I wanna catch redfish!

[jck]

Well my freezer is empty except for stuff bought at Kroger, and that's not acceptable! I need some fresh caught/killed critters in there, and I want a good selection of redfish.

I've only caught one or two trout while bay fishing...so it's clear to say my luck with saltwater fishing sucks.

I want a freezer full of redfish...what in the world do I have to do to catch them?! I'm on Houston and don't have a saltwater boat and don't know anyone well enough that has one, so wade fishin is pretty much my only choice. I've been wade fishing with a friend quite a bit, but we never catch anything. Using Paul browns and some gulp shrimps.

Any and all advice is very much appreciated!

[tadmaryperry]

If you want to go on a good trip for freshwater reds, get in touch with Pat (jetlag887) on here. He will take you on Calaveras or Braunig out by Floresville. Really good guy and great fishing! Can't beat those big reds. We are going with him on Saturday.

[Bowhunter1994]

Live mullet works best for me

[Mossback]

TTF 4 inch paddle tail in plum w/ a chartrues paddle tail....If i ain't catching them on that, they are not biting. Right now i would be concentrating on areas with sand and potholes of grass. south shoreline of christmas bay has some drive in spots that should have some reds right now

[jck]

If you want to go on a good trip for freshwater reds, get in touch with Pat (jetlag887) on here. He will take you on Calaveras or Braunig out by Floresville. Really good guy and great fishing! Can't beat those big reds. We are going with him on Saturday.

I didn't even know there were freshwater reds... Lol

And I'm trying to keep this free or very near close to it. Finances and all. So guided trips are out of the question for me unless I win a raffle

[Mojo]

part of your problem is you're using artificials...put a popping cork on it and some shrimp...if you want a meat haul...otherwise, if you're a purist in artificials...good luck and invest in a kayak...
fyi, I fish artificials and understand that standing next to a man with live bait or anything like that will outfish me any day....

[MassMan]

I have two kayaks if you are interested in trying that route. I just don't have enough time to use them much right now. Made my first trip this year Sun. morning and had a limit pretty quick bouncing a morning glory BA paddletail off of some shallow shell.

[panhandlehunter]

You got my number man. I'll start hitting it pretty hard in the few weeks.

[Mossback]

part of your problem is you're using artificials...put a popping cork on it and some shrimp...if you want a meat haul...otherwise, if you're a purist in artificials...good luck and invest in a kayak...
fyi, I fish artificials and understand that standing next to a man with live bait or anything like that will outfish me any day....

I disagree. fishing artificials you can cover a ton of water and catch just as many if not more.....Ive stood next to plenty of people in the surf and in the boat in the bays fishing live shrimp and croakers and dog em on a topwater or plastics, more times than not. i think it all comes down to the conditions. Yes Ive been whooped before too, rarely, but thats when its good to have friends who fish live shrimp and bring an extra pint (If the waters dirty I think you're right, you are not beating the smell of liveys, the pop of the cork, or a freelined croakin croaker, but i try and not fish those days)

[tvc184]

I didn't even know there were freshwater reds... Lol

And I'm trying to keep this free or very near close to it. Finances and all. So guided trips are out of the question for me unless I win a raffle

I think that it is the TPWD that stocks Redfish in a few freshwater lakes. If my memory (fading with age) is correct, the fish cannot spawn but can grow very large like in saltwater. It is not a lot different than when they stock Rainbow Trout in a few locations in the winter but the Redfish do not die off when the weather turns warm.

[captainsling]

This time of year the surf is just turning on. There is always fish in the surf in the spring. From Whiting to Blacktips!

[tadmaryperry]

You are correct tvc184. They are stocked and can't reproduce. And they do grow big in those lakes.

[jck]

I've never fished from the surf. I've always seen people siting at the beach with a line in the water, but I always thought that was futile...I mean there's a lot of water in that ocean...how can you catch any fish just throwing a line out at the beach?

That's my ignorance talking, I know

[tvc184]

I've never fished from the surf. I've always seen people siting at the beach with a line in the water, but I always thought that was futile...I mean there's a lot of water in that ocean...how can you catch any fish just throwing a line out at the beach?

That's my ignorance talking, I know

The fish travel up and down the beach in the guts or sand troughs between the sand bars. If you get live or cut bait out there, many times it is just a matter of waiting for something to pick it up from a shark to redfish.

It is not like tossing a lure at a bass hiding behind as stump. These fish travel. It is more like they come to you rather than you searching them out. You can also toss live bait for specks or dead shrimp for croaker, whiting and other fish.

Surf fishing can be a lot more laid back when compared to chasing schools and tossing lures at fish. It is kind of like comparing deer hunting where you sit back and wait with time to kill and duck hunting on a busy day where you can't get settled in before the next flock flies by.

[RACK]

Im down for some kayak reds anytime if anyone is interested.....