From a Bird’s-Eye View

Editor’s Note and Introduction:

We are very pleased to introduce Captain Trevor Kucia. Trevor fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from his home in South Padre with the special flair of offering customers the opportunity to sight-cast from the tower of his customized skiff. He goes by the nickname “Little Bird” and I couldn’t help but title his page with a bit of play on words…Birds-Eye View – with Capt. Trevor “Little Bird” Kucia. He is very active on various social media platforms and exhibits great talent in creating and contributing videos and other digital products, some of which we hope to feature in coming issues. I sincerely hope you find what he has to say on these pages informative and entertaining. Welcome aboard, Capt. Trevor!  

South Padre Island is a place of breathtaking beauty and intricate ecosystems. As a guide privileged to work on these waters daily I’ve come to see this bay from a different perspective – not just from the tower of my boat, but also through the eyes of the wildlife that call it home. To truly appreciate South Padre’s wonder, you need to step back and observe it from above, much like the herons, pelicans, and ospreys that soar overhead.

From a bird’s-eye view, the interconnectedness of every element becomes clearer. From the mangroves and turtle grass that hold bottom sediments in place and provide nursery grounds for fish to the rich flats that serve as feeding grounds for redfish, speckled trout, and even snook. This perspective is invaluable in my work as a fishing guide. Much like birds scanning the water from above, I rely on an elevated vantage point to spot fish and study movement patterns. Seeing nervous mullet flicker on the surface is like spotting a traffic signal, sending the message that bigger fish are nearby. Pelicans crashing into the water are nature’s version of free giveaways at Costco; you just have to go. Running the flats and seeing V-wakes cut across the surface or mud boils form in the shallows tells a story, and as a guide, my job is to read it.

Every time I stand on my tower I realize fishing is about more than just catching fish. This is something I try to share with my clients as we spend time together, 12 feet above the water. It’s about taking in the beauty of the Laguna Madre, watching a redfish emerge from the turtle grass with its bright, coppery fins, or spotting a big trout lying on a scattered-shell bottom, waiting for an easy meal. To me, the Lower Laguna Madre is all about diversity.

Hooking and landing fish never gets old, and I understand that many people want to take fish home for the family. It’s natural, being that we are evolved of hunter-gatherers. Too often, though, it seems the focus for some folks is solely on filling the cooler and snapping pictures of big fish kills. That’s why I encourage conservation. In my opinion, fishing is about more than that; it's about the stories, the relationships and the experience of seeing the Laguna Madre from a bird’s-eye view.

One of the most thrilling aspects of guiding from the tower is being able to witness all the action so clearly. Standing high above the water gives me a unique vantage point to see fish moving through the flats, often unaware of our boat drifting into their territory. There’s nothing quite like sneaking up on a redfish and watching it track a lure with laser focus, its tail flicking just before it pounces. That moment of connection – the blowup, the bend of the rod, and the excitement on a client’s face – just never gets old.

And don’t even get me started on the elusive gator trout. They can make you freeze up – mentally and physically. Trying to catch one of these smart and wary creatures is a game I love playing. Sometimes they’re in a wild feeding mode and other times they’re completely dormant and picky. That’s what makes landing a trophy trout so rewarding. These moments remind me why I love this work and how lucky I am to share it with others.

Of course, no day on the water is complete without the right gear. I rely on equipment that performs day in and day out without hiccups. My rods come from Jimmy Burns at Waterloo Rod Company, a Texas-based brand that crafts rods with the perfect balance of being lightweight, sensitive, and rock-solid. Paired with reels from Florida Fishing Products, I’m locked and loaded with the reliability needed to handle everything from the subtle bite of a speckled trout to the aggression of redfish and snook. And, when it comes to lures, KWiggler Lure Company’s designs are second to none.

Fishing is more than a sport; it’s a way of life. And when you see it from above, like the birds that call this place home, you realize it’s not just about catching fish. It’s about understanding the ecosystem, appreciating the beauty, and sharing unforgettable moments on the water.