While South Padre Island is famous for its beauty and fantastic inshore angling, there’s even more to discover offshore. The distant waters feature all kinds of fish, ranging from delicious bottom species to ferocious pelagics. To get in on the action, all you need to do is hop aboard one of the many South Padre Island deep sea fishing charters.
For anglers itching to catch their share of Red Snapper or other reef dwellers, the adventure begins only 13 miles offshore at the RGV Reef. If you’d like to go for some Amberjack or Grouper instead, there are oil rigs just 5 miles further. These offer fantastic fishing for anglers of all skill levels.
But what if you’re in the mood for some pelagics? In that case, you’ll need to get ready for a longer journey. While you can catch King Mackerel and Mahi Mahi in the 30-mile range, the fishing gets really good once you hit the dropoff around 50 miles east of South Padre Island. There, you’ll find Sailfish, Blue and White Marlin, Wahoo, and more.
Of course, Tuna also like to prowl through this part of the Gulf of Mexico. You’ll see Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna racing along the offshore rips, edges, and shelves, along with other pelagic fish. However, your best shot at catching Tuna is to visit one of the oil rigs that can be found as far as 100 miles offshore.
Along South Padre Island, there are two main hotspots where you can find deep sea fishing charters. These are Port Mansfield and Port Isabel. The captains usually start their trips either from the local marinas or boat ramps. Just make sure you're ready for a journey. You'll need 8 or more hours on the water to get a proper taste of the deep seas. Also, don't forget your fishing license.
