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Fishing Texas

  • Updated: October 9, 2008
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Texas Gold: Early this spring, SWS had the chance to chase Texas redfish at Port Mansfield, Texas. Here’s what we found.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Flying into Harlingen, Texas, Getaway Adventures Lodge owner Bruce Shuler picked us up at the airport for the 45-minute drive to Port Mansfield.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Port Mansfield is at the end of the road – literally – on Texas 606, which abuts the world-famous King Ranch.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Port Mansfield has long been a getaway for Texas outdoorsmen, whether they love to hunt or fish.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Although they won’t get to hunt Bruce Shuler’s pet deer. Guests enjoy feedings every night.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Up close and personal.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

And deer aren’t the only ones. He has a flock of turkeys that come for the handouts as well.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Early morning departures are the norm.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Distinctive Texas scooter-style boats offer anglers access to thousands of square miles of fishable flats.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Pradco’s Mark Schindel receives his marching orders from Capt. Brandon Shuler prior to jumping in for the morning wade.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Tailing redfish abound.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

And love to cooperate with anglers throwing topwaters.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Two of the most popular are the Heddon Zara Spook or Zara Spook Jr.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Redfish eat them all day long on the flats of the Laguna Madre.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Sometimes they eat them a little too good.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Most of the time, however, they’re hooked just in the corner of the mouth.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Pradco’s Jeff Samsel shows that the reds like popping lures as well.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Capt. Brandon Shuler next to his scooter boat with a nice Laguna Madre red.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Brilliant blue hues belie the location of tailing Texas reds.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Unfortunately, running in shallow water does take a toll on the fish as evidenced by this red that survived a prop scar.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

The scar was fairly sizeable.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

And took a pretty good chunk out of him, but the fish seemed no worse for the wear and it definitely didn’t hurt its appetite.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Baitcasting gear is the choice of pros on Texas’ Laguna Madre.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

When the floating grass gets too bad, anglers change to soft plastics for redfish.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Wading essentials include a good chest pack and sturdy wading boots.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Many of these stilt fishing cabins along the Laguna Madre don’t exist after recent tropical storms and hurricanes.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

A running shot of a Mud Buddy, an innovative shallow water boat designed for backwater fishing and duck hunting along the Laguna Madre.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

These boats get you back into places you wouldn’t think there would be fish… but there are.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

The early morning sun reflects off the gill plate of a Port Mansfield redfish.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Fishing along the shore of the King Ranch, you never know what you might see…but cattle might be a good guess.
Fishing Texas

Fishing Texas

Even in Texas, you can’t get away from manatees.
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