It was a chilly morning, 40 degrees with the wind blowing from the north. Kevin(padre), myself and one more person went out in kayaks in search of red drum, and boy did we find them. I hooked the first fish, a 25" red, and the bite was on fire for most of the day. The final count was somewhere above 50 reds landed between the three of us, and nearly all were safely released. I kept a few of the mid sized ones for dinner. Kevin tagged six reds over 20# before releasing them.
Once the sun had been out for a bit, it turned into a really nice day. Cool, light breeze, very clear water, and the fish were biting all day. Almost no boat traffic, and a complete lack of people out fishing aside from us made for a fantastic day. Im loving fishing these cool winter days.
Okaay! Adam. Why are they called Reds? I don't see anything red about them. Dominick
Quote from: Dominick on December 17, 2017, 12:08:14 AM
Okaay! Adam. Why are they called Reds? I don't see anything red about them. Dominick
C'mon Dom..everyone has heard of REDRUM ... Nice fishing
Tim
Nice. Enjoy the peace and quiet.
Quote from: Dominick on December 17, 2017, 12:08:14 AM
Okaay! Adam. Why are they called Reds? I don't see anything red about them. Dominick
Cause sometimes they are red (or reddish).
Very Nice Adam! ;)
I am impressed.
Quote from: Big Tim on December 17, 2017, 03:27:34 AM
Quote from: Dominick on December 17, 2017, 12:08:14 AM
Okaay! Adam. Why are they called Reds? I don't see anything red about them. Dominick
C'mon Dom..everyone has heard of REDRUM ... Nice fishing
Tim
This sounds like "The Shining." :o Heeeres Johnny! :o ::) Dominick
That is mighty impressive guys. Congratulations.
Dominick, you can also call them channel bass, redfish, spottail bass.
Nice work Adam. Nothing beats a great day on the water, with plenty of fish around, and no one else to catch them but you!!!
....................Lou
Nice to see the man that has been making us some awesome custom parts get a little break for a little fishing.
Nice report Adam! I'm not sure I would get in that kayak at this time of year, but you're younger than me :)
Best,
Sal
Good fishin' Adam! 8)
Nice !!!
Nice fishing Adam, thanks for showing, good post, cheers Don.
Nice! We caught our first Red Drum this October behind Ocracoke in NC, what a blast on light line!
Another chilly morning, and another shot at some nice inshore fishing. Maybe this cold blast the past couple of days is to blame, but not much of anything was interested all day. Went out with 3 other people, and it started off like it was going to be a good day. Zach and I both hooked up with good size reds at the same time not long after we got there. Mine measured out at 23", but I didnt bother to take a pic, figuring there would be more. Then it all but shut down. Only one more red was landed the rest of the day. All were nice fish, but they just werent schooled up like they usually are. I think we just caught a few stragglers. Not a bad day though, all 4 of us caught fish. And it turned into a beautiful day once the sun had been up for a little bit.
This is great,,,,,from a kayak :D that had to be fun ;D
I love fishing in the winter here. Once the temps start to drop, the water clears up and the boat traffic goes way down. Kayaks allow you to get to fish in super shallow water, and are far less likely to spook the fish. To be able to get within 10 feet of reds in 2' of water without spooking them is incredible. The water temp varies based on what the weather has been recently. On Saturday, it was 50-51 degrees, but the previous monday it was 57-58 degrees. As for the fish, even these 20+ inch reds will pull a kayak around pretty good. We usually use light tackle: 10-20 lb braid on 2000-3000 sized reels and medium light to medium rods. Makes for a fun fight, and there isnt much need for heavy drag in a kayak.
Waterproof boots, and appropriate clothing makes it pretty enjoyable when the air temp is 40+. What worries me is seeing the people who go out in these conditions dressed in jeans and sweatshirts. Cotton and cold water is a bad combination.
