Marvelous redfish multiple— these anglers worked the edge
of the many-eyed beast. PHOTOS: JOSE CHAVEZ
Beast of the Southeast REDFISH RIOT APPROACHING—GET READY!
seconds will reveal the outcome. Shift the odds in your favor: Te Search: Always be alert and wear quality
polarized sunglasses. Covering water with the sun at your back makes spotting fish easier. In turn, it’s harder for them to spot you. Scan the horizon and look 20 to 50 yards ahead. The fur- ther away you spot the redfish, the better your
Positioning is critical.
Kayaks are perfect. PHOTOS: PHILLIP GENTRY
chance of success. Look for activity such as tailing fish, pushes of water, scattering baitfish and schools of mullet, which redfish tend to follow. Also pay attention to flying birds; their shadows will oſten startle a fish or a school at a distance, alerting you of their presence. Te Approach: When you spot your target,
remain patient. Plan your approach. Paddling straight at them for a quick cast is oſten a mis- take. Observe their direction of movement. If necessary, paddle around the school to get in front to make the best presentation. Wade to them if possible. When approaching, do not make any noise. Simply bumping the kayak with your paddle can alert the reds and shut the bite down. Te Cast: When fishing in shallow water or
for tailing fish, use lures that land soſtly such as lightly weighted plastics. Redfish don’t have rough mouths and rarely wear through lead- ers, so downsizing to a 15- or even 12-pound fluorocarbon leader is sometimes necessary to convince lock-jawed fish to eat. For improved casting distance, spool up
with eight- to 15-pound braided line. Long and accurate casts are crucial. Cast
tween floating dock pontoons or stationary platforms that sit low to the water. Te skipping bait closely mimics fleeing
prey and many bites will come as soon as the bait starts to sink. Flip the bail closed with your free hand and retrieve the bait through the structure, watching closely for any twitch in the line signaling a bite.
PHILLIP GENTRY is the author of Paddling Palmetto, a monthly kayak hunt- ing and fishing column featured in South Carolina Sportsman magazine.
a few yards in front of your target. When the paths of the lure and redfish meet, the lure should be moving away from the fish. Because it is unnatural for prey to approach a feed- ing predator, lures worked towards a redfish are often ignored. Since casting in the middle of the school seldom produces multiple fish, target redfish on the edge of the school to in- crease your odds of catching more than one. When you feel the bite, set the hook and drive it home. Hold on tight, you are going for a ride!
JOSÉ CHAVEZ is an Emotion Kayaks pro staffer and tackle nut. When he’s not swinging a fish stick, you can find this artful photographer behind the lens.
www.kayakanglermag.com… 31
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