My first redfish

[workinprogress]

I went down to Chokoloskee this weekend with my son and a friend of mine. The bite was not very good, which was what everyone else I spoke to was reporting. After trolling the mangroves for a little while we discovered a large cove that was all oyster bed bottom. Depth when we started was about 15 inches, and the tide was coming out quickly. In the 20-30 minutes we were in the cove, I saw several things both new and fascinating to me. With my limited fishing experience, I have never seen what I believe is called tailing reds or snook. I spotted something pushing up water about 30 ft from the boat and followed the meandering fish until it finally passed within 3 ft of the port side of my skiff and I could see plainly a gorgeous snook somewhere in the 30 in range. As the water ran out of the shallow cove, I saw 4 more fish, 2 reds and 2 snook, that you could easily follow because of the water they were pushing up as they swam around the shallow cove. I was fortunate enough to get my live mullet in the vicinity of one of the reds and then---BAM!!---he hit it hard. Every time I got my fish near the boat he would spook and run about 30ft of drag and then I would again start the process of coaxing him to the boat. On the third pass my friend snagged him in the net and we had him aboard. My first redfish measured right at the 27in slot limit.

I would have loved to have stayed in our newly discovered cove longer but depth was becoming questionable and the last thing I wanted to do was get stuck in the middle of 10,000 islands, especially with my son. The rest of the day was pretty boring. My son caught 2 catfish. It doesn't matter to him as long as he's catching something, so he considered his day to be a success as well. Oh yeah, and this time I brought the camera.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/noahsdad_photo/100_0052.jpg

[Gunnar]

Nice report workinprogress!

Be careful, sight fishing is known to be addictive. ;D It's almost as much fun watching the fish in their natural habitat as it is catching them. I've fished all my life and still see new things that amaze me.

Gregg

[Shakespeare]

You kids are lookin' like you're having a good time! *thumbsup*

[Big Will]

Good fun man! It is addictive. Looks like the first of many...

[redneckredfishr]

Nice job...

Will

[Slim to None]

nice redfish!!!*yay* yes you were most likely seeing tailing reds. what an awesome sight! when they are tailing they are rooting in the bottom feeding on crabs and shrimp. this is the perfect time to toss a live bait in front of them and let it sit! great day on the water! *thumbsup*

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Man, looks like a lot of fun. You finally not red fish virgin any more. I am still virgin on red fish and tarpon.
Glad your little one(not little by the way)had fun fishing and looks like he outfished too. WTG kid.*thumbsup*

[Dave]

Looks like the boy is the real WIP, WIP ;D I can tell ya those redfish can get a grip on your life. After catching my second slot red, I'm starting to thing there's something to this redfish fever that's been keeping so many fisherman inshore. A couple days ago, we came across a small school of large feeding reds - my first change to see feeding reds. They were busting passing schools of mullet along the bank and, though I didn't get one hooked up, I had 5 missed strikes, all with fish crashing my livie and showing above water - Man, that was exciting!

Dave