I wanna catch redfish!

[Johnny]

I caught 7 this size last summer. I had no idea what I was doing. I caught some bait fish and then just hooked them up and tossed them out. I was on a jetty and caught them within 20 yards of the rocks.

Very nice red!

[AtTheWall]

JCK - wade fish San Luis Pass from the end of May through the entire summer into October. All you need is a balanced casting rod and a 3/4 ounce Johnson Sprite Gold spoon. Fan cast every single step working the spoon. Early morning sunrise.....find areas at the Pass where folks are not wading, camping or causing noise nearby...if that's even possible anymore. Drop into the water and slow wade working the spoon. Try two casts, one reeled mid-level and the second follow-up cast, bounce it off the sandy bottom. No strikes with both casts, aim a hair to the left or right (depending on your wading direction) and repeat. This gold spoon casting tip will score, trout, redfish and flounder (on the bottom bounce retrieve). It will also score bull croaker and bull sandtrout and mid-sized to large gafftop.

Another trick that works well at San Luis Pass..after the sun goes down, wade fish that area with big old heavy popping cork that rattles with about 2.5 ft of 20lb test mono under the cork tied to a 3/0 circle hook. Cast net some very fresh fingerling mullet and or bull mullet and cut small filet strips of the mullet and lace that onto the hook where it looks like a pork rind jig. Cast the popping cork at night and pop it working water around knee deep casting out into the deeper water. As the tide flows in, let the cork swing with the current a pop it periodically. They will hear the popping cork with rattles (ALAMEDA FLOATS ARE WHAT I USE) and they will home in on the sound. The fresh slice of cut mullet will fill their nostrils with scent and that's all it takes!

Catching redfish is probably the easiest inshore species to target? They hit sound, they hit smell, they hit flash and they don't leader\tackle scare to a point, they refuse to mouth a nice fresh bait or properly presented lure.

The old trusty 3/4 ounce Johnson Sprite spoon!



Looking for reds...working the 3/4 Ounce Johnson Sprite Gold spoon....scores specks as well! I remove the stock treble hooks and replace them with feather jigged treble hook trailers.....it's a secret SHHHHHHH!

[Mossback]

San luis pass is a great spot to fish when the conditions are right but i will add this, If you are not used to wadfishing the surf/passes, wear a pfd or some sort. Multiple people die in SLP every year, it can get some nasty currents through there. One bad step and your getting swept down the pass or out to the gulf depending on the tide. Fish it in calm conditons or wear a pfd

JCK - wade fish San Luis Pass from the end of May through the entire summer into October. All you need is a balanced casting rod and a 3/4 ounce Johnson Sprite Gold spoon. Fan cast every single step working the spoon. Early morning sunrise.....find areas at the Pass where folks are not wading, camping or causing noise nearby...if that's even possible anymore. Drop into the water and slow wade working the spoon. Try two casts, one reeled mid-level and the second follow-up cast, bounce it off the sandy bottom. No strikes with both casts, aim a hair to the left or right (depending on your wading direction) and repeat. This gold spoon casting tip will score, trout, redfish and flounder (on the bottom bounce retrieve). It will also score bull croaker and bull sandtrout and mid-sized to large gafftop.

Another trick that works well at San Luis Pass..after the sun goes down, wade fish that area with big old heavy popping cork that rattles with about 2.5 ft of 20lb test mono under the cork tied to a 3/0 circle hook. Cast net some very fresh fingerling mullet and or bull mullet and cut small filet strips of the mullet and lace that onto the hook where it looks like a pork rind jig. Cast the popping cork at night and pop it working water around knee deep casting out into the deeper water. As the tide flows in, let the cork swing with the current a pop it periodically. They will hear the popping cork with rattles (ALAMEDA FLOATS ARE WHAT I USE) and they will home in on the sound. The fresh slice of cut mullet will fill their nostrils with scent and that's all it takes!

