The Lower Laguna Madre is at its summer best, and the first week of June around South Padre Island is delivering. Redfish are tailing the flats, tarpon have shown along the beachfront, and the trout bite is strong on the deeper grass. Here is the week’s rundown.
What’s Biting
Redfish are the flats staple, tailing and cruising the shallow grass and the sand pockets of the Lower Laguna. Speckled trout are holding over the deeper grass and around the structure, with bigger fish in the mix early. Tarpon have started to show along the beachfront and around the jetties — a classic early-summer treat. Snook, black drum, and flounder round out the bay mix, and the jetties hold Spanish mackerel.
Where to Find Them
Wade or pole the shallow grass flats and the sand pockets of the Lower Laguna for tailing reds early. Trout are on the deeper grass and along the spoil banks and the channel edges. Tarpon are along the beachfront and around the Brazos Santiago jetties. The jetties also hold snook, drum, and Spanish on the moving tide.
Tides & Conditions
Light morning winds and clean water are essential for sight-fishing the flats — get out early before the wind builds. Water is in the low-to-mid 80s. The afternoon sea breeze churns the shallows, so plan a dawn start. Watch the wind forecast; a rare calm morning is gold here.
Tackle & Tactics
Sight-fish reds with weedless gold spoons, soft plastics, and live shrimp under a cork. Trout eat topwater early and soft plastics over the grass through the day. For beach and jetty tarpon, throw big swimbaits, plugs, and live mullet on heavy leader. The jetties produce snook and drum on cut and live bait.
This Week’s Tip
On the Lower Laguna’s gin-clear flats, the reds see everything — lengthen your leader and lighten your lure. A long fluorocarbon leader and a quiet, weedless presentation cast well ahead of a tailing fish will get eaten, while a heavy splashdown right on top of them sends the whole school sprinting for deeper water.