I went down their for one day, only because I was down their for work. But, I decided to leave extra early so I would get a chance to fish before I complete my job. Well, I'm glad I did!<br /><br />I was in the Rockport area, wade fishing off of Water St. in between the big Laguna Reef hotel and worked my way westward(Almost all the way down water st.). <br />I just got my boat this week...so I had to wade fish last week, but I did fairly well for less than 3hrs of total time to fish.<br /><br />5:00am, I got into the water at Laguna Reef. COLD! The water was much warmer than the air, probably about 60*...the air felt like about 45-50.<br /><br />I was using a mirrorlure before sunrise, and I had bought a 1/2pint of shrimp that I saved for later. I caught both of the trout on the mirrorlure, one is close to 20", the other ~17". They are bent in the picture, so they look shorter. They were both caught in ~3ft of water before the sun even started to come over the horizon, about 5:15am. I figure they were still feeding where they were feeding the night before, underneath the pier lights. I also realized 4 or 5 undersized trout (Under 15" for those not familiar).<br /><br />As soon as the sun came up, I went ahead and switched to the live shrimp so that I could use them before I had to get to work. I was casting them with no weight, 'free shrimping', mostly along the piers, or around any grass I could find. I didn't have much luck at first, until I moved a little deeper. I was standing in 3.5ft water, casting to where it was about 6ft around a pier. There were a lot of oyster shells...this is where I got into the black drum. I caught the first three, almost one after another...then I started losing bait to trash fish, so I moved over to the next pier (this area has a pier at least every 75 yards...dozens of them! Great fishing area). I caught the remaining drum here, released a few smaller ones (undersized), as well as a few sheepshead (I always have trouble with them biting/grinding through my stringer. If I've got an ice box handy, I'll keep them, or even an extra stringer...but I didn't want to risk losing my current fish, so I was throwing them back. It's a shame too, they are great to eat and were a dime a dozen!)<br /><br />Anyways, here's where it got fun! I was down to about a half dozen shrimp, and still hadn't touched a redfish. By now, it was about 7:30am, and I was constantly seeing black drum in schools of about 3 or 4 coming in with the waves. I decided to go ahead and stay in the same spot. Glad I did! I hooked into something very big, but not fast. I wasn't sure what it was at first..thought it was possibly a big ray/skate. I was a little worried about it getting around the pier pilons(sp?), so I first tried to horse it in..no luck! Thankfully, the fish started heading towards open water, deeper water though..so I still had to be cautious of my spool of line. I again start to try to gain on the fish, and nothing...I'd get a little, he'd take it back. After a while, I realized I was only using 10lb test on a light-medium action spinning combo, so I was taking a big risk horsing the fish. I let it run for a bit, and it turned towards me. I got it within 30 feet of me when it rolled, it was a monster black drum! (I had heard they were in this time of year, several people have been catching them.)<br />About 15 minutes later, I had landed (or netted it, I was wading 
). Unfortunately, I was ~1200 yards away from my truck, where my camera was at...and I wasn't about to walk the whole way. For memories, I compared it to the largest black drum in my picture (25") . It was just under DOUBLE the length of it (~47-48"), and the height on the fish was probably twice that of the largest drum I kept! It was incredibly ugly, and man did it stink! After a little bit of reviving, and comparing it to the fish I had...off it went. It was definitely oversized, and even if it wasn't, they are full of worms at this size/age..so I had to release it. Man do I wish I had a picture! That was my first large black drum (over 30"), and you dont exactly catch them every outing...oh well, I'll get a picture next time! I will definitely start keeping a disposable waterproof on me from now on...All I had was my $400 digital camera, and it doesn't go in the water with me, .<br /><br />After that, I was content...but I still had about an hour to fish, so I decided I would look for a redfish. There is one spot towards the very end of water st. that always has a few reds. It's sandy bottom, and there is usually grass..but not this time, probably because of the weather. Anyways, I was now out of shrimp, so I started throwing my mirror lure again. Nothing. I decided to switch to my gold rat'l trap, and that's when I caught the redfish in the picture. 25", and a whole lot of fight! It stripped more line than the big black drum did...but it tired faster. It only took about 5-8mins as opposed to the 30mins the big drum took.<br />I continued throwing the rat'l trap, and lost one redfish that I know was within the 20-28" slot, looked to be about the same size as the one I kept. I then moved a little, and saw a few baitfish...nothing hitting though. So, I decided to go a little further on another sandy flat, about 100yds off shore. There was an area between to sand bars where it dropped off about a foot over a 5 ft area, and then raised back up...a cut. I threw a gold spoon several times, and finally hooked up. Another redfish, but it was only 19", so typical! After a few more rat reds from 15-19", I decided I had done enough. <br />I was now ready for a long wade back to my truck, but very happy!<br /><br />
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<br /><br />Anyways, I ended up keeping 5 blacks, 2 trout, and one nice redfish (a multi-spot at that!). Not to mention the big black drum that I cannot prove, the sheepshead I wish I had a cable stringer for, and multiple fish I released... Not bad for a total of less than 5 hours, probably only 2 hours fishing, most of it was walking. And in not-so-desireable weather at that!<br /><br />If you fish the area, and you want a few tips, I'll be glad to help. I'm not a local, but I fish the rockport/fulton bch/aransas/copano area at least 10-12 times a year... <br /><br />Heavy stringers!<br />Shawn
). Unfortunately, I was ~1200 yards away from my truck, where my camera was at...and I wasn't about to walk the whole way. For memories, I compared it to the largest black drum in my picture (25") . It was just under DOUBLE the length of it (~47-48"), and the height on the fish was probably twice that of the largest drum I kept! It was incredibly ugly, and man did it stink! After a little bit of reviving, and comparing it to the fish I had...off it went. It was definitely oversized, and even if it wasn't, they are full of worms at this size/age..so I had to release it. Man do I wish I had a picture! That was my first large black drum (over 30"), and you dont exactly catch them every outing...oh well, I'll get a picture next time! I will definitely start keeping a disposable waterproof on me from now on...All I had was my $400 digital camera, and it doesn't go in the water with me, .<br /><br />After that, I was content...but I still had about an hour to fish, so I decided I would look for a redfish. There is one spot towards the very end of water st. that always has a few reds. It's sandy bottom, and there is usually grass..but not this time, probably because of the weather. Anyways, I was now out of shrimp, so I started throwing my mirror lure again. Nothing. I decided to switch to my gold rat'l trap, and that's when I caught the redfish in the picture. 25", and a whole lot of fight! It stripped more line than the big black drum did...but it tired faster. It only took about 5-8mins as opposed to the 30mins the big drum took.<br />I continued throwing the rat'l trap, and lost one redfish that I know was within the 20-28" slot, looked to be about the same size as the one I kept. I then moved a little, and saw a few baitfish...nothing hitting though. So, I decided to go a little further on another sandy flat, about 100yds off shore. There was an area between to sand bars where it dropped off about a foot over a 5 ft area, and then raised back up...a cut. I threw a gold spoon several times, and finally hooked up. Another redfish, but it was only 19", so typical! After a few more rat reds from 15-19", I decided I had done enough. <br />I was now ready for a long wade back to my truck, but very happy!<br /><br />