Monster Reds @ A.P. 5-31
Posted: May 31st, 2008, 9:01 pm
I met Suber @ the harbor early Saturday to do some tarpon fishing. It was a tad windy, but we decided to paddle out anyways. The topwater bite was slow, yielding only a couple kitty cats. We started bottom fishing with mullet, and pretty quickly hooked up with some big sharks. At that point Suber had to leave, and I was left fishing by myself. Not wanting to mess with sharks out there alone, I quit using mullet and switched to a 4" Gulp shrimp freelining on a hook. I found an area where a deep cut was running over a sandbar and immediately hooked up with what I thought was a big shark, but 10 minutes later found out was a BIG redfish. Just as I was pulling the fish aboard the yak, it broke loose and fell back into the water. With a broken heart, I paddled back to the sandbar and cast again. Immediately another fish takes it, and this time I realize it's an even bigger red. This red pulled me all over and 15 to 20 minutes later, I was able to get it to the beach. The red was a lot longer than my 36" lawstick, but I estimated it to be 42" and weigh around 20-30 pounds. Some gentlemen in a boat noticed, and were nice enough to come over and take these pictures.
I didn't catch any tarpon today, but these reds sure did make up for it. On light tackle, that's just fun fishing.
I didn't catch any tarpon today, but these reds sure did make up for it. On light tackle, that's just fun fishing.
