Drift Water Charters

Cast into the crystal-clear, sun-lit shallows of the Laguna Madre — where tailing redfish and trophy trout cruise waters just a few feet deep — and dolphins may swim alongside your boat on the way home.

Drift Water Charters operates private inshore fishing charters on the Laguna Madre, the rare hypersaline lagoon stretching 280,910 acres between the Texas mainland and South Padre Island. Trips run aboard a 24' Shallow Master boat powered by a 200-horsepower engine, fitted with a fly bridge for fish spotting and a live well. The shallow-draft hull excels in the bay's characteristic three-to-four-foot flats, giving anglers access to sight-casting opportunities that draw visitors from around the world. Target species include redfish, speckled trout, black drum, snook, flounder, mangrove snapper, and sheepshead, with dolphins, herons, pelicans, and the occasional alligator rounding out the wildlife on the water. Three trip formats are offered — a five-hour morning departure meeting at 7 AM, a five-hour afternoon departure for those preferring a later start, and an eight-hour all-day charter also departing at 7 AM for maximum range across multiple spots. Every trip is a private charter: gear, tackle, bait, drinks, snacks, and fish cleaning are all included, and the guide tailors instruction to anglers of any level, with a noted specialty in teaching children. Note: as of mid-2026 the business has temporarily paused new bookings following the sudden passing of founder Captain Joaquin Pena. His successor Eli Moreno, who trained alongside Captain Pena, is completing his fishing guide license; the contact form and phone line remain open for those wishing to be added to the waitlist for when trips resume.

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South Padre Island, United States

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