5.0(2 Reviews)Half Day Fishing Trip In Laguna Madre
5.0(2 reviews)
Private Trip
Backcountry Fishing
Five-hour private charter targets redfish and flounder in Laguna MadreAll tackle, gear, drinks, and fish cleaning services includedWeekday-only backcountry flats fishing for up to four guests
The lower Laguna Madre is hands down one of the most productive shallow water fisheries on the Texas coast, and Captain Roel knows every grass bed, drop-off, and cut that holds fish. This isn't your typical crowded bay fishing – we're talking about pristine backcountry flats where you can sight-cast to tailing redfish and work the structure that consistently produces limits of keeper trout and flounder. Five solid hours on the water gives you plenty of time to hit multiple spots and really dial in on what's biting that day.
Your private charter starts early when the bite is hot and the flats are calm. Captain Roel runs a clean, well-equipped boat that's perfect for navigating the skinny water and grass flats that make Laguna Madre famous. We'll work everything from knee-deep flats where you can watch redfish push wakes to deeper potholes and channel edges that hold big trout and drum. The beauty of a five-hour trip is flexibility – if one area isn't producing, we've got time to move and find active fish. All your tackle, artificial lures, and live bait are included, plus we keep you hydrated with water and Gatorade throughout the day. When you're ready to head in, Captain Roel handles all the fish cleaning and bagging so you can take your catch home ready for the dinner table.
Laguna Madre fishing is all about reading the water and adapting your approach. We'll be throwing everything from topwater plugs at first light to soft plastics worked slowly along grass lines and drop-offs. The shallow flats call for light tackle and quiet presentations – think weedless spoons and paddle tails rigged on light jig heads. When we find fish holding in the grass, we'll switch to Texas-rigged plastics that won't hang up. Captain Roel carries top-shelf spinning gear spooled with braided line for better sensitivity and hook sets in the vegetation. Live bait fishing plays a big role too, especially when targeting flounder around structure or working deeper holes for drum and trout. The key is staying mobile and letting the fish tell you what they want on any given day.
"Had a great day, thank you Roel!" - Eddie. "Even though the weather was a bit chilly, Captain Roel knew exactly where to go to get us on the bite and out of the wind! We loved every minute of our fishing charter from Port Isabel!" - Angela.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Laguna Madre, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow grass flats and can be found year-round, though fall and winter often produce the biggest fish as they school up for their spawning runs. Reds in the 20-30 inch range are common, with some real bulls pushing 40 inches and 30+ pounds. What makes them so fun is their aggressive nature – they'll crush topwater plugs, inhale live shrimp, and put up a bulldogging fight that'll test your drag. The sight fishing opportunities are world-class, especially on calm days when you can spot their copper backs and black spots cruising the flats.
Sea Trout are the bread and butter of Laguna Madre fishing, with solid populations of keeper-sized fish throughout the system. These spotted beauties love grass beds and shell structure, typically ranging from 15-20 inches with occasional specimens pushing 25+ inches. Spring and fall are prime time, but summer early morning and late evening bites can be outstanding. Trout are suckers for live shrimp under a popping cork, but they'll also hammer soft plastics worked along grass lines. Their soft mouths mean you need to play them carefully, but their sweet, flaky meat makes them a favorite for the dinner table.
Summer Flounder are the ambush predators of the flats, lying buried in sand near structure waiting to pounce on unsuspecting baitfish. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes in Laguna Madre, with 20+ inch specimens not uncommon during peak season from late spring through early fall. They're masters of camouflage and require a different approach – slow presentations with live bait or jigs bounced along the bottom near shell beds, channel edges, and grass lines. When you hook into a big flounder, they'll make powerful runs and try to bury themselves in the bottom. Their pure white fillets are considered some of the best eating fish in the Gulf.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the system, with fish ranging from slot-sized specimens perfect for eating to massive bulls that can exceed 40 pounds. These bottom-dwellers love shell beds, deeper holes, and structure where they root around for crabs and shellfish. Peak season runs from late fall through early spring when big schools move through the area. Younger drum in the 16-30 inch range are excellent table fare, while the giants provide pure arm-burning fights. Blue crabs and cut bait work best, fished on the bottom near structure. The sound of a big drum's pharyngeal teeth crushing shells is unmistakable, and their powerful runs will put your tackle to the test.
This top-rated charter fills up fast, especially during prime fishing seasons when the bite is hot. Captain Roel's local knowledge and commitment to putting you on fish has made this a customer favorite among serious anglers who want results. The five-hour format gives you real time to fish multiple areas and techniques, while the private boat ensures you're not competing with other anglers for water or attention. With all gear, tackle, drinks, and fish cleaning included, you just need to show up ready to catch fish. The lower Laguna Madre is fishing as good as it ever has, and there's no better way to experience it
Hit the flats in this cutting-edge shallow water fishing machine that'll get you into those hard-to-reach backcountry spots where the big redfish and sea trout hang out. This updated flats boat handles up to 4 anglers and cruises at 48 knots through the skinny water around South Padre's backcountry. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're stalking fish in shallow water, while the fish finder helps locate schools holding in deeper pockets. Stay comfortable with the onboard icebox for cold drinks and the multimedia system for those longer runs between spots. GPS navigation ensures you can mark productive areas and find your way back to that honey hole. Built specifically for working the flats and backcountry waters of lower Laguna Madre, this boat gets you where the fish are biting.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the flats, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These gray-black bruisers love shallow muddy areas and oyster beds where they crush shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you hear their drumming sounds underwater. They're fantastic fighters but stick to fish under 15 pounds for the table since bigger ones get tough. The key trick is getting your bait right on bottom with fresh crab or cut bait. They're picky about presentation but once hooked, they'll give you a memorable battle in skinny water.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our flats fishing, with their copper-bronze backs and signature black spots near the tail. These bruisers run 20-40 inches and love ultra-shallow water where their backs show above the surface. Year-round fishing is solid, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action. What draws anglers back is their bulldozing fight in skinny water and excellent eating qualities - firm, mild flesh that grills perfectly. They'll eat everything from topwater plugs to live shrimp. Key tip: look for nervous water and tailing fish on incoming tides around oyster bars and grass edges. Quiet approaches win the day with these spooky fish.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are the backbone of our inshore fishery, averaging 1-5 pounds with silver sides covered in distinctive black spots. These speckled beauties cruise grass flats and shallow bays, especially active during low-light periods. Spring through fall offers consistent action, but winter schools in deeper channels can be dynamite. They're aggressive strikers with a delicate, sweet-tasting white meat that's hard to overcook. Topwater plugs at dawn create explosive strikes, but soft plastics under popping corks work year-round. My secret: focus on moving water near grass edges where baitfish get pushed around - that's where specks ambush their meals.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are masters of camouflage, lying flat on sandy bottoms with both eyes on one side of their head. These ambush predators typically run 15-20 inches but can hit 26 pounds. They're most active September through November when cooler water brings them shallow. What makes them special is their chameleon-like ability to change colors and their excellent table fare - mild, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They love live minnows and sea worms on circle hooks. Pro tip: when you feel that subtle tap, count to three before setting the hook. Flounder mouth the bait sideways first, so patience pays off big time.
5.0 out of 5.0Had a great day, thank you Roel!
Even though the weather was a bit chilly, Captain Roel knew exactly where to go to get us on the bite and out of the wind! We love...
Corpus Christi