South Padre Island Fishing Report — Week of November 5, 2026: Flounder, Jack Crevalle, Kingfish

Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, November 12, 2026

This South Padre Island fishing report is a seasonal outlook for the week of November 5, built on typical early-November patterns in the lower Laguna Madre and the Gulf. A first strong cold front could arrive any time, flounder often begin moving toward the passes, and the new moon on Monday, November 9 should bring larger tides. Daylight saving ended Sunday.

What’s Hitting

Flounder are the big story of the Rio Grande Valley in the fall, and many anglers look for them to move through the Laguna Madre toward the Brazos Santiago Pass as northers drop water temperatures. Jack crevalle may be around the jetties and the pass when bait is present, offering hard-pulling sport. Kingfish and other pelagic species can show in the Gulf in calm conditions, though fall weather often keeps boats at the dock. Speckled trout and redfish tend to remain available on the grass flats and around the Intracoastal channel, with fish slowly moving to deeper water as the month goes on. Surf fishing can produce whiting, pompano and the occasional bull redfish. The wind is the main restriction; a strong norther can limit access for days.

Where to Find Them

The Brazos Santiago Pass jetties on the South Padre side are among the best-known fishing structures for flounder, jacks and bull redfish. Inside the Laguna Madre, the grass flats near the Queen Isabella Causeway and the Intracoastal Waterway edges offer reliable trout and redfish water. Port Isabel’s channel edges, the Arroyo Colorado mouth and the Laguna Vista shoreline are secondary options. Gulf-side beaches north of the main town give anglers surf access, while boaters should plan carefully around the Brazos Santiago Pass, where tide and wind can build steep, difficult conditions.

Tides & Conditions

The Laguna Madre has small natural tides, so wind often matters more than the tide chart. Even so, the new moon on Monday, November 9 should strengthen flows through the Brazos Santiago Pass and the Port Mansfield cut, especially on an outgoing tide when flounder move toward the Gulf. A strong north wind can blow water out of the shallows, so check wind forecasts before running into skinny areas. When winds are light, early morning offers calm water and good light for sight casting. Check NOAA predictions for Port Isabel before heading out.

Tackle & Tactics

For flounder, a medium spinning rod, ten-pound braid and a twenty-pound fluorocarbon leader with a soft plastic on a quarter-ounce jig head works well, as does a live finger mullet on a Carolina rig. For jack crevalle, a heavier rod and thirty-pound line will help, with topwater plugs or large spoons. Trout and reds take paddle-tails, gold spoons and live shrimp under a cork. Bring polarized sunglasses to see grass edges and fish. A windbreaker, a hat and sunscreen cover the variable weather this time of year. A sturdy pair of pliers, a lip-grip tool and a spare spool of leader material are small items that rescue a trip when jetty rocks fray line. Carry a few extra jig heads, because rocks claim them.

Local Intel This Week

Public access is a highlight. The Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway area includes a public fishing pier on the Port Isabel side with views of the Laguna Madre. Isla Blanca Park, at the island’s southern tip, provides beach and jetty access near the pass, and Andy Bowie Park offers beach fishing and parking on the island. Boat ramps at Port Isabel serve small craft. On rock jetties, wear shoes with grip and avoid the edges during big swells, since waves can break over the outer rocks without warning. Parking at the pass can fill on weekends, and a short walk is usually needed to reach good water. Carry water, since shade is scarce on the jetties. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish.

This Week’s Tip

Rig a jig head and soft plastic for flounder and fish the first hours of the outgoing tide at the Brazos Santiago Pass jetties on a day with light wind. Work the bait slowly along the rocks, let a flounder grab and turn before setting the hook, and carry a small net for the jetty edge. Note which tide stage produced a bump and repeat it.