Quote from: Three se7ens on January 01, 2018, 02:51:29 AM
I love fishing in the winter here. Once the temps start to drop, the water clears up and the boat traffic goes way down. Kayaks allow you to get to fish in super shallow water, and are far less likely to spook the fish. To be able to get within 10 feet of reds in 2' of water without spooking them is incredible. The water temp varies based on what the weather has been recently. On Saturday, it was 50-51 degrees, but the previous monday it was 57-58 degrees. As for the fish, even these 20+ inch reds will pull a kayak around pretty good. We usually use light tackle: 10-20 lb braid on 2000-3000 sized reels and medium light to medium rods. Makes for a fun fight, and there isnt much need for heavy drag in a kayak.
Waterproof boots, and appropriate clothing makes it pretty enjoyable when the air temp is 40+. What worries me is seeing the people who go out in these conditions dressed in jeans and sweatshirts. Cotton and cold water is a bad combination.
nice fish like that is not easy in a kayak,,,,, but very fun ;D
This is still winter right? The weather lately sure doesnt seem like it. Much of February saw the highs in the 70's and a few days in the 80's. Had a much welcomed cold snap this weekend(highs in the mid 60's) which was just enough to keep the gnats hiding, and not pestering us fisherman. Managed a decent seatrout and a small-ish red, but it was tough fishing today. The wind was blowing good most of the day, and the tide was really ripping. Fish were around, but not many were hungry it seems. A few of the guys with me landed multiple reds, and an errant flouder, but a couple of guys got a gooseegg too. Beautiful day on the water though, and like they say, a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.
Nothing like reds from a yak!
Drew
Great shot of you in the kayak Adam. ;)
I need to use mine more for fishing instead of just bait deployment.
I'm 30 days out for my next trip and I am ready.
Not quite winter yet, but the first part of this morning felt a little like it. Air temp in the mid 40's and water temp in the mid 50's when I launched about 30 min before the sun came up. First spot I hit up, I saw something big busting bait right up next to an oyster bed. Threw a paddle tail soft plastic at it, and it got hit like a freight train as soon as it hit the water. Few minutes later, I had a personal best 28.5" redfish in the yak. It put up quite a fight, but being in a Hobie I was able to back it out to open water. And the icing on the cake was this was the first fish I caught on a St Croix Mojo Yak rod I won in a tournament last month.
After that, the fishing got slow, and only managed to find a couple trout the rest of the morning. But sometimes it only takes one fish to make a day. And that red sure did for me.
Nice red!
That's a nice red, I'm glad you getting some fishing done.
Nice pic!
Sal
Also you could call them Limpid or Drum or red fish. But I would call that great fishing. Thanks for posting Adam.
Joe
Nice fish! Looks like a good time on the water, got to love a new PB!
Good Job Adam!
I caught my first red this past May and He was a freight train.
About 30" on a Battle 2 8000.
It was a rush.
I thought it was a Shark the way he was shaking.
You better have some big gear or they will spool you pretty quick.
Quote from: Reel 224 on November 18, 2018, 03:52:10 AM
Also you could call them Limpid or Drum or red fish.
... or channel bass or spottail bass.
Way to go Adam.
-steve
Quote from: Shark Hunter on November 18, 2018, 06:45:26 AM
Good Job Adam!
I caught my first red this past May and He was a freight train.
About 30" on a Battle 2 8000.
It was a rush.
I thought it was a Shark the way he was shaking.
You better have some big gear or they will spool you pretty quick.
Reds are great fighters at any size.
This was on daiwa bg2500 with 15 lb braid/20 lb fluoro leader. Getting spoiled isn't such an issue in the kayak, but they sure will drag you around.
Very nice fish on artificials Adam! Are they good eating??
..........Lou
Quote from: STRIPER LOU on November 18, 2018, 06:17:29 PM
Very nice fish on artificials Adam! Are they good eating??
..........Lou
They are good eating, but I dont usually keep them. We have a slot limit where you can only keep ones between 14 and 23 inches anyways. I will sometimes keep slot reds and trout, but lately I have plenty in the freezer, so Ive been letting most go unless they were hooked badly. My favorites to eat are flounder and sheepshead. And as Daron noted, they are serious fighters(just look at the shoulders), and I really like them for the sport and want to help maintain a healthy population here. A couple of the guys I fish with regularly tag any redfish over 23", and a few have been caught again and reported.
