By O’Neill Williams
Are you a bass guy? Ever caught a 51-pounder or, for that matter, any over 10 pounds? Very few folks have. I’ve been promoting a new horizon for the bass angler: inshore saltwater. Permit me to highlight the magnificent redfish, and point you to three places where you can get it done. First let’s talk about the fish and what to expect. The guy is dumb as a rock. He can be spooked and still will bite, is always hungry, is a survivor, grows rapidly, eats plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, can be spotted in the shallows and finally, is a fabulous table fish.
My largest is 51-pounds. I was fishing in the Banana River near Cocoa Beach, Fla. and saw this giant in about 2 feet of water. I cast a small curly tail jig on 12-pound test line and he took it. After the hook set, the fish swam past the boat and my fabulous guide, Shawn Foster, also known as Doctor Drum (321-784-0094), shouted, “That’s a 50 pounder!”
Ok, enough about me. Let me direct you to three great redfish destinations.
The Cajun Vista Lodge, Louisiana: With lodging in a fabulous 100-year-old renovated school house, Theophile Bougeois can easily accommodate 60 guests. Meals are a fresh fish banquet with gumbo and Cajun dishes, and you’ll walk to the boats only 30 yards away, partner with seasoned guides and cast to thousands of redfish in some of the best inshore fishing in the world in Barataria, Louisiana.
Using bass tackle, 8- to 12-pound test line, spinnerbaits, plastics, crankbaits and a popping cork over live shrimp, you’ll limit out every day on 4- to 15-pound redfish. You’ll be fishing the marsh in an area 30 miles wide and 90 miles long in water that’s mostly shallower than 6 feet.
From early March through summer, Gulf Coast reds are a calling card. See Theophile’s website at www.neworleansfishing.com.
Capt. Mark Noble, Georgia: Oh, my goodness—500 to 700 pounds a day? Yep. On the Georgia coast. I, too, was surprised. Telephone Mark Noble, a long-time guide, local booster of fishing and St. Simons Island native. He has spent his life fishing these waters. From September through November in the shallow waters near the river mouths that flow into the bay, redfish gang up like I’ve never seen before, and although you’re going to beef up your tackle because the fish are so large, it’s still sporting.
The maximum length to keep a red there is 27 inches. I’ve fished with Mark over a dozen times, caught probably 6,000 pounds of reds and never had one small enough to keep. I didn’t mind. Maybe you should look up Mark at www.georgiafishing.net?
Capt. Eddie Woodall, Florida: After reading this, I’ll expect you to head to Pensacola Bay and Navarre Beach in December. When the river waters cool in December, it sends tons of bait into the bay. When this happens, thousands of redfish push pogies to the surface. When the surface-feeding birds give you the signal, you’ll motor over and begin casting and reeling large Road Runners tipped with plastics.
When visiting Eddie Woodall the first time a couple of December’s ago, the birds indicated the first school, and I hooked and caught a 20-pound redfish on the first cast. After that stunning start, we caught and released at least 20 similar reds before lunch. Eddie’s site is www.fullnetfishingcharters.com.
So, why not give the good old dependable redfish a chance and visit these fellows to make it complete?
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