and the forum, the ol' pull got harder. I just HAD to get a redfish: I was ENTITLED to one, because a hurricane was coming. 
Last season, I hit the coast on every Friday after work for every hurricane; and I always had an adventure if not a red.
I waded into Alligator Harbor at about 7:30 PM. It was just beautiful. No one else in sight but a lone kayaker in the distance. The water was crystal clear and calm, and, as the sun sank it put on a pastel color show.
I fished spinner baits, but the only action was a couple of nondescript "bumps" except for one bite that took the tail off my rootbeer-colored shad. [Note to self: even when wading, always bring several of each color you are using, so if one works you have more of 'em!
] Then I tried a live pin. The water was alive with jumping and swishing fish, and birds all around, and schools of bait. It seemed perfect for fishing and catching. But there were no takers!
So, I quit as it got dark and went to visit a buddy down there; and after downing a little of his left overs, etc.,
we hit the St. Teresa Beach with lights and gigs 
, but the visability was too poor to see any flatties. But my buddy did net a couple of mullet.
I spent the night down there and was up early.
In the morning, I figured I had must have simply gone for my redfish too early, by going Friday night: the hurricane was too far away! So, yesterday (Saturday) morning, with some of that mullet cut up for a secret weapon, I headed back to get my red. [ The bait was not in my pants pocket.
]Once again, the harbor was awesomely smooth and beautiful and alive with all kinds of action. A bald eagle flew so close, I could hear it's wings whooshing at each beat.
And a pod of dolphin repeatedly surfaced and breached , feeding about 50 yards out. And osprey circled. I tried the artificials as I stuck another rod, baited with the mullet, in my shorts. Wade-fishing with two rods is sort of greedy, perhaps; and I have lost fish, and gear actually, doing that. But I had a good system this time.
Once again, I had dark grub tail hit, but no catch! [I need more experience with these!].
I was about to give up after about an hour, and to hurry home to get ready for the storm, when I saw a redfish as it swam right up to me in the clear water, turned sharply and, giving a big swish, took off.
That inspired me to stay. Fifteen minutes later, as I was seriously sight-fishing with the jig, something took the mullet on the other rod and started pullin'.
Fishing a circle hook [3/0 circle under a CT], all I needed to do at first was to be able to keep the pressure on the line, which I could do by simply holding the rod up and back with one hand while retrieved the jig and setting my other rod down on my Flats Caddie. Then, I began to play the fish; and after I knew it was a decent sized red, I let it have a nice long fight [as I fish without a net]; and soon I had a beautiful 20" redfish.
My Bride being out of town, my 20 year old son and I hosted a nice dinner-hurricane party last night for a few of his friends, featuring redfish on the half shell and vintage rock DVD's turned up loud.
Next hurricane, I'll be down there again, no matter what.
I look forward to the next "storm report" 
