How Fishing Shaped Captain Augustin Perez’s Life

A Little Something About Me

I am Captain Augustin Perez of Reel Action Charter Services, and one of the fondest memories of my childhood was my father taking us fishing in the Lower Laguna Madre in Arroyo City. As a child, the place was magical and something I associated with many good things. The pristine waters are something that etched itself into my memory because they were home to so many fish I enjoyed watching and attempting to catch.

Having grown up in one of the largest irrigation canals in Port Mansfield, my friends and I spent so many summers fishing. What started out as a seemingly random activity my father took our family to one day grew into a hobby and, eventually, a passion that I still carry to this day. In fact, I fell in love with fishing so much that by the time I reached high school, I had purchased my very first boat. It was a 1952 John boat with a makeshift anchor composed mainly of a 15” car rim. We towed it behind a Gran Am, and if there are three words I could use to describe the whole experience, it’s this: Best Times Ever.

Looking back, I consider myself lucky that my teenage years were full of memories of warm days underneath the sun, surrounded by the calming waters of South Padre Island. These wholesome moments are something I wish for my guests and their families to experience as well. For me, what makes a great guide is their ability and drive to help their guests have moments they will never forget.

Go-to Fishing Spots and Targets

I love a good challenge, especially when it comes with a huge water area I can explore, test my reel on, and drive my boat around to my heart’s content. This is why fishing offshore in State waters is definitely my favorite, particularly in the months of July through October. During these months, the waters are really warm which means higher chances of catching dorados, ling, amber jack, and harpon. I would head out into the sea with only catching snapper in mind, but I would come home with a haul of that and other various species of fish. Heaven.

For this reason, my go-to spot for offshore fishing has always been the Gulf of Mexico. No angler should skip or miss it. Whenever guests ask me for recommendations, the Gulf of Mexico would always be my answer. This place has always been popular and draws crowds in, but the hype is well-deserved. It’s just so rich and full of marine life. Snapper, kingfish, dorados, ling, and tarpon are some of my favorite catches here throughout the years.

When it comes to bay fishing, the Lower Laguna Madre has always been one of my favorite fishing spots. More than the fact that it was where I was introduced to fishing as a kid, these waters are brimming with speckled sea trout, redfish, flounder, black drum, and sheepshead. It was always a delight to see my guests catch these fish, especially whenever I would learn that they were their favorite catch.

My Best Practices and Tips

Nothing could ever beat proper preparation, and I have always believed that the key to a successful and memorable fishing experience is having the right plan and equipment. Whenever someone asks me what they should get at the shop because they are looking into fishing as a hobby, I always tell them to know their fishing preferences and determine their skill sets first. Everyone starts as a beginner and, with time and perseverance, eventually becomes a pro in this activity.

Because I was exposed to fishing since I was a kid, I experienced using different types of fishing equipment and lures in my company's service. When you grow up fishing, your fishing paraphernalia and preferences evolve with you. So as soon as I figured out what my favorite fish species are, that was when I started investing in fishing gear specifically meant for catching them.

Since I love kingfish and tarpon, I use light tackle and started investing in the proper gear like the appropriate spinning rods and reels with a 15-20 lbs braid. It makes fishing both challenging and fun at the same time.

The thing about fishing is that you can always experiment with different techniques and accessories. Personally, I like experimenting with baits and find enjoyment in using different ones each time I go fishing. When the boat is anchored down or when I am out drift fishing, I often switch between live baits and fresh dead baits. It is interesting to observe how fish respond to various baits. I always encourage my guests to try things differently and see how they will work out for themselves. 

The Fishing Trips I’ll Never Forget

I really enjoy seeing my guests catch fish, especially when they tell me that what they caught is their personal best. It is like being a part of history, except it is more personal and more profound. Truth be told, it is something that I treasure because I love to share fishing with people who have the same appreciation for it. 

During one of my trips, a guest took his 9-year-old son with him for drift fishing. I took the time to teach the kid, and despite his young age, he quickly learned how to work an artificial bait and cast. In fact, after the first hour, he was already fishing like a pro, and a large redfish hit his lure. When it did, he almost flew off the boat, and it took him a long time to land the fish, which was almost as long as he was. It was such an unforgettable moment, and I am lucky I got to witness the young boy’s first fishing achievement up close.

Just like how I was introduced to fishing by my father, nothing fills my heart with joy than seeing parents take their kids fishing, more so when the kids develop a love for the hobby themselves. More than the skills you develop as an angler, it is the in-betweens shared among my guests, their family, and friends that make this profession worthwhile and memorable for me.