Swordfish trips out of South Padre Island fish deep water off the shelf. Boats fish it by day with baits dropped to the bottom, in water up to about 1800 ft, when conditions allow, and by night on the drift. For the port layout and the pass, see the South Padre Island port guide. This guide follows the run in order: the pass, the landmarks, the shelf, the deep structure, then how it is fished.
When the fish are worked here
Two trip formats run out of this port, daytime trips and overnight drifts, and timing depends on which one you book rather than on the calendar.
Daytime trips
Daytime swordfish trips depend on conditions. The call gets made at the dock before departure, and it rests on numbers.
Overnight drifts
Overnight trips drift at night. They are the other trip format out of this port and do not hinge on the same daytime window.
Reading conditions at BZST2
NDBC/TCOON station BZST2 (8779749), SPI Brazos Santiago, TX, sits at 26.067N 97.155W, near the pass. Read it before you commit to a long run, alongside the offshore forecast in the official NWS marine forecast. A forecast is only a forecast, so read both and decide for your own boat.
| What to check | Where |
|---|---|
| Wind, wave height and period at the pass | NDBC/TCOON station BZST2 (8779749) |
| Offshore wind and seas | NWS marine forecast for the Lower Texas Coast |
| Trip format | Daytime depends on conditions; overnight drifts at night |
How far and where boats run
The run starts at the pass and ends in deep water off the shelf. Distance is the main cost, so know the route before you fuel.
Out the Brazos Santiago Pass jetties
The North and South jetties flank the pass entrance to the Gulf. Every offshore trip from this port starts between them.
The shelf edge
The continental shelf edge starts to drop around 30 miles offshore, and swordfish water is the deep water off that edge. For the Gulf-wide deep-water picture, see the Gulf of Mexico swordfish guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide). The drop shows on the Chart Contours layer in the app. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Long and multi-day runs
FishingBooker lists multi-day trips running up to about 120 miles, the far end of the range from this port.
- Pass to shelf edge: the drop starts around 30 miles out.
- Far runs: multi-day trips reach up to about 120 miles.
- Depth at the end of the run: up to about 1800 ft for daytime drops.
Grounds and structure
The landmarks below run roughly in the order you pass them on the way out to deep structure. Blank cells mean we do not print a figure for that item.
| Name | Depth | Distance/Location |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Clipper | 134 ft | About 17 nm off South Padre Island |
| Port Isabel Reef | 75 ft | |
| RGV Reef | ||
| Texas FAD network (Hilton / Houston Big Game Fishing Club buoys) | About 1300 ft | |
| Deep-water oil rigs (incl. Perdido) | ||
| Continental shelf edge | Starts to drop around 30 miles offshore | |
| Brazos Santiago Pass jetties (North and South) | Flank the pass entrance to the Gulf |
Nearshore landmarks
The Texas Clipper sits in 134 ft, about 17 nm off South Padre Island. It is a landmark on the way out and not swordfish ground. Port Isabel Reef lies in 75 ft, and RGV Reef is the other named reef boats pass on the route.
Texas FAD network
The Hilton and Houston Big Game Fishing Club buoys anchor in water of about 1300 ft. They are the named mid-depth structure between the reefs and the shelf.
Deep-water oil rigs
The deep-water rigs, including Perdido, are the far structure on long runs. They matter most to boats running past the shelf on overnight and multi-day trips.
How it is fished locally
Two methods, split by time of day, are used here, and both target deep water off the shelf. For rigging and biology, see the swordfish species guide.
Daytime bottom drops
By day, bait goes to the bottom in water up to about 1800 ft. Daytime trips depend on conditions, so the plan can change at the dock.
Night drifting
Overnight trips work the fish by night drifting. You set up and let the boat move with the water.
Who fishes for them out of this port
These local charters list swordfish. Some local boats pair swordfish with marlin trips, and the billfish guides cover that side.
- South Padre Island Sportfishing (REEL Madness): 38 ft sportfisher, up to 6 passengers, Captain Todd Lohry.
- Texas Sportfish charter page (Miss Directed / Miss Guided): the operator’s own page for its swordfish trips.
- Epic Charters Unlimited: Captain Roy Songy, per its Guidesly profile.
FAQ: swordfish fishing out of South Padre Island
How far do boats run for swordfish from South Padre Island?
The shelf starts to drop around 30 miles offshore, and the fish are in the deep water off it. FishingBooker lists multi-day trips up to about 120 miles.
How deep do anglers fish for swordfish off South Padre Island?
Daytime baits go to the bottom in water up to about 1800 ft.
Do South Padre Island swordfish trips run day or night?
Both. Daytime trips depend on conditions. Overnight trips drift at night.
Which station shows conditions near Brazos Santiago Pass?
NDBC/TCOON station BZST2 (8779749), SPI Brazos Santiago, at 26.067N 97.155W. Check it alongside the official NWS marine forecast.
Which South Padre Island charters list swordfish?
South Padre Island Sportfishing (REEL Madness), Texas Sportfish (Miss Directed / Miss Guided) and Epic Charters Unlimited.