I fish pretty much exclusively with artificials now. I like the challenge, and appreciate the skill that goes with being able to reliably catch fish on artificials. Youre not just waiting for them to come by, you have be there at the right time, put the lure in the right spot, and then make it work well enough to make the fish want to eat it. Its made me rethink a lot of what I thought I knew about fishing, and have had many fishless days in the process. Ive also had to downsize my gear a lot to be able to get good casting distance with light lures. Much of what I use weighs between 1/4 and 3/8 oz.
I'm with you Adam with the artificial bates, sometimes they out fish the live bate..........................Joe
Thanks for sharing your pictures and fun with us. That's what it's all about in life, you did it all that morning 🤦♀️ Mornings are for fisherman 🐟. I,m jealous sitting at home 🏡
Thanks for the great reports, Adam!
Best,
Fred
Delicious and tasty for sure!
Paul Prudhomme made a career with his legendary recipe - Blackened RedFish!!!!
https://www.chefpaul.com/site.php?pageID=300&view=128
Wayne
Because of Prudhomme's blackened redfish craze the demand for redfish went through the roof. Commercial gillnetters started exploiting the near-shore and offshore congregations of adults. It almost collapsed the population and was the impetus for the first redfish regulations.
The new demand also sparked development of redfish farming technology.
Years later, Prudhomme apologized for the mess he had created and encouraged people to blacken other coarse fish species instead of redfish. All fish (or your flip-flop slipper for that matter) come out tasting the same after applying the heavy seasoning and burning it.
-steve
Reds are still abundant in the gulf.
I've never heard of Prudhomme.
Nice drum !! Hopefully, in a couple weeks, I'll be tagging some of those on Dauphin Island !
I still use Prudhomme's blackening mix for tuna. It's some good eating right there. It was a craze for awhile, blackening just about everything.
Those redfish congregate in big schools to breed so it was easy to net them. Really a shame what they did. I guess they bounce back ok though
Try that blackened redfish magic on some rockcod fillets sometime. It's pretty fantastic! Great on halibut also.
Mike
I love blackened fish on occasion. I use the Badia blackened seafood creole blend seasoning as a less expensive alternative to the Paul Prudhomme's version. Not much Redfish in S. Florida but it can make Kingfish taste great.
Nice fishing.
Scott
The Prudhommes Magic seasonings are excellent. We buy the 24oz size containers.
Meat
Seafood
Redfish
Pork and veal
Poultry
Fajita
And recently some Vegetable magic to try.
Not too fond of the Blackened steak magic,...but I need to try it again.
Not a redfish, but one of my favorites to eat: sheepshead. Also known as convict fish, and one of the most notorious bait thieves ever
Quote from: Three se7ens on November 29, 2018, 01:17:57 AM
Not a redfish, but one of my favorites to eat: sheepshead. Also known as convict fish, and one of the most notorious bait thieves ever
Looks a bit like spade fish??
Quite a few of the "snow bird fishermen" in the campground have trouble telling the difference between a sheepshead and a puppy drum (small black drum)....they do look a lot alike, ....until you check their teeth !
Those sheepies are fantastic eating. A lot of fun to catch as well. Super strong bulldog fighters that'll wrap you around a piling in a hurry! That is, of course, if you manage to hook the boogers....lol
Sheepshead are actually in the Porgie (Sea Bream) family, hence the good eats. Their diet also makes them taste even better. When I was younger, I used to clean some boat bottoms (underwater) for some part time work and always kept a pole spear with me. When I was scraping oysters and barnacles from the hulls and running gear and it would attract quite a few and I would sometimes take some for dinner.
They should call them Frustration Fish.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on November 30, 2018, 01:06:50 AM
They should call them Frustration Fish.
-steve
You must have fished for them before... If you feel a bite, it means your bait is gone. If you didnt feel a bite, it means your bait is gone.
I was using a drop shot rig, with the weight a few inches off the bottom. That was sensitive enough I felt most bites. Still only managed to hook 2 fish. Those damn things are experts at stealing bait without getting the pointy bit.
