Redfish
05-26-2009, 08:19 PM
I thought Memorial Day weekend was gonna be a washout for us. It was dry as gin for all of April and most of May, but has rained every day here in North Florida since Monday the 18th. Saturday and Sunday was wet too. Holiday Monday looked nice, so off we went. I took both of the regular crew, Jr. and Catfish45, and Jr's best friend, George, who had only done some bank fishing. Went out of Suwannee expecting the water to still be pretty dark, but found things much better. Weather was nice, too. Light breeze, warm, but not so hot to bake us.
Hit my favorite little stretch of grass line at about the right tide--about 3/4 high with lots of grass still showing. Anchored up since I had a noob on board to throw some popping corks with live shrimp up against the grass. (If a kid can't catch a redfish on a cork and jighead with a shrimp threaded on it, then there ain't no redfish biting.) When we got the boat settled, I saw a big old red flag just a waving at me. Mr. red had his head shoved in the bottom and his arse end up high. I threw my rig up next to the grass while I tied on George's rig. I had just gotten the jighead threaded with a shrimp and down went my cork. I set the hook and handed the rod to George. About five minutes later he had this nice red in the boat--not a bad "first fish" for a kid.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3090
It wasn't long before Catfish had one, another nice fat fish--darker in color with a lot of spots. I wonder why some redfish have so many spots? We always used to say they "had the measles."
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3091
Then it was Captain Redfish's turn. This time I was selfish and didn't hand the rod off since George seemed to have the hang of it. Oh, and by the way Reggie, I even managed a little smile for ya in this picture.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3092
Finished off the day with a few more reds--several 16" or so "just shorts," plenty of damn catfish (it's summertime in Florida, boys), and a nice "eating size" black drum. This is a very good eating fish at this size. If he gets much bigger, then throw him back. Here is Jr. with his prize:
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3093
Now nothing makes a kid happier than catching fish and getting to drive the boat, so I got me a good seat, something cool to drink, and watched the waves go by. Home George, and don't spare the horses!
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3094
Hit my favorite little stretch of grass line at about the right tide--about 3/4 high with lots of grass still showing. Anchored up since I had a noob on board to throw some popping corks with live shrimp up against the grass. (If a kid can't catch a redfish on a cork and jighead with a shrimp threaded on it, then there ain't no redfish biting.) When we got the boat settled, I saw a big old red flag just a waving at me. Mr. red had his head shoved in the bottom and his arse end up high. I threw my rig up next to the grass while I tied on George's rig. I had just gotten the jighead threaded with a shrimp and down went my cork. I set the hook and handed the rod to George. About five minutes later he had this nice red in the boat--not a bad "first fish" for a kid.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3090
It wasn't long before Catfish had one, another nice fat fish--darker in color with a lot of spots. I wonder why some redfish have so many spots? We always used to say they "had the measles."
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3091
Then it was Captain Redfish's turn. This time I was selfish and didn't hand the rod off since George seemed to have the hang of it. Oh, and by the way Reggie, I even managed a little smile for ya in this picture.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3092
Finished off the day with a few more reds--several 16" or so "just shorts," plenty of damn catfish (it's summertime in Florida, boys), and a nice "eating size" black drum. This is a very good eating fish at this size. If he gets much bigger, then throw him back. Here is Jr. with his prize:
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3093
Now nothing makes a kid happier than catching fish and getting to drive the boat, so I got me a good seat, something cool to drink, and watched the waves go by. Home George, and don't spare the horses!
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=93&pictureid=3094