5.0(3 Reviews)Half Day Redfish And Drum Trip In Port Isabel
5.0(3 reviews)
Private Trip
Flats/Shallows Fishing
Private 5-hour flats fishing adventure targeting redfish and drumExpert guide provides multiple techniques on pristine Lower Laguna MadreSmall group capacity with top-tier 2024 Shallow Sport boat
When it comes to flats fishing along the Texas coast, few spots deliver like the waters around Port Isabel. Captain Leo and the LetZ Go FishN Charters crew have been putting anglers on fish in the Lower Laguna Madre for years, and this 5-hour morning trip is their bread and butter. Starting at 7:00 AM when the fish are most active, you'll cruise out aboard a brand-new 2024 Shallow Sport 24 Classic that's built specifically for these shallow coastal waters. This isn't some cookie-cutter charter experience – it's a private trip designed for serious anglers who want to get after redfish and black drum without the crowds.
The Lower Laguna Madre is one of those special places that produces fish year-round, and Captain Leo knows every grass bed, shell bar, and muddy bottom where these fish like to hang out. You'll launch early to beat the boat traffic and get to the prime spots while the water's still cool and the fish are feeding aggressively. The 2024 Shallow Sport 24 Classic is perfect for this kind of fishing – it runs skinny, poles quietly through the flats, and gives you plenty of casting room when you find working fish. With just 2 anglers max, you'll have the captain's full attention and won't be fighting for rod space or the best casting angles. The boat's equipped with everything you need, from quality rods and reels to a variety of baits and lures that match the conditions you'll face that day.
Captain Leo mixes up the approach depending on what the fish are doing and where they're holding. Bottom fishing is deadly here when the drum are rooting around in the mud for crabs and shrimp – you'll drop baited rigs right on their heads and feel that distinctive thump when a big black drum picks it up. When the reds are cruising the flats and tailing in shallow water, you'll switch to popping corks and soft plastics, working the bait just above the grass to trigger strikes. Drift fishing comes into play when you find schools of fish in deeper pockets or along drop-offs – letting the boat move naturally while you work lures through the water column. The beauty of this trip is the variety – you're not stuck doing one thing all day. If the bottom bite is slow, you'll move and try a different technique until you find what's working.
"Great fishing trip highly recommended" - Jesus. "My family & I had a great time on our first fishing trip. Capt. Leo was great, we learned a lot from him. We will be booking another trip soon. I highly recommend." - Beatriz. "My husband and I had an awesome day out.. most definitely booking again" - Linda.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Texas flats fishing, and the Lower Laguna Madre consistently produces some of the best red drum action on the coast. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 18 to 28 inches in these waters, with plenty of slot fish that make excellent table fare and the occasional bull red that'll test your drag system. Reds feed year-round here, but they're most aggressive during the cooler months when they school up in deeper holes and along channel edges. What makes catching redfish so addictive is their attitude – they hit hard, fight dirty, and never give up easy. You'll see them tailing in inches of water one minute, then find them busting bait in four feet the next. They're opportunistic feeders that'll eat live shrimp, cut bait, soft plastics, and topwater plugs with equal enthusiasm.
Black drum don't get the same press as their red cousins, but they're just as fun to catch and often grow much larger. The Laguna Madre is famous for producing monster black drum, with fish regularly topping 40 pounds and some true giants pushing 50-plus. These bottom-dwellers are most active during the cooler months, particularly from November through March, when they move into the shallows to feed on blue crabs, shrimp, and oysters. Black drum are bulldogs – they don't jump or make long runs, but they'll put a serious bend in your rod and test your patience with their dogged, head-shaking fights. The smaller "puppy drum" in the 5 to 15-pound range are fantastic eating, while the big broodstock fish provide bragging rights before going back to spawn another day.
Port Isabel's Lower Laguna Madre offers some of the most consistent redfish and black drum action you'll find anywhere on the Texas coast, and Captain Leo's local knowledge puts you on fish when other boats are still looking. This half-day format is perfect for anglers who want quality fishing without burning a whole day, and the early start means you'll be back at the dock by noon with stories to tell and hopefully some fish to clean. The 2024 Shallow Sport 24 Classic and variety of techniques keep things interesting, while the 2-angler limit ensures you get the personal attention that makes the difference between a good trip and a great one. Don't wait – the best dates fill up fast, especially during prime fishing months.
Your fishing machine for the morning is the 2024 Shallow Dream, a brand-new 24-foot Shallow Sport built specifically for working the flats around Port Isabel. This beauty runs on a 250HP Yamaha that'll get you to the fish fast, hitting 55 knots when you need to cover water quickly. The shallow draft design lets you slip into those skinny water spots where the big redfish and drum like to cruise. You'll have plenty of room to move around while fighting fish, with space for up to 5 anglers, though your group of 2 means extra elbow room for casting. The onboard fish finder will help locate schools holding in deeper pockets, while the GPS keeps you on productive structure in the Lower Laguna Madre. Keep your drinks cold in the icebox during the 5-hour trip, and enjoy some tunes on the multimedia system between bites. Whether you're bottom fishing for drum, popping corks for specks, or sight-casting to tailing reds, this boat handles it all with the reliability and performance that serious bay fishermen demand.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our bay system, running anywhere from 5 pounds up to 30-plus monsters. They're dark gray to black with barbels under their chin, kind of like underwater catfish. You'll find them crushing oysters and crabs on muddy bottoms and shell beds. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we really dial them in. What's cool about drum is they actually make drumming sounds you can hear underwater. They're powerful fighters that use their weight and that big tail to wear you down. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make great table fare. My go-to technique is fresh crab on the bottom with just enough weight to stay put. These fish have crushing power in their jaws, so don't be surprised when they mangle your bait.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our Lower Laguna Madre flats. These copper-colored beauties average 20-28 inches and love cruising the 1-4 foot shallows around oyster reefs and grass beds. You'll spot them by that distinctive black eyespot near their tail and their reddish backs. They fight hard with powerful runs and tail walks that'll get your heart pumping. Spring through fall gives us the best action when they're actively feeding. What makes them special is they eat everything - live shrimp, topwater plugs, or soft plastics all work. The meat is fantastic too, mild and flaky. Pro tip: when you see them tailing in skinny water, cast past them and work your bait back slowly. They spook easy but once hooked, they'll give you a battle you won't forget.
5.0 out of 5.0Great fishing trip highly recommended
My family & I had a great time on our first fishing trip. Capt. Leo was great, we learned a lot from him. We will be booking anoth...
My husband and I had an awesome day out.. most definitely booking again
Port Isabel, TX