About | Blue Lagoon Outfitters - Captain Joe Des Rosier

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Fly Fishing Rockport

With our complex ecosystem of marshes, creeks, bays, islands, sloughs, etc. and abundance of bait options comes endless opportunities for epic fishing opportunities. Rockport, Texas is home to some of the most extraordinary sight-fishing imaginable and the fly rod is our weapon of choice. It’s truly a sportsman’s dream, offering a little something for everyone. It’s one of our last truly wild inshore redfish fisheries in the US, right there with the Louisiana marsh, the Florida Keys, Everglades National Park, and the flood tide habitat of the Carolinas. We encourage conservation and protection of our resource. At Blue Lagoon Outfitters, we predominately target redfish, trout, sheepshead, and black drum which are all excellent game species to pursue on fly and light tackle. In the winter months, hundreds of ducks of you-name-it-species and other beautiful migratory birds make their way through Rockport, which add to your experience while out on the water.

A Little Slice of Paradise at Blue Lagoon

A Slice of Paradise

We can’t wait to share our little slice of paradise with you and guide you into a sense of zen, where you are at truly at one with the fishery and the beauty of the Texas coast. We’ll do the hard work with the skiff and you make the magic happen on the pointy end. Connecting with hungry redfish that stop dead in their tracks to aggressively charge your fly…that’s bonus. Get ready for a one of a kind experience.

Best Spots in Rockport

You will have opportunities to catch redfish and a variety of other target species on fly. Remember, this is not bait fishing nor are we are not out to have a meat haul. We practice catch and release although we will keep an occasional fish upon request. We will be sight fishing for redfish predominately and it’s common to also get shots at black drum, trout, and sheepshead (most challenging). It’s our goal to get you on as many opportunities to catch fish as possible. It’s your job to make the presentation and invoke the eat. We will provide as much guidance as you’re willing to accept, and this is a team sport so we will work together to maximize our chances…our job is to navigate, maneuver the boat, spot the fish, stalk them quietly, call out a shot, and give you the best opportunity possible for hookups. Then it’s up to you to complete the task at hand. Avid fly anglers and newcomers alike, we welcome all skill levels and can provide fly casting instruction as needed.

Gear and Tackle

Fly tackle (and a conventional rod or two in case it gets super windy) are provided. We typically fish 7-9wt fly rods based on the conditions and size of fish we’re seeing. Depending on the time of year, we might also bring a 5wt/6wt to target sheepshead and puppy black drum.

What to Bring

Sunscreen, polarized glasses (ideally amber, copper, or brown lens), buff/tech clothing/stripping gloves, boat shoes and/or wading shoes, and your camera. If you have any questions, we are happy to discuss in advance of your trip.

Meet Captain Joe

Captain Joe is a USCG certified guide and mechanical engineer with one serious saltwater fly guiding addiction and a love for cooking. He’s the owner and operator of the Blue Lagoon Fly Fishing Lodge, which went from a dream to reality when hurricane Harvey caused mass devastation to the property. 10 months of DIY-rebuilding later with lots of help from friends and family, Joe successfully transformed the battered home into a world class fishing lodge. Born in Miami, FL, a descendant of four generations of fishermen, Joe had a rod in hand as soon as he could walk. Joe grew up watching Jose Wejebe’s Spanish Fly and Flip Pallot’s Walker’s Cay Chronicles TV series obsessively and spent many childhood days on Biscayne Bay as well as the eco-rich fisheries of Bradenton, FL. It wasn’t until he did an 8 year stint in Colorado after college when Joe became a fly addict. He has since enjoyed the opportunity to target many freshwater and saltwater species on fly all around the world for the past 15 years. “We are going to cover the full gamut of intense emotions in a day on the skiff: excitement, suspense, frustration, anger, euphoria, and tranquility…it’s the fish we have to work really hard for that we remember most.” -JDR. Captain Joe currently guides out of his stealthy Beavertail Mosquito and 1″draft Scout365 inflatable (upon request). He’s the Texas pro ambassador for Scout Inflatables.

The Skiff

Capt. Joe currently guides out of a stealthy 2017 Beavertail Mosquito, which offers a dry, comfortable ride for up to 2 anglers and goes into the skinny back country where sight fishing is at its best. Due to it’s silent hull design, it’s not uncommon to find ourselves at one with fish several feet in front of the boat when they have no idea we’re there.