POC Sightfishing 10/22

[WolfpackRed]

I put in at the POC fishing center around 6 in pursuit of Mr. Redfish. This was my first time fishing out of POC so this was supposed to be a scouting trip as much as anything. Hit up the first section of marsh on my float plan and didn't see much activity at all. By 9 I was starting to wonder where the fish were when I saw one working the edge of the mangroves. I put a good cast on him, I was working a Vortex Shad in Black and Chartruese with an H&H Redfish Spinner, and hooked up (actually was late on my hookset and foul hooked him in the eye). Boated all 21" of him and into the cooler he went. I paddled on across a bay to another section of marsh I had on list and found some swimming pool clear water. Switched over to a Matrix Shad in Shrimp Creole on the spinner and worked a 1/4oz Buggs Curly Tail Jig in Hot Pink on my baitcaster. I was letting the wind push me across a little pond when I saw a brute of a marsh red. It was at least 36" and my heart rate went to about a thousand beats per minute. I landed the Bugg out and away from him and worked if back in front of his nose but he just turned away. Picked up the spinning rod and tossed the spinner in the same fashion, and again, turned away. As I watched him nonchalantly swim away, I knew my day was turning around. I worked back into a smaller pocket of the crystal clear water and pitched to a 20.5" red and watched him gobble up the Bugg. Boom, another one in the cooler.

The wind pushed me back in the pond as I dealt with getting my latest red in the cooler and when I looked up I was at a small cut that I was sure went off in the mangroves and petered out. Just as I was about to turn back to go out the way I came in, a redfish came cruising out of the cut and doubled back upon seeing my yak. I thought, "If there is enough water for him, there is enough for me." I essentially poled my way back to another pond that opened up nicely and there were multiple redfish for the taking. I pushed up into some marsh grass and threw the Bugg right out in front of a cruising redfish and BAM, fish on. As I was bringing him in, I noticed he had a friend with him. So I grabbed the spinning rod and casted, fighting one in my left hand and trying to hook up on one with my right. The one I was already fighting had found his way into a little marsh grass and once I back the pressure off, he sat still (maybe he thought he was hiding?). Anyway, that let me set that rod down and a couple casts later I was reeling in another one on my spinning rod. 2 reds boated at the same time while poling your own kayak is a rush for sure. I kept the 22.5"er and let the 20"er fight another day.

I decided it was time to break out the fly rod for a turn. I had yet to catch one on the fly and I figured with a limit in the cooler, low winds, and clear water that it was as good a time as any. I had a purple and black Clouser minnow tied on and it looked awesome in the water. I worked the pond for a bit, missing a few shots, before working my way out the way I came in. Once back out to the little pond that had delivered my second red of the day, I started working a cruising red. He would cruise by, I'd try to get my ducks in a row for a shot at him, and by the time that happened he had moved on. We did this dance a few times before I decided to again put my kayak in a little grass and have a good base to work from. Once I made that decision, it wasn't but another couple shots before I had my first redfish hooked up on the fly rod. Of course, my line got wrapped all around my spool and butt, making the fight that much more interesting for a minute, but once I got him on the reel, it was gameover.

I was starting to get hungry by now and so I started working my way back to the ramp. On the way out, I was blind casting a point with the spinner and caught my final red of the day. I released him and decided I'd had enough fun and that drive back to Houston wasn't getting any shorter. I was lucky enough to catch some of the action on camera and made my first movie. Feel free to check it out. All in all, it was a great day on the water. Can't wait to get back out again soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlCHh0Ga0oY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tight lines

[teen yaker]

Sounds like a great trip . Congrats on your first redfish on the fly

[flydoc]

Bet you use the fly more often.. Perfect scenario there especially if hard bottom and sneaky.. WTG

[brownGrub]

Great video and catch!!


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[WolfpackRed]

Thanks guys! It was a great day on the water and fun putting the video together too. Can't wait to get back out there for some more, especially on the fly!

[not2shabby]

That's the most successful scouting trip I've heard about in a while. Well done picking one up on the fly, too! Make sure to check out the fly fishing threads. There is a lot of good information there!

[Rockclimber]

Great trip, great fish, great video- perfect day!

[Forever Fishing]

Awesome report and enjoyed the video! Way to get it done!