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Louisiana Fishing Magazine
How To Catch Redfish!
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Louis Bienvenu Jr. (15) With his first Big Redfish!
(Algae Covered NMFS Tag Hanging From Side)
Fourchon Public Beach, Louisiana 5-2-98
Greg (packfish@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
Hi, saw the pics of the large Redfish caught on 5/2. Since I'm
from
California, I'm not familiar with these fish. Are they common?
How big
do they grow? What do you use for bait and what kind of tackle
does it
take to catch one. Fill me in on the details- out here on the
West
Coast, we don't have anything that we could catch surf fishing
which is
that big!
Thanks,
Greg
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Hi! Greg!! The big redfish are only common if you know how to get
them! :):)
They are around here all year long, the best time is winter here,
but,
I still get them year round!! Some of the boat fishermen get the
smaller
ones in bays
and small lakes in the marsh. I get the big ones past the second
sandbar
off the beach, you need a 11-12-13 ft surf rod with a 6 oz
pyramid sinker
for the sandy bottom, the pyramid digs in the sand like an anchor
to
keep the bait from rolling down the beach and across other
lines!(You can also
use spider sinkers, storm sinkers, sputniks, etc. with the wires
sticking out to
dig in the bottom) Sometimes with
the current, wind and tides, 6 oz is not enough, then I use 8
ozs. If it
is worse than that we go home. These big reds average between
25-40
pounds!! They are really a nice ride.(Endorphin)! Many people see
the
photos and are amazed!! They don't get them from their expensive
fishing boat
rigs!!
I have 400 yards of 30 pound test Power Pro (Superline) with a
8-10 ft
piece of 65 pound test casting leader tied to the 30 pound test
with a uni-knot. The
knot has to go through the guides OK. I also wrap my index finger
that I
hold the line with, with a double wrap of ducktape. With all the
weight
and load when casting the (space shutle dental floss) line will
slice
your finger. (soggy skin) The casting leader has a few wraps of
the heavy
line around the spinning reel when making a cast with a lot of
weight on
the end. I use a piece of cut mullet (fresh
caught with my castnet)
about 4 inches long. Just the meat part with scales and all.
I make my own leader rig. It is a 30 inch piece of nylon coated
135 pound
test 7 strand leader material. I have a quick connect clip on the
pyramid end, to
easily change weight sizes. It is a straight line to the #2
swivel with
a 7/0 Eagle Claw gold plated offset plain steel hook. (not
stainless),
(offset to bend the mullet on lengthwise) "important
step"
when they pick it up you seldom miss getting hooked up).
I have a brass ball crimped in the center to stop the hook from
going
all the way to the top where it could get bit off with the line
too. (Sharks=Fun)
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It all stays in a straight line to help
get better
casting distance. I use a pendelum type cast where you let the
terminal
tackle with bait hang down a few feet and get it swinging to
preload the
rod and then load the rod hard when you follow through. You use
the
spring action of the rod and your body to get the distance. The
rods are
fairly stiff compared to conventional rods. If you just let the
tackle
hang down with the rod back to a horizontal position, then really
load
it up as you swing it over and forward and down you can get very
good
distance easily like that! I go out in the water to about waist
deep and
then let it fly. You can get some big reds close to the beach,
but not
that often. The distance is the key, the farther out the better.
People
in boats pull up and fish too close to the beach for these big
fish!
My big fish baits are in the 3rd trough
past the
second sandbar.(I cast from the deep side of the first sandbar)
You can see these sandbars by reading the waves. The white tops
roll
over and the waves break on the bars. If the water visability is
good,
light blue to sandy emerald green,
then you can see the brownish looking sandbars through the water.
Blublockers or polaroids help greatly. You can also get huge
black drum
the same way with the same rigs and baits. Also Blacktip Sharks
(Delicious Grilled) and Sand & Tope Sharks (don't eat), and
maybe a surprise
now and then. (Huge Stingrays, Hammerheads, Freight Trains etc).
Hope You Get Some Big Fish!
Fish Forever, BOB!!
Dozens of Big Redfish Photos: Click Here!
Over 1000 Pounds of Redfish Caught and Released from the Beach all on one page! Click Here!
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