I used to do some fishing for them but very little catching. Not very far from where you live either.
Perhaps making a living picking tasty bits out of barnacle and oyster encrusted structure gives them a knack for avoiding sharp and pointed things.
-steve
I used to flyline(freeline) either a barnacle or a fiddler crab on a very light wire, super sharp hook. Nowadays, I'd opt for a mosquito hook. At the most, I'd use a very small split shot. It was mainly visual fishing. Watch your line and when it moved differently than it had been, set the hook. Most of the time, my hookup ratio was pretty good...of course, by "good" I mean somewhere around 50%...these are sheepshead, after all!
Quote from: Fishy247 on December 01, 2018, 05:31:54 PM
I used to flyline(freeline) either a barnacle or a fiddler crab on a very light wire, super sharp hook. Nowadays, I'd opt for a mosquito hook. At the most, I'd use a very small split shot. It was mainly visual fishing. Watch your line and when it moved differently than it had been, set the hook. Most of the time, my hookup ratio was pretty good...of course, by "good" I mean somewhere around 50%...these are sheepshead, after all!
That's the technique. See how these commercial guys are doing it with bamboo poles and sight fishing. Disregard the introduction to the video if you like because it is sort of anti-recreational. I am a person that believes in both commercial and recreational when it is governed properly.
https://youtu.be/aKrS9mjWvtY
No comment it's a political Issue :(..............................Joe
Quote from: Three se7ens on November 19, 2018, 12:04:29 AM
........ Ive also had to downsize my gear a lot to be able to get good casting distance with light lures. Much of what I use weighs between 1/4 and 3/8 oz.
Adam, what gear are you using currently?
also what line test?
I've been reading how many guys fish in australia and they use 8# braid, 10# braid on new low profile reels or small good quality spinner reels and catch 15-25# snappers, man !! I bought some 10# braid and havent had the nerves to use it, it just toooo dang thin!!
Quote from: steelfish on December 05, 2018, 09:19:18 PM
Quote from: Three se7ens on November 19, 2018, 12:04:29 AM
........ Ive also had to downsize my gear a lot to be able to get good casting distance with light lures. Much of what I use weighs between 1/4 and 3/8 oz.
Adam, what gear are you using currently?
also what line test?
I've been reading how many guys fish in australia and they use 8# braid, 10# braid on new low profile reels or small good quality spinner reels and catch 15-25# snappers, man !! I bought some 10# braid and havent had the nerves to use it, it just toooo dang thin!!
I usually carry 3 rods for inshore. All have 15 lb power pro super 8 with a 12 - 20 lb fluoro leader. Leader is about 6' and tied to the mainline with an fg knot. This is very important, because with the long leader, the knot will go through the guides on every cast. The fg casts perfectly, even going through the guides.
#1 - 7'2" Blair Wiggins inshore rod, ml action, 6-12 lb line rating. Reel is a Shimano NASCI 3k. I usually use this with a vudu shrimp by egret baits. It's only 1/4 oz, but this combo still casts it very far(around 40 yds?)
#2 - 7'6" Crowder Salute ml rod, 6-12 line rating. Reel is a Quantum Smoke S3 25.
#3 - 7'6" St Croix Mojo Yak my rod, 8-17 line rating. Reel is a Daiwa BG2509
On these two, I will run a weighted worm hook with a paddle tail soft plastic, or a hard plug. The lighter of the two lures will go on the Crowder rod, with the heavier on the mojo.
I run very light drag, typically 3 lbs give or take one. Even at that, a fish will pull the kayak around.
All 3 are under 16 oz fully rigged, with the lightest being the Crowder/Smoke combo at 13 oz. this light weight makes casting all day a breeze. I just can't do that with heavier setups.
These can still handle plenty big of fish. I've caught a number of 25"+ reds on these with no issues. Even when dealing with structure and oysters.
I'll put up some pics next week.
thanks Adam for tell us about your rigs, as I said and you confirm it, small quality reels with really thin line.
