The Lower Laguna Madre in South Texas is a unique hyper-saline lagoon that offers a variety of species from redfish, trout, flounder, occasional tarpon, and a growing population of snook. What separates the Lower Laguna from other parts of the Texas coast? Its the abundance of sea grasses.
One of the reasons that the Laguna Madre contains all of these different species of fish is the grass and algae. These grass beds provide a home and protection to fish as well as structure and ambush points. They are very important to the success of our fisheries.
People who are not familiar with fishing in the Laguna Madre can have a real problem with their lure from getting stuck in the grass, which can make for a frustrating experience. The unique grass beds cover 85 percent of our local waters so there is no escaping this problem that doesn't exist in other parts of the Texas Gulf Coast.
The species of grass named Thalassia testudinum (aka turtle grass) in particular is all over the place. This turtle grass is a favorite for holding fish, but can also be the most challenging. Whether you are an experienced angler or not, trying to navigate this grass can really ruin your day with frustration if you aren't prepared for it.
The ability to keep your lure right above the grass is critical to your success. You want to keep your lure in the strike zone at all times. When fishing in grass, the trick is in the position of your rod tip and your retrieve. Most of the time keeping your rod tip at a forty-five degree angle will work, but when the grass is thick, a slightly higher position on your rod tip works best.
The retrieve of the lure worked right above the grass is the hardest part to learn, but once you get the rhythm, it will definitely increase your chances of hooking up with fish. When working your soft plastic lure over thick grass, try to keep the lure in constant motion making sure it stays right on top of 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.
One of the reasons that the Laguna Madre contains all of these different species of fish is the grass and algae. These grass beds provide a home and protection to fish as well as structure and ambush points. They are very important to the success of our fisheries.
People who are not familiar with fishing in the Laguna Madre can have a real problem with their lure from getting stuck in the grass, which can make for a frustrating experience. The unique grass beds cover 85 percent of our local waters so there is no escaping this problem that doesn't exist in other parts of the Texas Gulf Coast.
The species of grass named Thalassia testudinum (aka turtle grass) in particular is all over the place. This turtle grass is a favorite for holding fish, but can also be the most challenging. Whether you are an experienced angler or not, trying to navigate this grass can really ruin your day with frustration if you aren't prepared for it.
The ability to keep your lure right above the grass is critical to your success. You want to keep your lure in the strike zone at all times. When fishing in grass, the trick is in the position of your rod tip and your retrieve. Most of the time keeping your rod tip at a forty-five degree angle will work, but when the grass is thick, a slightly higher position on your rod tip works best.
The retrieve of the lure worked right above the grass is the hardest part to learn, but once you get the rhythm, it will definitely increase your chances of hooking up with fish. When working your soft plastic lure over thick grass, try to keep the lure in constant motion making sure it stays right on top of 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 wade fishing accessories like the Sea Devils by Brown Lures. These redfish lures work great for wade fishing in Texas.
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