Padre Island Fishing, Birding, Shark Fishing, Surf
Come Experience The Natural World Of Padre Island
National Seashore With Captain Billy Sandifer!
Padre Island Fishing, Birding, Shark Fishing, Surf

With nearly 50 years experience fishing the waters of the Laguna Madre, Baffin Bay, Corpus Christi Bay and Padre Island. Captain Billy Sandifer has long been recognized as an expert fishing guide on all types of Texas saltwater fishing which include species like; shark, tarpon, trout, redfish, ling, jack crevelle, and more. Capt. Billy provides guests with biological and historical knowledge of Padre Island and surrounding waters. Learn about the wildlife such as birds and plants on his birding and fishing trips along the coastal bend. Enjoy an educational experience today and book a trip!

  Capt. Billy Offers:
  • Nearshore Gulf
  • Bay Lite Tackle
  • Big Game
  • Lite Tackle
  • Surf Shark
  • Fly Fishing
  • Kayak Trips
  • Birding
  • Sea Turtle Nesting
  • Sea Shell Trips

Capt. Billy's renowned surf fishing trips down the Padre Island National Seashore have been the subject of numerous magazine and newspaper articles and TV shows, most recently with BILL SHERCK OF "LEGENDS WITH ROD AND REEL"

Captain Billy Sandifer has been a devoted bird watcher in Corpus Christi, South Texas and on the Padre Island National Seashore for 18 years. He has monitored bird populations and documented numerous rare sightings including Brown Boobies, Brown Noddies, Black-legged Kittawake, Glaucous and Sabine's Gulls and Aztec Thrush." He also has found the only nesting hummingbird on record on Padre Island and the only adult male Wood Duck ever recorded on Padre Island.

When not guiding fishermen or birdwatching, Capt. Billy works as an Audubon Coastal Warden in the Upper Laguna Madre working with Colonial Waterbird rookeries. Capt. Billy is a full time featured writer for Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine in which he also features a "Bird of the Month" column each magazine issue. Captain Billy is a long time outdoors writer and has written over 300 published outdoor articles.

The surf produces trout, whiting, and keeper redfish all year long with huge trout available in numbers in winter! Be sure to come back to the site for weekly fishing reports and birding updates.
Corpus Christi Fishing Guide, Birding, Shark Fishing, Surf
Fishing report 06/30/2009

Schools of Bonita and Kingfish are in good supply nearshore. Cold, murky water has been impacting the mid section of the beach with beautiful green water on both ends. A 7 1/2' Scalloped Hammerhead and an 8' Bull shark were caught and released by beach anglers on Sat., the 27th. of June and we had a fish we couldn't stop on a Daiwa 50 HSV Sealine reel baited with a small live whiting but shark fishing has been slow other than that except for large numbers of small Bonnethead and baby Atlantic Sharpnosed sharks. Some Tarpon are being seen in the surf. Whiting and hardheads are plentiful and trout have been off and on. Some reds were caught on 30 June along with good trout catches to 6 1/2 pounds.

I simply don't know what's up with the Skipjacks. We should have thousands in the surf but have only been encountering a few smaller ones occasionally. Driving conditions have been deteriorating daily along the entire beach but especially in the Big Shell. The droubt is a big part of this problem. The sand becomes dry and powdery. It will be a nightmare by the holiday weekend. P_L_E_A_S_E remember that the beach belongs to everyone and be considerate and please do not block off the entire beach front with your camp. This has been happpening regularly and daily lately.

NPS has sent out a no camp fire/no fireworks e-mail and it says they will be rigidly enforcing it the entire length of the beach. You can barbacue but can't have Tiki Torches, Candles or use briquets for a camp fire. The island is horribly dry and in all honest are simply doing their job as protectors of the island and the creatures that live there. As much as I hate to say it I'll be suprised if there isn't a large fire down island due to people using fireworks in violation of the law this weekend. It's yours; take care of it. Imagine all the creatures that are helpless and killed by these wildfires that they simply can't outrun. Large crowds kill the bite; plain and simple. Been that way all my life. Turtle nesting season continues so watch out for turtles as well as your fellow man and his children. Have a ball anyway and I expect some exceptional fishing once the holiday is over.

Happy 4th. of July. Capt. Billy


Pompano and Redfish on Padre Island National Seashore

Fishing report 06/23/2009

Roy and Patty Moore of Burnet, Tx. and Barbara Agan with pompano and redfish from their and Andy Agan's charter down PINS 22 June. It's turning pretty. Lots of whiting. 5 pompano is a suprise this time of year. Driving is fine. No Sargassum. Quite a bit activity offshore from 22 mile beach South. Be courteous to the other guy. It's his beach too.