I envy you guys who can use 8-12# braid. I've tried several times but the stuff is just too small for me to see and handle late in the day when out on the water. 20# is manageable and since I only need about 110 yards it will fit on any reel. But, 20# probably sacrifices some casting distance. I am also unable to tie a good FG knot when out on the water.
-steve
Quote from: steelfish on December 06, 2018, 06:34:16 PM
thanks Adam for tell us about your rigs, as I said and you confirm it, small quality reels with really thin line.
Here is the vudu shrimp rig, but all my inshore stuff is typically rigged this way. No swivels, hardware, or anything. Just braid to fluoro leader, and a loop knot to the lure. Simple and effective. The long leader lets you re-rig multiple times before the leader gets too short. I typically start with about 6' of fluoro after the FG, and will re-tie when the fluoro gets down to 18-24". The pictured FG knot is 15 lb powerpro super 8 slick braid to a 20 lb fluoro leader.
Ill see if I can get a video put up of tying an FG knot on land and on the water. There are a few tricks that make is easier, and a few key points that make all the difference in how strong it is. A well done FG knot will break 20 lb seguar fluoro before the FG connection to 15 lb powerpro super 8 slick fails.
Edit: that rig pictured has landed at least a dozen reds and trout, and the FG knot has probably seen 3 times that many fish.
Still fighting crappy fishing weather, it's either raining or wind is blowing like crazy. I decided to try to brave the wind today, and managed a few fish before it got too rough to fish. Landed a few smaller seatrout and 3 decent slot reds. Not the best day, but I'm happy for anything that's not skunked, especially when you only get a couple of hours on the water.
edit: all my fish today were landed on the rig shown above btw
Great job man,,,and that looks like a killer rig ;D
Quote from: Benni3 on December 17, 2018, 01:10:02 AM
Great job man,,,and that looks like a killer rig ;D
the fish seem to agree :D
Quote from: Three se7ens on December 17, 2018, 01:21:44 AM
Quote from: Benni3 on December 17, 2018, 01:10:02 AM
Great job man,,,and that looks like a killer rig ;D
the fish seem to agree :D
when fishing with my dad,,,,,I use seaguar grand max fx tippet 18.5lb but thay quite selling it knot strength not that good sometimes,,,,but I'm going to try the new 14.5lb dia .010,,,, with that knot,,,thanks ;D
Got out for a few hours today. The wind and tide were conspiring to make the fishing tough, but I still managed a few, including a nice 29" redfish. This big girl put up quite a fight on the light tackle I use.
Love it,,,great job and in a kayak ;D
Nice redfish !! So far this year, only a few whiting, for me.....but I'll get more "serious" about fishing, after the Holidays.
Wow! Nice one Adam.
-steve
Nice fish Adam!... Now get back on the machining and make us some parts :)
I'm glad you're getting out there.
Sal
Been using a new soft plastic swim bait the past week or so, and Im beyond impressed. Its caught my personal best redfish and seatrout, and only a week apart. Yum pulse paddle tails are apparently fantastic saltwater baits. That last big red, and the big trout here(caught yesterday) are testament to big fish liking it.
Yesterdays trip started with a heavy fog, maybe 30-50' above the water. Fishing was fantastic, the trout were eager and willing, and even coaxed a big one into taking my lure. The fog started settling, and was thick as soup by the time fishing is normally the best. The wind started kicking up chop around the time, and I decided under 100 foot visibility and a building chop wasnt a good time to be on the water in a kayak. Started heading back, and didnt realize just how disorienting fog that thick can be. Took me a few minutes to recognize the spot I usually turn to cross the main channel. Very glad to have GPS for that, because half a mile of open water really sucks when you can only see a hundred feet or so. I was almost on the opposite shore before I could really tell where I was. I made it back fine, but certainly a lesson in things not always being as easy as they usually are. I know that area well, and fish it regularly. But without the usual visual cues, it seemed almost alien.
That's a nice speck !! And the fog WAS thick ! I spent a couple hors on the beach, but didn't do any good, at all.....maybe today will be better!
