FISHES OF THE TEXAS LAGUNA MADRE: A GUIDE FOR ANGLERS AND NATURALISTS PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Henry Compton, Janice D. Fechhelm, David A. McKee, Jr. John W. Tunnell | 224 pages | 01 Jul 2008 | Texas A & M University Press | 9781603440288 | English | College Station, United States Fishes of the Texas Laguna Madre a guide for anglers & naturalists - ECU Libraries Catalog Most redfish are in the inch range with some larger fish mixed in. The best part about fishing redfish in super shallow clean water is the visual aspect of the game in that depth. Tailing fish in singles and even huge pods are a great way to locate fish even on cloudy days. With good fishing, all winter long depending on cold fronts. As far as gear is concerned, I recommend all of my anglers bring a fast 8 weight paired with a Scientific Anglers Grand Slam or Redfish line. I like shrimp and crab flies in the inch range and love to throw gurglers when the fish are in the right mood. Redfish flies in Texas need to be seen by the fish and need to match the environment they are fished in. Seagrass and water depth play the biggest roles in fly selection. My best piece of advice for anglers visiting the Texas coast coincides with that of any other saltwater destination. Get used to working with your guide and understand saltwater fly fishing success is the combination of several uncontrollable variables; tide, water clarity, wind, and light. Casting accuracy is extremely important. Get used to fishing in the wind, and most importantly have reasonable expectations and have fun. I would recommend being able to throw 40 feet of line consistently with a steady wind at your back. I guide for redfish year-round. My year is split between the Laguna Madre on the southern Texas coast and the Louisiana marsh in the wintertime. In Texas, I operate a few small waterfront rentals for my customers and other anglers. For more information contact me at lagunamadreoutfitters gmail. Article and photos from Ben Paschal, you can check him out on Instagram at benpaschalflyfishing. Book Sample. Related Subjects Natural History. Anglers treasure the Laguna Madre, a shallow lagoon resting along one hundred miles of the South Texas coast that offers some of the best fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Its lush environment of seagrass meadows, tidal flats, submerged rock, jetties, worm reefs, mangroves, oyster beds, and open bays provides shelter, food, and nursery grounds for more than kinds of fish, and in its upper portion, many popular game fish are at record levels. He also raises important conservation issues for boaters and anglers to keep in mind while enjoying this unusual ecosystem. Visitor contact information including the location of boat docks, boat ramps, and piers rounds out the text, along with three maps of the Laguna Madre. It will be an invaluable guide for anglers and naturalists; canoers, kayakers, and boaters; students and teachers of fishery science; and anyone who lives near or has an interest in this unique and expansive body of water. About the Author David A. He has fished the waters of the Laguna Madre for more than thirty years. Fishing the Landcut from either direction can produce angling thrills Coming from a South Texas maritime family, Gabe was introduced to the gulf at a very young age by his Grandfather, Harvey Weil. As soon as he was old enough to walk, he accompanied his grandfather Harvey into the Gulf chasing billfish. The local coastal waterways and brush country became a fixture in his life. He spent all of his time outside of school chasing whatever fish and animals he could set his sights on. Gabe has always been intrigued by fish of all sizes and species, but the larger pelagics were his main quarry. Like most fishing youngsters, sharks became a favorite quarry. This would be his first encounter with the popular and well revered Capt. Billy Sandifer, and would be a coming of age experience. Capt Sandifer provided a fishing trip that young fishermans dreams were made of. On that particular trip, Gabe and his friends went 7 for 12 on blacktips and bullsharks, all of which were released, setting the stage for the Conservation practices he employs to date. Countless weekends have been spent camping along the Padre Island National Seashore fishing with family and friends since then. His fondest memories are those of introducing friends to all that the Seashore has to offer, including sharks of the larger variety. Since college, Gabe has spent his professional life working as a Commercial construction Project Manager, overseeing the development of many notable projects in our community. Gabe enjoys hunting and fishing abroad wherever his travels take him. He has been blessed to have fished and hunted across 3 Continents including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. He hopes to continue his efforts towards teaching younger generations the benefits of conservation practices. Aaron Scott Baxter was born at St. Mary's Hospital on Galveston Island, January 9th Though hard to believe, it actually snowed in Galveston on that day. As a youngster his time was split between the "beach house" in Galveston and "home" in Spring, TX where he was afforded the opportunity to fish, hunt, and explore the outdoors year round. Whether fishing the "creek" for small bass, catching snakes and turtles, or plinking away with his trusted pellet gun, he spent his time out-of-doors from sunup until the street lights came on. Even when he was forced to be indoors, outdoor television programs, magazines, and books always kept his mind outside. As a Boy Scout he learned to appreciate nature while developing a desire to protect it. This love of the outdoors and longing to become an ethical sportsman were encouraged by his two grandfathers, Pawpaw and Papa Wally, and stepfather, Ed. Some of his earliest memories involve swimming across the guts in the Galveston surf with his younger brother on his back in order to reach the magical third sand bar where speckled trout could be had in abundance. Seeing a large tarpon destroy his inadequate Zebco combo and pulling up shark robbed stringers of fish heads helped teach him a healthy respect for the ocean's inhabitants while fueling the desire to truly know these creatures. In an effort to please the "old salts" that served as mentors, he gave up his popping cork and live shrimp at a young age and took the plunge into the world of artificial lures. This is something from which he has never turned back. As an avid "plugger", Aaron moved to Corpus Christi in after graduating high school. Having heard stories of the fabled Laguna Madre for most of his life, he could not pass on the chance to actually live near and fish this legendary water body. David McKee fellow FoP board member. He presently works as a researcher for the university on projects involving shorebirds, diamondback terrapins, blue crabs, water quality, freshwater inflow, and harmful algal blooms. In , he began a new chapter in life with the arrival of his daughter, Sagan. This new addition has given him an opportunity to share his love of nature and to watch as his daughter gains the sense of wonder that was so familiar to him as a child. Whether "running and gunning" on the beach or silently stalking big trout in the shallows, he is at peace in the outdoors and knows that this is where he was meant to be. He grew up fishing the waters of the Upper Laguna Madre, but it was only a matter of time before his focus shifted to the nearshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. When he was 16, he was assigned a school project where he had to give a speech about someone who has had an impact on our community. Naturally, he chose to speak about Billy Sandifer and his conservation efforts. This was his first encounter with Capt. Sandifer, the founder and president of FoP. Cody is also the co-founder of Sea Level Apparel, which launched in Jeff grew up fishing on the weekends off the Texas City dikes, Galveston piers and in the ship channel with his dad and grandfather, Frank Wolda. His earliest memories of fishing are sitting on the bank of the ship channel with a coffee can of dead shrimp fishing the Golden Croaker runs. His Grandpa would put a green Coleman cooler next to him and he would fill it in short order during the runs. A special treat was meeting the boats at the dock to see their catch for the day. Of course, getting fresh shrimp for dinner that evening was also a plus. Launching from Arroyo City will shave miles off the trip. But the concentration of cabins is greater along the northern half and so is the angling activity. But the physical features of the entire 25 miles don't change much. There really is no off-season for fishing the Landcut, though conditions may determine your targeted species and methods. Late fall and early winter bring redfish and drum to the Cut after a couple of cold fronts. Late spring and summer can offer some of the most spectacular sightcasting thrills for redfish, drum and trout. Successful baits include live and dead shrimp, live croaker and pigfish, topwater plugs and soft plastics. Shrimp under a popping float work well along the drop-off. Live or dead shrimp with a Carolina-rigged sinker along the western channel slope will produce black drum and reds.