Redfish
(Sciaenops ocellatus)
The redfish is the most
highly prized fly fishing species on the lower Laguna Madre
flats. A legal-sized, tireless redfish is exciting on a fly rod
providing good runs that can challenge the best saltwater
outfit. If you're fortunate enough to hook an oversized red,
then continue to check your backing. Most fish are caught in
water less than one foot deep. It is common to look for the
wake of a cruising fish or see their tails as they root like
hogs into the grassy flats.
The waters all along the
southern Laguna Madre from South Bay to the Mansfield cut have
good numbers of cruising and tailing redfish. You have to use
good polarized sunglasses and clear water to see cruising fish.
The bottom in the bay varies from fairly white sandy stretches
to patches of bay grasses. Hard sand surfaces is where you find
redfish cruising and rooting for tube worms. This type of
substrate makes for quick responses from a fly rodder.
