Thursday, February 17, 2011

Redfish at Night, Wo-Ho !

The easiest introduction to saltwater fly casting with the most reel-screaming reward is the fabulous American Red, White and Blue-tipped-Tailed Redfish, Sciaenops ocelatus, AT NIGHT.
Behold:
The fishing grounds:


Submerged lights on the Bay to draw phytoplankton, zooplankton and the rest of the foodchain, including.....


The reward, a 24" redfish. The fish was released so that I can catch him again tomorrow night, if I wish, and if he obliges me again. The way he attacked the fly tonight I have no doubt he will. He socked the fly so hard it was like I had rolled a rum bottle down a jail cell floor on a weekend night, as my beloved FFF Certifier, Lefty Kreh, likes to say.
     A seven weight with a matching Scientific Angler's Bonefish Taper Sinking Mastery fly line is the line of choice for this game. It is CLEAR and can cast all the way across the canal if I want it to. A red will eat most anything, but if they are keying on shrimp, throw a shrimp imitation, or if baitfish, throw a small Deceiver or Clouser. They're not too particular. Unlike the TROUT, Cynoscion nebulosus, which are notorious selective feeders at times of concentrated, specific prey availability.
    Importantly, do not flail at the water; make a quiet presentation and rest the water if you don't hook-up after one or two shots, or you'll put them down for the count--especially redfish, which flee like Wisconsin Democrat Senators flee from duty to the will of the People.

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