LIP GRIPPER [TACTICS]
BEAT THE DRUM
I
WRANGLE YOUR PERSONAL-BEST REDFISH BY RIC BURNLEY
t’s no accident that big red drum are called bulls. With a head like a Minotaur and a disposition to match, big reds offer kayak warriors the ultimate inshore challenge. From the dark waters of Chesapeake Bay to the marshes of the Gulf Coast, similar tactics catch big redfish. Looking for big reds usually means looking for shallow water. “We anchor in an area where there are cuts and valleys that run along the beach,” says J.D Herman, a red rider from the Lone Star state. The same goes for Virginia. “We look for drum on the shallow sandbars and in breaking surf,” comments drummer Kevin Whitley. Two tactics wrangle big reds: bait fishing and
sight casting. “It’s the only time that I’ll fish with bait,” Herman says, “We anchor and cast a whole mullet or crab on an 8/0 circle hook.” He attaches the hook to an arm’s length of 50-pound leader that is connected to the mainline with a barrel swivel. Whitley uses the same system, but slides a #4 snap swivel on the mainline and clips on a four- to six-ounce pyramid sinker. “Anchor as close to the breaking waves as you can and cast the rig into the bar,” Whitley instructs. The real fun starts when anglers encounter big
reds schooled on the surface. “When you see pods of reds coming down the beach,” Herman says, “you know it’s going to be a good day.” Like a herd of stampeding buffalo, a school of
big reds is aggressive. “When I see them coming,” Whitley says, “I try to get parallel to the school and cast in front of the fish.” He uses a seven-inch swim shad, preferring natural patterns like mullet or bunker. The lure had better be bulletproof. “We put incredible pressure on the fish while getting dragged around in the kayak,” he says. “Lesser hooks will straighten every time.”
Herman also looks for a beefy jig and big tail, favoring a seven-inch Gulp on a two-ounce lead- head. “Cast it right in front of the school and hold on!” he warns. Picture a massive blob of red drum swimming just below the surface. Twenty, 30, 50 fish or more moving in unison. “I’m freaking out because I’m seeing big, big reds,” Whitley says, “and a lot of them.” They get within casting distance. Take the shot. The lure lands in the middle of the school. Confusion. The line comes tight. Fish on! “You get dragged around for five or 10 minutes
by a really stubborn fish,” adds Herman, “you can’t beat that!”
24 …KAYAK ANGLER SPRING 2012
DRUM SOLO. PHOTO: KEVIN WHITLEY
IS YOUR HOME ZONE THE BEST? Turn to page 28 to find out.
Regional run-downs and freshwater bass tips for every corner of the country.
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