The Lower Laguna Madre is a unique bay system for fishing because of its overwhelming amount of sea grass. This area has far more grass than anywhere else on the Texas coast, which can make for a challenging and rewarding fishing experience. Hopefully I can help you to navigate this grass fishing style better so that you can catch more of this regions trophy fish like redfish, speckled trout and snook.
The Laguna Madre is full of sea grasses that are home to many marine creatures. The flourishing algae on our part of the coast has made a major impact on the success of our fisheries. The sea grass beds are not only home to marine life but also serve as structure and ambush points for our local fish species.
In other parts of the Texas coast getting hung up in grass is not a major problem, but down south where the grass beds can be found in a variety of species and cover over eighty-five percent of our bay system can be a good thing and a bad one at the same time. A major dilemma for anglers that are not used to fishing the lower part of the Laguna Madre is to keep a soft plastic fishing lure off of the grass.
I can think of one grass species in particular that is favorable for holding fish, but it can create havoc and bring frustration to the inexperienced fisherman and experienced fisherman alike. The name of this species is Thalassia testudinum or commonly known as turtle grass which is found in abundance on both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The key to being successful in this situation is to keep your fishing lure just above the grass, which can be easier said than done. It is difficult but you want your lure to stay in this important "strike zone" at all times for the best chance of catching a fish. The trick is to keep your rod tip at a forty five degree angle (or higher in thicker grass), and the retrieve is equally important.
This next step can be the hardest to learn, but will make a huge impact on your chances of catching a fish. The key is to keep the lure constantly moving when you are over these grass beds so that it stays on top and doesn't fall down into the grass blades.
My retrieval technique is a bit unusual, and other anglers complain about their arm getting so tired when they try it, but you don't have to do it just like me. Everyone needs to experiment with their own particular technique, but here is what I do. My lure constantly moves, either up or down, with non-stop action of my rod tip. A lot of people prefer to bounce their rod a few times and then let it drop, which can be successful as well.
Whatever technique you use, the important thing to keep in mind is that the lure needs to keep moving in order to not snag the grass. It may take hours of practice to get this method down but I assure you it is worth it. Also, watch the people fishing near you. If you see someone who isn't getting caught in the grass then pay attention to how their rod tip is moving and their retrieval rate. Don't be afraid to experiment and practice different methods, that is usually the best way to get better. In time you can become an expert at working fishing lures over grass areas and hopefully catch more fish.
The Laguna Madre is full of sea grasses that are home to many marine creatures. The flourishing algae on our part of the coast has made a major impact on the success of our fisheries. The sea grass beds are not only home to marine life but also serve as structure and ambush points for our local fish species.
In other parts of the Texas coast getting hung up in grass is not a major problem, but down south where the grass beds can be found in a variety of species and cover over eighty-five percent of our bay system can be a good thing and a bad one at the same time. A major dilemma for anglers that are not used to fishing the lower part of the Laguna Madre is to keep a soft plastic fishing lure off of the grass.
I can think of one grass species in particular that is favorable for holding fish, but it can create havoc and bring frustration to the inexperienced fisherman and experienced fisherman alike. The name of this species is Thalassia testudinum or commonly known as turtle grass which is found in abundance on both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The key to being successful in this situation is to keep your fishing lure just above the grass, which can be easier said than done. It is difficult but you want your lure to stay in this important "strike zone" at all times for the best chance of catching a fish. The trick is to keep your rod tip at a forty five degree angle (or higher in thicker grass), and the retrieve is equally important.
This next step can be the hardest to learn, but will make a huge impact on your chances of catching a fish. The key is to keep the lure constantly moving when you are over these grass beds so that it stays on top and doesn't fall down into the grass blades.
My retrieval technique is a bit unusual, and other anglers complain about their arm getting so tired when they try it, but you don't have to do it just like me. Everyone needs to experiment with their own particular technique, but here is what I do. My lure constantly moves, either up or down, with non-stop action of my rod tip. A lot of people prefer to bounce their rod a few times and then let it drop, which can be successful as well.
Whatever technique you use, the important thing to keep in mind is that the lure needs to keep moving in order to not snag the grass. It may take hours of practice to get this method down but I assure you it is worth it. Also, watch the people fishing near you. If you see someone who isn't getting caught in the grass then pay attention to how their rod tip is moving and their retrieval rate. Don't be afraid to experiment and practice different methods, that is usually the best way to get better. In time you can become an expert at working fishing lures over grass areas and hopefully catch more fish.
About the Author:
Captain Ernest Cisneros is a Texas Fishing Guide who specializes in wade fishing for trophy speckled trout, redfish and snook in the Lower Laguna Madre. Captain Cisneros recommends trying out some saltwater fishing tackle like the Sea Devils by Brown Lures. These saltwater fishing lures work great for wade fishing in Texas.
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