Frequently Asked Questions

What equipment do I need?
For the majority of the fishing, a 7 or 8 weight outfit with floating line is perfect. I'd suggest a 10 to 12 foot leader with 10 to 12 pound tippet (leader length is more critical than tippet diameter). For special circumstances (tarpon, pass snook, king mackerel, cobia) a 10 weight outfit with a couple of sinking lines (say, one monocore intermediate and one Teeny 450) is more practical. If you don't have the correct tackle, I will. Other important items include polarized sunglasses with warm lenses (copper, amber, vermillion), hat, wading boots or sneakers, and sunscreen.

How well do I need to cast?
I think that speed and accuracy, at short to medium range (20 to 50
feet), are more important than sheer distance. My personal preference is normally to close the distance to a feeding fish until it's possible to put the fly right where you want it with no more than a
few false casts - for some anglers, this might be 70 feet, for others, it might be 30 feet. It's an advantage to be able to put the fly in front of the fish when he's still 60-70 feet away, but I've seen lots of redfish tricked on quiet, sneaky 25 - 30 foot shots.

Do you only do fly fishing charters?
It sure seems like it! It's a rare day that I'm watching a redfish pounce on something other than
feathers (what a lousy job!). On the other hand, I think that the primary pleasure associated with sight fishing is watching a visible fish pounce on anything. If you prefer light tackle and don't mind catch and release, I'd be more than happy to accommodate you.

What about flies?
Like many fly fishing guides, I tie my own flies and tweak them periodically as needed ("tides are falling for the next few days, so let's do some of these guys with bead heads instead of lead eyes"), so I'll be happy to provide you with the current hotties. If you enjoy using flies from your own vise, you could do a lot worse than having an assortment of Tim Borski's excellent bonefish patterns (Borski slider, Borski swimming shrimp).

How do I get there?
You can fly into either Harlingen or Brownsville, Texas. Both of these cities are approximately 40 minutes from the Port Isabel-South Padre Island area. Private pilots can use Cameron County Municipal Airport (1-800-992-7433), approximately 15-20 minutes from Port Isabel.

Accommodations
Las Brisas Condominiums 956-761-5111
Brown Pelican B&B 956-761-2722
Casa de Siesta 956-761-5656
Super 8 Motel 956-761-6300
Day's Inn 956-761-7831
Ramada Limited 956-761-4097

Where will we be fishing?

South Texas redfishing has everything to do with height of tide and direction of tidal flow. Several hours difference separates the time of high and low tide at opposite ends of the lagoon, and because of the very shallow average depth, wind can modify predicted tides significantly. Accordingly, the better flats on on particular day may be a short run from the marina, and a 40 minute run north a few days later - it's all about being in the right place at the right time!

What about food and drink?
Soft drinks and water will be provided; feel free to bring sandwiches and/or snacks if you like.

What are your rates and how do I contact you?
Full day charter rates for 2008 are $500 for one or two anglers, half day rates are $400.

A $100/day deposit is required to secure date(s).

To book a trip, or to get additional information, I can be reached at 956-761-2878, or email me at captainericg@msn.com.