Took a chance on less than ideal tides, this afternoon, expecting to be out well past dark with temps dropping into the mid 40's. The slack tide seemed to come quite early, and just linger. But by that time, my buddy and I had already caught a few fish, and ended up calling it done not too long after the forecast low tide. Generally, the best fishing in this area is 2 hours before and after low tide, but this evenings low tide was significantly negative, which left many of the usual spots completely out of the water. I landed two pretty nice reds, 25" and 26", and a few trout. My buddy landed a trout, and two reds, one of which was tagged(quite possibly by himself). Couldn't have been much better of a day on the water there though. Smooth as glass, and that's quite rare there.
You're good.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on January 27, 2019, 05:33:55 AM
You're good.
-steve
It helps when you get to practice with professionals. I have a couple of friends who are guides, and words just cannot describe the gratitude I have for what I have learned from them in the past year. This area is a tough place to fish, esp artificials, and there arent a lot of people who are consistently successful year round. But the fish are pretty reliable if you figure out the basics. This area has paid off for me with more consistency than anywhere else I have ever fished.
Good for you Adam.
Thanks for taking us along. ;)
Nice report.....and nice fish, too !!
Adam your kicking reds @#$ good show
Joe
Thanks, Adam. Great reports!
Steve
That's some nice size fish that put up a great fight,,,, ;D and it's "murdder" to land them in a kayak,,,,really great job,,,, ;D
Quote from: Benni3 on January 27, 2019, 10:09:19 PM
That's some nice size fish that put up a great fight,,,, ;D and it's "murdder" to land them in a kayak,,,,really great job,,,, ;D
They put up a good fight, but I think a kayak makes light tackle easier than on a boat or land. I typically run around 3 lbs of drag on my inshore stuff, and even that pulls the yak around. That thick 26" red pulled drag maybe a dozen times, over the course of a few minutes, but it never really got farther from me than the initial cast. Those last two reds were caught on 10 lb braid with a 12 lb fluoro leader, Crowder ML rod and shimano 2500 reel. Seriously light tackle, but heavier wouldnt have much impact on the outcome or fight time from a kayak.
I dont feel undergunned running 15 or even 10 lb braid, and catching reds up to my personal best of 29." But such light setups are a dream to use, and you cant beat the casting performance of a quality setup and light line. My 3 main inshore setups weigh between 13 and 15 oz rigged. Thats rod, reel, line, leader, and lure. My cabo 40 reel weighs more by itself...
Quote from: Three se7ens on January 30, 2019, 01:35:26 AM
Quote from: Benni3 on January 27, 2019, 10:09:19 PM
That's some nice size fish that put up a great fight,,,, ;D and it's "murdder" to land them in a kayak,,,,really great job,,,, ;D
They put up a good fight, but I think a kayak makes light tackle easier than on a boat or land. I typically run around 3 lbs of drag on my inshore stuff, and even that pulls the yak around. That thick 26" red pulled drag maybe a dozen times, over the course of a few minutes, but it never really got farther from me than the initial cast. Those last two reds were caught on 10 lb braid with a 12 lb fluoro leader, Crowder ML rod and shimano 2500 reel. Seriously light tackle, but heavier wouldnt have much impact on the outcome or fight time from a kayak.
I dont feel undergunned running 15 or even 10 lb braid, and catching reds up to my personal best of 29." But such light setups are a dream to use, and you cant beat the casting performance of a quality setup and light line. My 3 main inshore setups weigh between 13 and 15 oz rigged. Thats rod, reel, line, leader, and lure. My cabo 40 reel weighs more by itself...
yes sir,,,,sounds like you got a great set up,,,,I walked in to the crowder rod company by accident,,, :D really nice guys there,,,,having a 13to15oz set up 3lb drag is what I like,,,, ;) and a 29in red!!!! That's no joke,,,great job,,,, :D I just have a hard time landing the hybrids at the cove with 3 rods out,,,it does put on a good show for the bass fisherman,,,,, ;D
I love my crowder rods. I have two salutes, both 7'6", one 6-12 line and one 8-15 line. I liked the 6-12 so much I sold a st croix mojo and replaced it with the 8-15 crowder salute. The Crowders have a slower action that I really like. And they are stupid light, under 5 oz for mine.