    Fish 1
    Redfish
    Zachary M.
    Zachary M.
    I can honestly say this was one of the best fishing experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment we got on the boat, it was clear that our captain genuinely cared about making sure we had a great trip and caught fish. His knowledge of the water, the fish, and the conditions was incredible, and it showed all day long. One thing that really stood out was that he actually reached out before our trip and suggested pushing our start time back because he had noticed the fish were biting later in the evening the day before. He absolutely did not have to do that, but he wanted to give us the best chance possible to be successful. That level of honesty and dedication says a lot about the kind of guide he is. He wasn’t interested in just taking us out for a few hours. He wanted us to have the best experience possible. The fishing itself was phenomenal. We caught fish all throughout the trip, including a beautiful 30 inch redfish, a stingray, and more sea trout than I could count. Every time the bite slowed down, he was already thinking ahead and moving us to another productive spot. We never spent time sitting around wondering if fish were there because he was constantly working to keep us on them. What made the trip even better was how personable he was. It felt less like hiring a guide and more like spending the day fishing with a friend who happened to know everything about the area. He was funny, easy to talk to, and made the entire trip enjoyable from start to finish. He was also a fantastic teacher. Whether it was explaining why we were fishing a certain area, helping with techniques, or sharing local knowledge, he took the time to make sure we learned something and became better anglers. I’ve been on fishing trips where the captain simply drives the boat and hopes for the best. This was the complete opposite. He worked hard the entire trip, paid attention to every detail, adapted to changing conditions, and genuinely cared about our success. You could tell he takes pride in what he does and wants every customer to leave with great memories. If you’re considering booking a charter, stop looking and book this one. Whether you’re an experienced angler or someone who has never held a fishing rod before, you’ll have an incredible time. We caught a ton of fish, learned a lot, laughed even more, and made memories that we’ll be talking about for years. This was a true five star experience in every way, and I wouldn’t hesitate to book again the next time I’m in the area. Highly recommended.
  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresPort Isabel, TX
    A young angler proudly displaying a Speckled Trout caught during a night fishing trip.
    Fish 1
    Mutton Snapper
    Katie B.
    Katie B.
    We had a great time on our fishing trip and made some wonderful memories. The crew was friendly, helpful, and worked hard to make sure everyone had a good experience. The part that stuck with me most happened after the trip. As soon as my son got in the car, he said, “Momma, when I do fishing trips when I get older, I’m going to keep the prices low because I want people to be able to afford it and take their kids fishing and experience this.” To me, that says everything. The trip made such an impression on him that he was already thinking about how he could help other families make memories like we did. Thank you for giving us an experience we’ll be talking about for a long time.
  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresSouth Padre Island, TX
    A group of young anglers proudly displaying their catch of King Mackerel on a fishing charter, showcasing a fun family outing at the dock.
    Fish 1
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    Hayes K.
    Hayes K.
    Shared a great time with family and friends. We had 6 people fishing. Right off the bat, we caught King Fish and then turned to Speckled Trouts in the bay. No luck with the Trouts but, that was no fault of Captain Gus'. Captain Gus never gave up taking us from one spot to another before calling it quits. The half-day trip was one for our memory box. Captain Gus is just great with the kids and putting up with the Dad's. He even cleaned and package our fish for our trip home. Thanks Again, Captain Gus !!! We will be back next year.
  • Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures
    Capt. Gus's Saltwater AdventuresSouth Padre Island, TX
    Two anglers proudly displaying a catch of speckled trout while on a boat in a sunny coastal environment.
    Fish 1
    Spanish Mackerel
    Rick D.
    Rick D.
    Great time. Caught lots of fish. Would use captain Gus again and would recommend him.

What's biting with Capt. Gus's Saltwater Adventures in Port Isabel

The weather is getting colder, but fishing is still hot. November is all about fishing inshore for Reds or offshore for Yellowfin Tuna – just choose your game, and anything's possible.

Top catches for November