The Saltwater Magazine for Gulf Coast Fishing!
FISHING FORECASTS
| FISHING CALENDARS | ARTICLES | ADVERTISE
| SUBSCRIBE
Search Gulf Coast Fisherman's
Web Site
Past articles, specific
places or fish, etc.
South Texas
SLAM
by Capt. Danno Wise
| CURRENT
MOON lunar phases |
Substitute a snook or tarpon
for a flounder in this trio...
Up and down the Texas coastal curve, inshore anglers often set their sights on catching a "Texas Slam." For the majority of Lone Star State fishermen, this achievement is marked by catching each of the traditional "Big 3" - redfish, speckled trout, flounder - in a single session. However, along the extreme southern stretch of the Texas coast, a more tropical species lends a totally different personality to the slam. In the waters of the Lower Laguna Madre, fishermen substitute snook for flounder to complete what is known as a "South Texas Slam."
The South Texas Slam is an attainable goal for anglers fishing the swath of coast from the Rio Grande River to just above the Port Mansfield Cut. However, serious slam candidates should focus their efforts in the waters surrounding Port Isabel and South Padre Island. Simply put, that is where the greatest concentration of snook can be found on a consistent basis. Thus, the odds of completing the trifecta greatly improve when fishing in this area.
For most Texans, snook are the wild cards. Linesiders live only along this small stretch of Texas coast. In fact, the snook population in the Lower Laguna Madre forms the only viable snook fishery outside South Florida.
Even though snook remain the great unknown for fishermen outside the Lower Laguna, the entire fishery differs greatly from other Lone Star State inshore waters. With sprawling, shallow, clear, mangrove-lined grassflats, the Lower Laguna has much more in common with Florida fisheries than other Texas bays. So, even speckled trout and redfish play by slightly different rules in this border bay than they do further up the coast.
However, despite the unique setting and new - at least to many anglers accustomed to fishing in Texas - species, the South Texas Slam is a realistic goal for anglers willing to formulate a plan and stick to it.
Snook
Snook are the first logical step toward a South Texas Slam. There are
a couple reasons for tackling snook at the outset of the day. For one, since
many anglers going after a 
South Texas Slam have
never caught a snook, the mental pressure of landing a linesider can weigh
heavily on them. Getting this fish out of the way early will make the rest
of the day go smoother.
Another reason for starting the day fishing for snook is more practical. Unlike redfish and trout, which can usually be tempted throughout the day, snook are very particular about their feeding times. South Texas snook feed early and late or when there is tide movement - period.
Throughout the year, anglers can count on snook to feed during the lowlight periods, regardless of tidal movement. However, during the balance of the day, if the water is not moving, the snook aren't feeding. So, it's best to take advantage of the morning bite. If a snook isn't landed during that time period, move on to other species until the tide begins to move.
Beyond when to fish for snook, anglers also need to know where to look for them. Luckily, snook are perhaps the most easily patterned fish in the Lower Laguna. From winter through early spring, snook will be concentrated near deepwater structure in areas such as the Brownsville Ship Channel and Port of Port Isabel. From late spring through fall, the majority of fish will be found either around the jetties or on the flats at the lower end of the bay and in South Bay.
Regardless of when and where they're found, snook are suckers for free-lined DOA Shrimp. When they are lurking in the shallows, linesiders are quite prone to topwater plugs such as Super Spook Jr.'s and 3-1/2 inch DOA BFLs. Around the jetties and other deep water structure, swimbaits such as YUM Sweet Cheeks do the job as well as anything.
Of course, snook will also inhale a variety of live baits, with jumbo shrimp and pinfish topping the list. Fly rodders can usually produce good catches on poppers, Clouser Minnows, and Deceivers.
Speckled Trout
The Lower Laguna is known for its trophy speckled trout. However, for the purposes of a slam, you don't need to catch a trophy - you just need a keeper. And, there are plenty of areas to look for keeper trout on the south end of the Lower Laguna, very near the snook fishing locations. So, it only makes sense to go after them next.
If you're just looking to box a keeper, the deeper flats and channel edges around Mexiquita Flats or just north of the causeway are almost always good for a few fish. A live shrimp or three inch DOA Shrimp under a popping cork will typically produce the desired results in short order. Soft-plastic jigs also produce plenty of schoolies.
If you are aiming for a large trout, look shallow. Try the flats in South Bay or near the spoils in front of Port Isabel. If you choose to run further north, areas such as Gas Well Flats, Three Island and South Cullen Bay hold plenty of big specks.
When fishing the flats for specks, use topwaters such as Super Spooks or shallow running subsurface baits such as the DOA Baitbuster. Sight casting is best accomplished by using lightly weighted soft-plastics, DOA Shrimp or flies. Anglers who prefer using natural baits are best served by soaking cut ballyhoo on a Carolina rig or free lining pinfish in the potholes.
Redfish
The most prevalent gamefish in the Lower Laguna, redfish are pursued in a variety of manners. Most often they are taken while sight fishing the shallow flats.
When attempting a slam, anglers should first try the flats on the southern end of the bay, to keep running time at a minimum. Fishermen can usually encounter reds in South Bay or over Mexiquita Flats. However, at times, it may be necessary to head for points further north such as the refuge shoreline, Drum Boat, Gas Well Flats, or the east side sand flats.
Due to their unpredictable availability in the southern portion of the bay, and since they will typically feed throughout the day, it is best to target redfish last. That way, if a long boat run is required, a return trip south for snook and specks won't be necessary.
While drifting or poling over the shallows, anglers can blind cast with small topwaters, weedless spoons or soft-plastic jigs. However, once reds are seen with regularity, it is best to refrain from blind-casting, as unseen fish are often inadvertently spooked by a misplaced cast.
Instead of blind casting, anglers should wait until the target is spotted, then place the lure a few feet ahead of their path. Spoons, jigs, flies and live or artificial shrimp make for the best sight casting offerings. Live or cracked crabs, as well as artificial crabs like the DOA Softshell Crab or GULP! Peeler Crab, are also productive for sight casting to redfish.
Tarpon Make it Grand
If you have even larger ambitions, you might want to add a fourth species to the list of catches and complete a Grand Slam. Catching a flounder in addition to a snook, trout and redfish is the most common four fish slam anglers attempt in South Texas. However, beginning in April, tarpon will fill the Brazos Santiago Pass, where they'll remain through October. With a fishable population of silver kings available, anglers have a realistic shot at completing a true Grand Slam, as recognized by the IGFA.
Getting There by Air
For those looking to fly into South Texas, the Valley International Airport in Harlingen (www.flythevalley.com) is conveniently located close to the Port Isabel/South Padre area. Some Guides will arrange for airport pickup. Visitors heading to South Padre Island also have the option of an airport shuttle or, depending on which hotel they are staying at, a hotel shuttle. Several taxis also run between VIA and Port Isabel and South Padre Island.
Capt. Danno guides year 'round in South Texas. He can be reached at
(956) 371-4099. - Website: Fish With
Capt. Danno