South Padre Island fishing report for the week of September 24, 2026. Fall is one of the best times of the year to fish South Padre. The summer heat is breaking, the bait is moving, and the fish are feeding. With the full moon on Saturday, the tides are strong at the jetties and on the flats.
What’s Hitting
This week on the water, speckled trout are feeding on the grass flats and in the potholes of the Lower Laguna Madre. Redfish are tailing on the flats and cruising along the jetties, and snook are active at the Brazos Santiago Pass jetties and around the Queen Isabella Causeway. Flounder are starting to show near the pass as they begin their fall migration, and there is still a good tarpon bite for anglers willing to look for them.
Where to Find Them
Trout are on the grass flats and in the potholes of the Lower Laguna Madre, especially near the spoil islands and along the drop-offs of the Intracoastal Waterway. Redfish are on the shallow flats and along the jetties. Snook are at the Brazos Santiago jetties and around the Causeway pilings at night. Flounder are near the pass and along the channel edges.
Tides & Conditions
The full moon on Saturday is producing strong tides, and the jetty bite has been best on the moving water. Water temperatures are in the low 80s. Winds have been light to moderate, making for good conditions on the flats. Sargassum can pile up on the Gulf beaches, so check conditions before surf fishing.
Tackle & Tactics
For trout, a topwater plug early in the morning or a soft plastic on a light jig head fished over the grass is a great choice. For redfish on the flats, a gold spoon or a weedless soft plastic is ideal. For snook at the jetties, a live mullet or a swimbait on the outgoing tide works well. Use 30-pound fluorocarbon for the jetty fish.
Local Intel This Week
Isla Blanca Park at the southern tip of the island offers jetty access and a boat ramp. The Queen Isabella Causeway has lighted fishing areas that are popular at night. Port Isabel’s public ramps provide access to the Laguna Madre. Fish are concentrating on the flats and at the jetties. Check current Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations, size limits, and seasons before keeping fish, including the rules for snook and fall flounder.
This Week’s Tip
When fishing the potholes on the Laguna Madre, cast past the hole and bring your lure across it. Trout and reds wait in the sandy holes to ambush bait that comes off the grass.
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