See ya' Capt. Billy

Pompano and Redfish on Padre Island National Seashore

Fishing report 06/18/2009

I have been to the Mansfield jetties and back 2 of the past 3 days and fishing is extremely slow. Water has turned green to the 20 mile this afternoon but is murky South of there. Occasional mullet are seen but catching has been whiting, rat reds and hardheads only. Shark fished a couple of spots with cast baits today with no success. Waves are 5' and at close intervals and the current is racing Northbound. I could barely stand up on the bar to cast long rods due to the current. Driving is o.k. except where people block the beach and 4 wheel high is required in a few spots in the Big Shell. It's real simple. The wind has got to stop blowing 30 mph + every day before action picks back up in the surf. Sargassum is not a problem. Lack of fish is. Rangers are keeping busy up around the end of the pavement so watch your speed.

16th June 2009
Saw 4 bails of marijuana picked up by a Game Warden between the 6-8 mile beach and later learned 1,300 pounds were found along the coast.

Be Safe, Capt. Billy
Marijuana found on Padre Island National Seashore
B. J. Brooks and Steven Naylor of Round Rock
with a bale of marijuana found at the 6 mile mark 16th June 2009

Fishing report 06/11/2009

Very tough day on the PINS beach yesterday. Tides are high and the 4-5' seas are actually 6-7'. Tremendous North bound current making all fishing extremely difficult along with winds of 36 mph. We are presently trapped in a "wind tunnel" due to the low pressure positioned over the central U.S.A. and things are forecast to remain that way through at least Tues. It has led me to cancel my charter for tomorrow. Some Sargassum is present as are bait fish but the fish have "lock jaw" and I don't think that will change for the weekend. It's a good weekend to do something else. A special thanks to beach visitors Jim and Mary Robinson, who pulled me out of a hole yesterday when the 4 wheel drive went out in my truck. I'm laying this old veteran truck to rest today and fitting out it's replacement.

Be safe. Capt. Billy

Corpus Christi Trout Guide Billy Sandifer
Customers Bill Montgomery and Carl Leafsledt of San Antonio restraining the turtle while Shauna does her lab work
Corpus Christi Trout Guide Billy Sandifer
Female turtle covering her eggs and packing down the sand on top of them
Corpus Christi Trout Guide Billy Sandifer
Nesting Turtle
Corpus Christi Trout Guide Billy Sandifer
Turtle tech Shauna Erlolacci taking measurements
Corpus Christi Trout Guide Billy Sandifer
"Homeward Bound"
Corpus Christi Trout Guide Billy Sandifer
"I'm Outta Here"


Fishing report 06/04/2009

Trout are still in good supply and size scattered along the beachfront and topwater lures are providing the best action. Today there were LOTS of 15 pound average Jack Crevalle running in and out of the holes in the wade gut in small groups and singles. A friend reported casting a shark bait on a long rod and getting stripped of all line without hope of stopping him. Large schools of Spanish Mackerel and Skipjacks were present nearshore with large numbers of birds working them. There are LOTS of finger and pony mullet in the surf and the presence of these finger mullet is unusual here during the month of June. Fresh Sargassum was present in medium/heavy amounts on the first 15 miles of beachfront but there really wasn't all that much in the surf. The beach was unusually crowded today so you know it's going to be wall to wall again this weekend. I think it's due to the economy. People doing the alternative vacation deal and instead of taking one large and expensive vacation they are staying closer to home and going to the beach. I think we are going to have unusually heavy beach traffic this Summer. Water was clear and beautiful.

Good fishin' Capt. Billy

Corpus Christi Trout Guide Billy Sandifer
Corpus Christi Trout Guide Billy Sandifer


Fishing report 06/01/2009

Large numbers of good sized to trophy sized speckled trout showed up in the Padre Island surf on Wed. 27 May and have remained in good supply since. Topwater bite is best but if they toy with the topwaters switch to Bass Assassins and they'll take them. Color choices have changed every 2-3 days. The trout are present the entire length of N. Padre Island surf. Scattered Jack Crevalle averaging 16# are being encountered daily as are Atlantic Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel.

Gabe Goodman landed tagged and released an 11' 6" female Tiger the afternoon of Sat. May 30. James Clark of San Antonio landed, tagged and released an 8' 8" male Lemon Shark and a 8' 4" female Bull Shark. Several other large sharks were hooked and lost and several 5 1/2' Lesser Blacktipped Sharks were caught. Sargassum is present in varying amounts from one location to the next. Driving is o.k. A bit bumpy due to the Sargassum on the beach.

Remember it is nesting Kemp Ridley Sea Turtle Nesting Season and the speed limit is 15 mph. Report any turtles seen on the beach but do not interfere with one laying eggs.

