South Texas 30/30 texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout Typically in Texas, the “Big Three” dominate the topic of inshore salt water fishing. While that trifecta - which consists of speckled trout, redfish, and flounder - represents a bit of diversity for many bay fishermen, many more often dream of fishing an area which offers a greater variety of species to target. However, even those anglers who visualize venues with greater variety would have a hard time imagining a place where it is possible to catch a different species every day for a month without ever leaving sight of land. In reality, there is no need to use your imagination - there is a spot right here in Texas where it is possible, especially during the summer months, to catch 30 different species of inshore and nearshore fish within 30 calendar days. Actually, an inspired angler can usually tally the 30 different species within a week, given an honest angling effort. This is not to say this angling accomplishment is easy. But, given the current price of gas, the most difficult part of such an angling odyssey may well be paying for the fuel to get there. The location in question is the extreme southern portion of the Texas coast. Specifically speaking, the area from the Rio Grande River mouth to the Port Mansfield jetties holds the most diverse group of marine fish species found in the United States, west of the Florida Keys. Although some of these species may not be immediately recognizable to some Texas saltwater fishermen, they are legitimate salt water sport fish and are well sought after in other regions where they commonly occur. And, an angler with an open mind and a willingness to tweak their tactics from day to day, can come away with a album full of photos and the most memorable fishing trip of their life. Below is a partial list of the species anglers can expect to find in the Lower Laguna Madre, as well as the beachfront waters near Boca Chica beach, South Padre Island, Port Isabel and Port Mansfield. And, best of all, the majority of these fish can be caught by wading or working along piers and jetties. At the very most, a few of them require a short boat ride out of either the Brazos Santiago Pass (South Padre Island) or East Cut (Port Mansfield). But anglers never have to leave the sight of solid ground to land all 30. Speckled trout - As most anglers are aware, speckled trout can be found just about everywhere in the summertime. Along the southern coast, they can be found both in the bay and along the beachfront. They are also common in the passes and rivers and will take a variety of artificial and natural baits. Sand trout - Sand trout, although smaller and less glamorous than speckled trout, are also common throughout the summer months. They can be caught along the beachfront, but are most common in the passes and deeper areas of the bay. They are usually most tempted by live or fresh dead shrimp. Redfish - The most popular salt water gamefish in Texas, red drum will be thick on the flats of the Lower Laguna Madre during the summer months. Their penchant for spending most of their time feeding in shallow water make them an enticing target for sight-casting anglers. Reds will take a variety of natural baits, but are most rewarding when taken on light tackle plugs or flies. Black drum - The less glamorous cousin of the redfish, black drum are everywhere on the flats during summer and will readily gulp of a variety of natural baits - particularly dead ones. Flounder - Flatfish can be found along the channels in the Lower Laguna Madre, as well as the passes leading out of it during the summer months. Best bets for flounder are bottom-hopped finger mullet, shrimp and soft-plastic jigs. Snook - The most uniquely “South Texas” species on the list, snook - both common and fat - are readily available both near the jetties and along the beachfront during summer. However, there are also a good number of linesiders in the bay until around October. Snook can be caught on live shrimp, finger mullet, topwater and slow-sinking plugs, and a variety soft-plastics. Spadefish - Resembling the popular angelfish which inhabits aquariums across the country, spadefish are generally thought of as an offshore species, but do move inshore and are common along the jetties and in the bay along the southernmost Texas coast. Spades are hard-fighting and excellent eating and are most commonly caught on tiny live shrimp and small jigs. Pompano - Although pompano are most common in winter, they are available year around. These tasty panfish are spirited fighters on light-tackle and will readily eat sand fleas, small shrimp, jigs and tiny spoons. Bluefish - Although popular on the East Coast, bluefish are usually overlooked on the Texas coast. However, especially during early summer, good numbers of blues can be found along the South Texas surf. They will greedily hit a variety of plugs and jigs. Barracuda - Found strictly offshore in most areas of the Texas coast, barracuda will frequent the jetties and even the flats adjacent to the passes in the Texas border region. Most of these barracuda are small - averaging about 16 inches - but they are great