Deep waters are where the big fish roam. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that you need to be an experienced angler to make a great catch. Whether you’ve been fishing for years or you've never held a rod and reel in your life, you can head out to the deep waters that surround South Padre Island and have a fishing trip to remember.

In years to come, anglers and Eco tourists should notice more fish around South Padre Island thanks to the Friends of the Rio Grande Valley Reef. Friends of RBV is putting efforts forth to create an artificial reef north of the South Padre Island jetties. The reef will grow baby red snapper as well as other small baitfish including longfin porgy. These small fish are critical as a source of food for larger game fish.

Most charters go out year-round. You can deep-sea fish during your summer vacation, winter get-away, and any time in between. Just make sure that, unless you are under 17 years of age, you have your Texas fishing license. You can get your fishing license online here.

[caption id="attachment_6924" align="aligncenter" ] Kingfish, one of the many species you can catch.

You can expect to catch some well-known game fish in the warm gulf waters. The fish you catch depend on the season, but year-round there are plenty of fish in the deep waters surrounding South Padre Island.

These are some of the fish that can be caught deep sea fishing around SPI:

  • Amberjack
  • Blue Marlin
  • Bonita
  • Grouper
  • Jack crevalle
  • Kingfish
  • Ling
  • Mahi-mahi
  • Red Snapper
  • Sailfish
  • Tarpon
  • Tuna

Many fishing charters and tours provide bait and tackle, which keeps you from a costly investment. If the trip you go on allows coolers, make sure to pack plenty of snacks. Most trips take a minimum of 3 hours and many others are upwards of 5 hours long, which is good for fishing opportunities but bad if you get hangry.

[caption id="attachment_3636" align="aligncenter" ] Redfish, a species commonly caught during winter months.

You’ll also want sunblock and sunglasses no matter what time of year. Dress comfortably and wear closed-toed shoes (that means no flip-flops!) And it goes without saying– Have fun!