Laguna Madre is a 130-mile-long, shallow coastal lagoon system stretching from near Corpus Christi south to the Rio Grande. It is divided into two main sections: the Upper Laguna Madre, beginning around the JFK Causeway and running south to the Land Cut, and the Lower Laguna Madre, extending from the Land Cut to Port Isabel and South Padre Island. The bay is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the long barrier islands of North and South Padre Island, with much of the shoreline protected by the Padre Island National Seashore on the east and large private ranches on the west, resulting in a remote and pristine environment. A defining characteristic is its hypersaline water, often exceeding the salinity of seawater due to low freshwater inflow and high evaporation, making it one of only five such coastal lagoons in the world. The system is exceptionally shallow, with vast flats less than two feet deep, and is renowned for its extensive seagrass beds, which cover about 80% of Texas's remaining seagrass habitat. This clear, shallow water and rich habitat create a world-class, highly productive fishery celebrated for its trophy-sized fish and exceptional sight-fishing opportunities.