I am not sure I understand State Water fishing for red snapper.

Can/do party boats fish State Waters for red snapper?

No ... party boats are not normally permitted for state waters. There are some exceptions that run state water snapper trips out of Port Mansfield in the winter months though. But there are many charters available and they catch bigger fish too.

Most party boats are only permitted for fishing in federal waters. However, there are exceptions. In Port Aransas, the Dolphindocks boat the Captain Paul will run state water snapper trips on some occasions. They also run trips within 9 miles to the close rigs when the weather permits.

I did a state water snapper trip in November out of South Padre Island. It was with a guide though. We caught some really nice snapper within easy eyeball range of the island.

One advantage to doing a charter is that the structures they are able to concentrate on are smaller and the party boats can't target them for that reason. A wellhead, a shell pad or small wreck won't usually hold enough fish for a party boat but a small boat may be able to pull several nice snaps from it.

Thanks all.

Unfortunately, I have a medical condition that requires access to a restroom, and I do not think I can afford a charter that has an actual rest room.



I will check out the Captain Paul - I saw their website previously but was unsure about the State Waters thing.

The Capt. Paul is doing bay trips for now. They will start doing state water snapper trips again in 2-3 months. Snapper fishing in state waters improves when the water cools down.

According to a friend

Funny, I just got off the phone with them and they said the same thing! October is perfect for me!

I do not think they will let a person bring their own rod and reel - which is the strangest thing I have ever heard...

My friend and I used to take our own rods on the Capt. Paul. They rig the hooks and weights per their regulations. Federal waters snapper season ends Monday, 8/3. Sometime after that, they will start 8-hour snapper trips, so the Captain told me last month. ...IslandJim.

Thanks Jim,

I was looking for State Water red snapper in the fall because I cannot get down there until then. I will check out the Captain Paul and see what they say. Is a medium boat rod with 500-yards of 50-lb braid going to make it for a State Water trip?

Zen, your boat rod set up should be fine. I actually used heavy bass tackle on my state water trip. All of our keeper fish were in the 5 to 7 pound range.

Thanks Curt,

It's a 3-1/2 hr drive and I am hoping to do it a few times this fall. I'm not looking to land any world records but would like to get some good-eating fish.

I grew-up fishing NY/NJ/Conn bays and inshore, then moved to Hawaii and fished there, then moved to Seattle and fished there, then moved to AZ and drove to Sand Diego to fish there! Now I live near Bastrop and have to drive to fish!

I really miss fishing and miss high-quality fresh seafood - so I am looking forward to it.

I used to read Salt Water Sportsman every month - back east when I was a kid I dreamed of moving to Corpus Christi and fishing for speckled sea trout. We had a cousin of the spec called a weakfish - very good eating fish, in my humble opinion.

Now, I am too old and the heat would kill me!

Some of the best trout fishing is in the fall as the temps become a lot more bearable.

Something I recommend you doing if you haven't already .... Put a topshot of 50# mono on your braid so the deckhands don't have to handle the braid when landing your fish or helping you untangle. A 50 foot topshot should be fine. Use and FG knot or Crazy Alberto which is just an Albright knot.