Catching redfish is probably the easiest inshore species to target? They hit sound, they hit smell, they hit flash and they don't leader\tackle scare to a point, they refuse to mouth a nice fresh bait or properly presented lure.

The old trusty 3/4 ounce Johnson Sprite spoon!

[AtTheWall]

Near the Galveston jetties......fish the 2nd and 3rd channel inside. Don't go way out 100s of yards....redfish and bullreds will stay in waist to head high water and work the high tide feed.


Cut mullet, mono 60lb test leader tied to a 3/0 circle hook...fish finder style leader. Don't use a spider weight.....you want to cast and let the bait and leader swing with the current of the surf. If you have a current working left to right, aim your cast 30 degrees up current and let it settle. Don't put the rod in a rod holder, hang onto the rod and let the bait and weight swing on the current...till it literally washes up onto the sand to your left. Cast up current 30 degrees again and start the process all over again.







Note the mono leader with circle hook in this bullred's mouth. The pyramid weight rides above a 60lb test mono leader stopped off with a barrel swivel (at the fishes tail). This allows the bait to swing in the current pivoting off the weight...allowing it to move with a little action and lots of mullet scent. This bullred nailed the bait literally 10ft off the sand on the last swing before I reeled it in for another cast.....course after he picked up the bait it was ON LIKE DONKEY KONG TO MEXICO till the LAND!













Gold spoon fishing surf zone and channels leading into the back bays....deadly when you find them!

[AtTheWall]

Here's your wading PFD. Set it for manual mode and if you need to pop it to float, pull the cord.

The good thing about wading redfish, you don't need to go deeper than your knees. If you go chest deep....you have waded WAY TOO DEEP!

Specks prefer that deep water....the redfish (slot fish) are swimming between you and the sand on shore.

Get a super long casting rod....9ft if you have to and cast LONG and work it over and over and over...eventually the schools will swim by and you will score!

[jck]

Wow thanks guys. Looking to go pretty soon. Now I'm definitely looking forward to it

[jck]

Wowzer that pfd is pricy

[AtTheWall]

Wowzer that pfd is pricy

Yup....and the minute you need it...it's all worth the coin!

These wading PFDs are smaller\compact so you can move and cast...a bit more pricey for comfort and WADING SAFETY!


Rent a kayak one weekend and work the West end of Galveston Island from the kayak in Galveston Bay. Add a small 5lb anchor and line tied to the stern....to anchor down when you find fish. If you work shallow water, drop the anchor, jump out of the kayak and wade fish the surrounding area with your wading PFD. Over time, you will discover bottom contours that will help you find small cuts and valleys that allow the current to drain off flats during low tide. Remember these spots....they are baitfish highways and you will want to cast over these small little feeder ditches (bottom drop offs) to target specks, redfish, mangrove snapper & flounder. In South Texas....add Snook to the targeted species during these wades.

Always check water depth with your paddle and or stern anchor first! Don't get out unless it's less than 3ft deep...you can roll the yak if you don't pay attention to this.

Wading areas provide a lot of bottom feedback...your feet as well as water depth changes, as you wade along. FOCUS on the areas that go from super shallow, with bordering grass that hold baitfish...drop-offs along these edges are PRIMO!

If you are fishing 10ft + of water....IT'S TOO DEEP unless it's SUPER COLD or SUPER HOT. Redfish prefer 1-3ft....specks prefer 3ft - 6ft....the reasoning....BAITFISH PREFER TO STAY SHALLOW FOR PROTECTION.

[AtTheWall]

Mud minnows are your friend! During June - September.....find those muddy areas along Galveston Bay that have seagrass, mud flats and mud minnows. Fish these areas at high tide during the morning's sunrise!

[dbaio1]

I prefer trout myself, but im still gonna string a red fish.

Trout is for frying, redfish is for half-shelling

Igloo with a gulf coast slam, trout, reds and flounder is how I roll.