Spring Break Rollin’, Rods Bent & Smiles All Around

Spring Break Rollin’, Rods Bent & Smiles All Around – Castaway Lodge Report

March 15 – March 23, 2026

Spring break showed up in full force down here in Seadrift, and I’ll tell you right now — it did not disappoint. We’ve had the lodge humming, boats rolling at daylight, and fish hitting the dock steady. Just one of those stretches where everything lines up and you hate to see it end.

We got things kicked off with Forrest Stillwell bringing down a crew of 13 young men from Lawrence Academy up in New England for a three-day run, and those boys got introduced to the Texas coast the right way. We had Captains James Cunningham, Braden Proctor, Devin Spencer, and Doug Russell spread out across the bay system, and every one of ‘em stayed on the bite.

I’m talking limits of Redfish and Black Drum coming in like clockwork. The fish have been stacked up across the upper San Antonio Bay — shell, mud, drains — all the usual springtime haunts, and those kids flat wore ‘em out. Nothing better than watching a group like that figure it out quick and start leaning into fish like they’ve been doing it their whole lives.

We also had Jesse Schuurman with I-E-S down with his group, fishing alongside Capt. James Cunningham, and they got in on that same strong bite. Just steady action, good people, and rods staying bent — exactly what you want this time of year.

Meanwhile, Capt. Chris Cady was back in the skinny water doing what he does best, taking care of our longtime friend Ed Bremer and his grandsons. That’s special right there. They were running the airboat way back, chasing down those big, tailing redfish, and making the kind of memories that stick with you. Hard to beat watching the next generation get after it in water that shallow.

To wrap up the week, we had Matt Ricks in town entertaining guests of Victaulic, along with Ricky Fernandez, and they slid right into the program like they’d been coming for years. Good fishing, good laughs, and just easy days on the water — the kind that remind you why folks keep coming back.

What the Fish Are Doing

Fishing’s been as steady as you could ask for in mid-March.
The Redfish are up shallow early, sliding off just a touch as the sun gets up.
Black Drum are stacked up thick on shell and mud — if you’re around ‘em, you’re gonna catch ‘em.

It’s not a race, it’s just good, honest fishing. Stay patient, fish clean, and you’re gonna get your shot. That spring pattern is starting to show itself, and it’s only getting better from here.

Back at the Lodge

Back at the lodge, it’s been the good kind of busy — boots by the door, coolers getting filled, and folks gathered around swapping stories like they’ve known each other forever. You’ve got first-timers mixing in with long-time guests, and by the end of the trip you can’t tell the difference. That’s just how it works around here.

Looking Ahead

We’re sitting right on the edge of a really good spring run. Water’s warming, fish are settling in, and everything’s pointing the right direction. If this past week was any sign, we’ve got a lot to look forward to.

If you’ve been thinking about getting down here, don’t overthink it — come on. We’ll have the boats ready and a spot saved for you.

Tight lines,
– Capt. Kris Kelley & the Castaway Lodge Crew
Seadrift, Texas
SeadriftBayFishing.com