fun on topwater plugs and will also hit jigs and natural baits. Ladyfish - Although most anglers see them as a nuisance, ladyfish can be great fun on light-tackle and fly-fishing equipment. This is especially true of the exceptionally large (25 to 27-inch) specimens which are found on the South Texas flats and beachfront waters. These fish will hit any fast-moving jig, plug or fly. Tarpon - Deep South Texas represents the best opportunity for most Texas anglers to catch a silver king. Why? Because South Texas has a large concentration of tarpon within reach of anglers fishing from the shore or jetties. Tarpon of all sizes inhabit the waters of the surf and passes in South Texas and will eat a variety of natural baits, including crabs, finger mullet, and jumbo shrimp, and artificial lures. Tripletail - These rather unsightly, but tasty, fish are common during the summer and can be seen `floating' near buoys, crab traps and pilings. The best bet for tripletail is live shrimp. Jack crevalle - If ever there was a fish that was despised for fighting too hard, this is it. Most anglers don't have the patience to see a battle with a jack to the end. If you're up to the challenge, big jacks are thick in the summer surf and will pounce on plugs, jigs and spoons. Lookdown - These odd-looking jacks are spirited fighters and voracious feeders. They can easily be taken around any structure with a variety of small lures and natural baits. King mackerel - Generally thought of as an offshore species, kingfish roam the beachfront and passes of South Texas throughout the summer. Through September, kings can easily be caught by jetty fishermen and small boat anglers with a variety of artificials and natural baits. Spanish mackerel - Spanish mackerel are found both in the surf and in the bay during summer and are most easily caught on spoons and small jigs. Bonito - Another fish seen as an offshore target, bonito come close to shore near the Mexican border and are easily chased by small boat anglers and even occasionally come within reach of jetty fishermen. They commonly hit fast-moving jigs, spoons and flies. Mangrove snapper - The hard-fighting and well-toothed cousin of the red snapper, mangroves are common around pretty much any structure. These much sought-after snapper will readily munch on shrimp, mullet and jigs. Gag grouper - Small gag grouper can be found around the jetties year around. They can be taken on small jigs, but are most consistent on shrimp and small baitfish. Goliath grouper - Formerly known as jewfish, goliath grouper still inhabit the jetties lining the Brazos Santiago Pass. Though most of these fish are juveniles, they are still formidable on light tackle. They are usually taken on various small baitfish. Rock hind - These smallish, speckled grouper are common around the jetties and can be taken on jigs and natural baits. Although diminutive in size, they are excellent eating. Sheepshead - A common species up and down the coast, sheepshead are usually found around the jetties or bridge pilings in the bay. They are most commonly tempted with small shrimp or crabs. Triggerfish - Another species usually thought of as an offshore target, triggerfish are a common sight around the SPI jetties during late summer. Their tiny mouths require small jigs or shrimp pinned to small hooks. Gafftopsail catfish - Though not as common as they are up the coast, gafftops do appear in the Lower Laguna Madre. The easiest way to find them is to look for muddy water in an otherwise clear bay. Whiting - Found year around in the surf and passes, whiting are a popular food fish for locals. They are easily caught on shrimp, squid and other dead baits. Ling - Although they don't make their way into the bay, ling will move into the pass from time to time and are common around the nearshore buoys (less than a mile from shore). Atlantic sharpnose shark - Probably the most common shark on this end of the coast, the Atlantic sharpnose is small enough to be manageable on light tackle, but still offers a spirited fight. They can be taken along the surf with a variety of dead baits. Blacktip shark - Essentially a larger version of the Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip are a step up on the `big game' ladder. However, though they are larger, they are found along the beachfront alongside sharpies and will take the same baits. Bonnethead shark - This diminutive version of a hammerhead is virtually an ideal light-tackle species. It is fairly common along the beaches and passes of South Texas, rarely exceeds a few feet long and will readily slurp a variety of natural baits fished on or near the bottom. If this list wasn't enough to satisfy adventurous Texas saltwater anglers, below is a list of additional species which can be caught, some right at the beach and others within five miles of shore, during the summertime along the southern coast: bull shark, hammerhead shark, spinner shark, cutlassfish, croaker, African pompano, palometa, dorado, blue runner, horse-eye jack, amberjack, rainbow runner, cero mackerel, wahoo, cubera snapper, red snapper, black grouper, blackfin tuna. 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