Good fishin' Capt. Billy

Corpus Christi Trout Fishing Guide
Jeff Wolda of Bulverde, TX. and his dad, Don Wolda, with Don's 5# topwater speckled trout.
Corpus Christi Trout Fishing Guide
Jeff immediately followed his dad's 5 pounder up with one of his own.
Corpus Christi Trout Fishing Guide
John Holbrook of Carolina with a nice topwater speck Fri. May 29,09


Fishing report 05/28/2009

Trout, Ladyfish (Skipjacks) and large Jack Crevalle were encountered today fishing with topwaters. Water is beautiful but there is quite a bit of fresh Sargassum which is going to make long rodding and shark fishing difficult. Driving in the Big Shell area should have improved following recent rains.

See ya' on the sand. Capt. Billy


Fishing report 05/21/2009

Gary Wilson with a 16 lb. Jack Crevalle, Roy Thompson with a 27 1/8" Redfish and Larry Wilson with a 5 lb. Speckled Trout. Water has cleared and is pretty green to at least the 39 mile. We never went South of the 39. Driving is tedious, slow going and bumpy on high tide and good on falling tide. Fresh Sargassum is present in varying degrees along most of the beachfront with more coming in from offshore. Pony mullet showed up thick South of the 25 mile in early afternoon and the Jack Crevalle were scattered along the beach but not visable and not schooled up. Individual fish. Some Skipjacks were encountered at the 15 mile early, there were lots of hardheads and few whiting. Topwater bite didn't happen today. Long rod fishing and kayaking shark baits is going to be tedious due to Sargassum and large breaking swells. Be careful and be courteous as we all know it's going to be a mad house down there this weekend.

See ya' on the sand. Capt. Billy

Padre Island Jack Crevelle, Redfish, and trout Trip


Fishing report 05/19/2009

I spent Friday the 15th. fishing the entire shore line of PINS. Water was green to the 15 mile then turned muddy and stayed that way to the jetty with no visable activity. Small scattered patches of Sargassum were encountered but they did not interfere with fishing. The 36 mph SE wind did and catching was confined to whiting and hardhead catfish. There are lots of fish in the area; we simply have to get out of this wind tunnel we've been in and the beach is really going to produce well. Scattered speckled trout have been reported and I think there are lots of sharks present. Driving was good and we drove out front both ways. Those intending to fish the holdiay weekend need to be aware of the tropical presence off Florida as it is possible that it could cause unusually high tides with the forecast E and NE winds.

The bite is on in the bay systems and has been getting better each day with new Gulf water bringing in large numbers of Speckled trout, ladyfish and some Jack Crevalle. Activity is so far confined to the Land Cut, Yarborough and Eastern portion of Baffin Bay. On a bay charter Sat. the 16th. we got a late start and were absolutely overwhelmed by the number of boats present in the bay system. Trying to avoid the crowd I went into the back of Baffin and found that the water turned brown slightly West of Los Corrales and it remained that way throughout the Western part of the bay. We did manage scattered trout in the ULM but the problem is one we will be seeing more of for the rest of the year in the bays. Too many boats. Avoid weekends if possible. Pictured is Jeff Svejkovy of Wyoming with a nice speck on his first ever salt water fishing trip.

Capt. Billy L. Sandifer
Trout in Baffin Bay Corpus Christi Guided Trip


PHOTOS FROM PAST TRIPS

  Capt Billy with two Jack Crevelle caught on a fly rod March 16 on Padre Island Corpus Christi
Capt Billy with two Jack Crevalle caught on a fly rod March 16 on Padre Island Corpus Christi
Jeff Wolda of Bulverde took these two nice jacks fishing with Billy on the 16th of March
Jeff Wolda of Bulverde took these two nice jacks fishing with Billy on the 16th of March
 
  Padre Island Corpus Christi Fishing and Birding Guide South Texas
Mr. John Dunlap with one of 2 sightcast Jack Crevalle on a fly rod on 17 November, 2008
Corpus Christi Fishing Guide in South Texas
Long time friend, Jimmy Jackson, of Beeville with a 21 lb Jack Crevalle on 18 November, 2008
 
  Coastal Bend Fishing and Birding Guide in South Texas
Cris and TPWD Game Warden Grahame Jones of Austin with a trout and oversized red double on silver spoons on 19 November, 2008
Corpus Christi Fishing and Birding Guide in South Texas
John Wagner and Lance with Four of their upper slot limits of reds on 24 October, 2008
 
  Shark Fishing from the surf on Padre Island
Gene Titus with one of his 11 Jack Crevalle between 16 and 21 lbs. landed 25 October, 2008
Shark Fishing from the panga in West Matagorda
Leroy Vanden Avond's tagged and released 5 foot female Bull shark on 8 October, 2008. This was a West Matagorda Bay shark with Capt. Curtiss Cash Assisting.
 
