Destination: Port Isabel, Texas
Fishing Style: Offshore
Species targeted: American Red Snapper (State waters)
I have always targeted red snappers during the summer months with federal waters are fair game. This year, I had the opportunity to chase them down in the winter months with friends and the best part is we could still see the island while slaying the snaps!
I made my way down to Port Isabel, TX. I small town ten minutes before you get to South Padre Island, TX where the latitude lines are parallel with Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Down here, tropical fruits flourish the flats are crystal clear as the Bahamas and loaded with inshore game such as redfish, speckled trout, flounder, snook even tarpon!
Capt. Andy Salinas helped us get booked at the Casa Redfish, a luxurious private canal front home in Port Isabel, blocks away from a boat ramp and and groceries and your typical needs for a week long stay.
We bought groceries and cooked as we came and went throughout the activities and one day we even catered in Munoz Catering for a street taco experience right there on the water.
Our snapper trip was one of the best offshore trips I've ever experienced and definitely the quickest! We started off late as we got our morning taco and menudo fix and headed off to find our limits of ceviche!
If you haven't had menudo, you have got to try Manuel's in Port Isabel!
Seas were nice and flat 1-2, we went to the first spot which produced our target species right away.
I even managed to swing a few grey trigger fish into the boat. These little guys don't get enough credit because their tough hide makes people believe they are "trash fish" but if you're lucky enough to boat a few legal sized ones, you will not be disappointed by their exceptionally firm and clean tasting meat! One of my favorites for sashimi.
We fished the spot well and when it slowed down a bit, Capt. Andy was quick to relocate us to the next snapper grounds.
Johnny, Mardi and David each pulled their weight to get us our limits. It was non-stop hauling for about an hour and half.
As sun got higher, the snapper got bigger. Capt. Andy was putting us on some stateside studs! James set the bar with this 12 lber ... that is until Johnny swooped in and stole his thunder, ha!
Johnny closed our day with an absolute stud. 14 lbs. of Texas water rojo!
I have to give credit where it's due, my buddy David Teran @primegancho killed the shots on our trip with these photos, absolutely love traveling with him and @mardi_marsh!
We returned to dock with full limits in just a couple of hours and Capt. Andy cleaned up our catches to take to dinner at Liam's Steakhouse SPI and plenty to pack to travel home for our freezers.
I forgot to mention it was Capt. Andy's birthday, yes... he worked hard for us on his day!
Quick mash up from my phone of our trip.
We also conquered a number of inshore species with him and Capt. Ruby Delgado on another day, but I'll save that for my next destination piece, stayed tuned!
Video credit to my bestie Johnny Lu.
Hope you enjoyed this entry, it's been awhile since I shared a trip on here and I hope to catch up and create more stories soon!
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