  Jack Crevalle Fishing and Birding Guide on Padre Island
Yousif Seedham and his first ever Jack Crevalle weighing 18 lbs on 25 October, 2008
Redfish trout and tarpon on Padre Island National Seashore
Yousif Seedham and his first ever red fish, one of three upper slot red fish on 25 October, 2008
 
  Ling cobia sharks and snapper Corpus Christi Texas
Rick Underbrink with a nice ling caught and released on 22 August, 2008
king mackerel fishing guide Coastal Bend Corpus Christi Texas
Carlos Vergara with a 52 inch Kingfish caught on a butterfly jig on 24 August, 2008
 
  Padre Island Birding and Fishing Guide in South Texas
Carlos Vergara with a 4 pound Spadefish caught 24 August, 2008
Shark Fishing guide for the beach in South Texas
David Webb of Austin with a 51" Ling sightcast on spinning tackle 25 August, 2008
 
Corpus Christi Fishing Guide, Birding, Shark Fishing, Surf
  Sponsors
Take a minute to look at our fine sponsors. They provide great products for the strenuous conditions present here on PINS. Please check out there web sites and see what they have to offer!

Smith Action Optics
Daiwa
Temple Forks Fly Rods
Hayden Fly Reels
Sufix
Bass Assassin
Mustad
Mirrolure
Fish Bites


Our Favorite Links
Be sure to visit these Friends!
Folks who know me know that I demand absolutely impeccable ethics and integrity of myself and any and all businesses that I recommend. So, if they are on here you can rest assured they are as good as it gets and as trustworthy as there is.

CAC Rights, Citizens for Access and Conservation
http://www.cacrights.org


Friends Of Padre
http://www.friendsofpadre.com


Coastal Propeller & Services, Inc.
201 16th. St. Corpus Christi, TX. 78405
Day Phone: 361-888-8036
Night Phone: 361-368-2541
Cris Ortis has 24 years experience at custom making and repairing propellers. His dad, Roy, taught hi and has been in the prop business since 1958. 5 minutes from the water and yo can try different pitches , diameters and cups. Custom fits for your boat and outboard. A genuine pleasure to do business with and goes the extra mile to insure you get the most out of your rig on the water.

Jerry B's Kayaks
For a fair deal and friendly after the purchase support" I highly recommend Jerry B's. I wouldn't be doing charters through them if I didn't consider them the best around.
Phone: 361-937-5340
9906 SPID Corpus Christi, Tx. 78418
E-mail: Jerrybskayaks@sbcglobal.net
www.jerrybskayaks.com/

Texas Tops Aluminum Fabrication
For all your individual and custom aluminum needs.
Pres. Capt. Jeff Austin Texas Redfish Champions Team and Team of the Year 2007
Phone: 361-937-1370
9307 S.P.I.D. Corpus Christi, Texas
E-mail: Tops@att.net


Gulf Coast Marine Inc.
10121 S.P.I.D. Corpus Christi, Texas 78418
Bill Holmes, Jr. Vice President
Phone: 361-937-7800
www.gcmboats.com


Richard Ridgway at Affordable Boat and Outboard Repair
I highly recommend for Outboard repair and service in the Corpus Christi area
Phone: 361-946-1751


John's Fiberglass Specialty and Boat Repair
www.Johnsport190.com
Phone: 361-983-4546
Cell: 361-935-4323
P.O. Box 308 Port O'Connor, TX. 77982


Recently I took my 25 ft. Mexican Panga to the Hobbs family. It was bare hull with no deck and a tiller outboard.These hull designs are not easy to work on and required lots of ingenuity that could only be dealt with efficiently by a superior, long term boat builder. The results were awesome, the prices very reasonable, the waiting time minimal and the Hobbs' family charming to deal with. If you need any major or minor hull repair or modifications on your current boat I strongly recommend them.



Graphics By Design - Currently maintaining this site, contact them for all your design needs.

Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine - Texas' Only 100% Saltwater Fishing Magazine

Captain Curtiss Cash - Fishing guide for the Middle Texas Coast

DavidRowsey.com

Corpusfishing.com

Roy's Bait and Tackle Online

Breakaway Tackle

CorpusBeach.com - Surfing, bikinis, fishing photos and info

The Shore Fishing and Casting Club International

Texas Hotels and Motels - A travel and tourism guide to Texas

SandBar Signs & Graphics

Go To My Bags.com

www.Shelbyssportinggoods.com
Shelby manufacturers a very effective line of fresh and salt water chum products including chum for shark. Sure beats running Skipjacks through a manual grinder and having to freeze it or searching for shrimp boats.


 

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