The Frustration of the Red

By Capt. Bob Tayton
Southwest Florida Outdoors University Staff

On a mid August day just moments after another bright orange Southwest Florida sunrise, I found myself with two very good friends starring at the slick calmness of a vast and very shallow grass flat. Adjusting our eyes to the brightness of the rising sun, we searched the stillness with much anticipation for a sign of redfish, cruising or tailing. With Capt. Steve Waugh on the poling platform, Capt. John “Giddy Up” Bunch and I stood on point ready to do battle. And then just like that, the glass-like appearance of the water was suddenly shattered as two tailing redfish about fifty yards ahead of us began working their way towards our boat. Capt. Steve began to position the boat, both John and I readied ourselves to make a cast. As the two fish approached they began to veer to our right, hence giving me the first opportunity to make a cast. The water we were fishing was about nine or ten inches deep, so I knew when I made the cast I had to lead the fish in order not to spook them when the lure hit the water. With the boat in perfect position, I drew back the rod and shot the lure forward with a perfect cast that was well ahead of the fish and would cross their path perfectly when retrieved. And speaking of perfect, it still amazes me how perfectly you can see into the water with a good pair of polarized sunglasses. In fact, I witnessed the results of my perfect cast through my perfect polarized lenses and before my lure traveled twenty feet from the end of my rod tip those two cruising and sometimes tailing redfish departed to parts unknown at warp speed.

Looking back at Steve, who simply shrugged his shoulders, I wondered how a redfish with his nose in the grass sees a bait that is thirty feet out in front of him and still twenty feet in the air. I thought to myself, an exceptional pair of fish. Not really. For the next two hours on that flat we saw close to seventy or eighty fish, all cruising or tailing. No matter how we approached them or what bait we were throwing at them, they would turn tail and run. It was if one fish was scanning the bottom and the other scanning the skies. Unfortunately, this was not the first time I have found myself in this situation. I have seen this at least a half a dozen times.

So ask yourself, what makes a seven to nine pound redfish cruising the flats for a crab breakfast so concerned about what’s falling out of the early morning sky? I can’t believe they are to concerned about pelicans or ospreys. First, they are not the meal of choice for pelican’s and as formidable as ospreys are, I’ve seen them struggle with a two pound mullet. So what makes a redfish scan the once friendly skies? One word and one word only - ADAPTATION. Redfish once roamed the open expanses of the grass flats in a carefree lifestyle. The shallow water flats offered a sanctuary from one of their true predators, the porpoise, plus it offered fine dining. So what happened? Science. That translates into computer designed shallow draft boats outfitted with trolling motors, fish finders, poling platforms, GPS and lots of horsepower. Fish where no man has fished before has become the mantle of the millennium.

Just as humans have learned that life in the confines of the city is not the same as life in the wide open spaces of the country, so have the redfish. Redfish tend to find security in the confines of the mangroves. Here there are plenty of places to move in and out of and larger predators can not gain access to this sanctuary. Even though man has tried as evidenced by the mangroves covered in fishing line. However, when it comes to life in the wide open spaces, things are different. The great-great grandparents of today’s redfish have probably told stories of the stillness and calmness of the vast grass flats where one could hear the breathing of a crab a twenty paces. But no more, the sounds of breathing crabs have been replaced the tell-tale sound of water slapping against the hull of a computer designed flats boat, the probing sounds of a push poles, the boisterous communication of excited anglers, even the ill-timed drop of a hatch lid and I haven‘t even mentioned stainless steel props turning at 5000 RPM‘s just inches above their heads. In the vast stillness of glass-like water, redfish have learned that un-natural water movement translates normally into sharp pointy things falling out of the sky.

Is the eyesight of a redfish really that good? The answer is either yes or they have also developed some sort of computer technology. Remember one thing, redfish cruising the flats are wary, they are probably already at DEFCOM 3 just being there. The upside to this is that in my opinion nothing beats the thrill of stalking and catching a tailing redfish. It all begins the moment you spot his tail as it breaks the surface making a few snake-like movements propelling him ever closer to you. You begin to plan your cast while anticipating his movement. First, he begins to move right, then stops as his tail rises above the water as he searches among the grass roots for crabs or shrimp. Doubting your own instincts, you ask your fishing partner, “Is he in range? Should I make the cast now?” You get ready to make the cast, then suddenly the fish moves off to the left and his tail disappears, you’ve lost visual contact, you whisper as if your lungs have no air, “Where is he? Your eyes strain to look below the surface, you begin to pray for a sign of movement. Then a v-shaped wake appears, but it is now moving away from you. You panic, gather your strength in an effort to make what is sure to be a very long cast as self doubt begins to raise it’s head. “What if I throw short?” and spook him. Just then the fish turns again and begins to head back to the boat. Your are now focused, the only sound you hear is the pounding of your heart. Then you remember your training, don’t look at the fish when making the cast. Focus on where he is going and cast to a spot well out in front of the him. You now cock the rod to the side in order to make a low profile cast. Taking a deep breath you make the cast. Perfect. You now begin to retrieve the spoon slowly trying to very its speed to ensure that it will cross the path of Mr. Redfish just far enough out in front of him so that he can see it wiggling as if it is a small crab looking for a new home. POW! The black slick calmness of the water turns into a white froth right in front of your eyes. The fish takes off causing your line to create what looks like a mini rooster tail behind your redfish who is now in hyper-drive.

It is truly an exhilarating experience. There are several things you can do to successfully help make catching a tailing redfish a part of your angling memories. The first and foremost is NOISE REDUCTION. This is pretty simple. No loud conversations, banging of equipment or doing the Texas Two-Step on the front of the boat. With that said, I would also like to point out that rocking a boat unnecessarily from side to side, whether from the poling platform or from the angler in the front of the boat is going to send a very distinct message that will more than likely put every redfish in the area on alert. Next, choose a bait or lure (weedless) that will make a soft entry into the water, large heavy spoons are not the answer. However, soft plastic baits such as Slug Go’s or Berkely Power Baits land softly and rarely get caught up in the grass, plus these baits can be worked at vary speeds and depths. Another thing I can recommend is not trying to catch tailing redfish on a full moon or for at least three days thereafter. It seems on a good full moon redfish tend to feed very well at night and are in no mood for breakfast. However, some can still be caught under the mangroves where they are less wary and are probably still looking for an early morning snack. The third option is once you have located reds on a shallow flat, anchor the boat and try wading. Wading is a sure way to reduce the NOISE. It can also add to the thrill of the adventure as you stalk your fish trying to get within range to make that perfect cast. If you enjoy hunting, this is a perfect way to add “the hunt” to your fishing. I would recommend some sort of footwear if you plan on wading. There are a number of things that you might step on that could end your fishing for the day. Also, remember to shuffle your feet along the bottom, much like you would if you had on a pair of snow ski’s (do not pick them up as you would normally walk) .

The bottom line here is not to become frustrated, but ADAPT! Learn from your frustrations and develop better strategies. If redfish can do it, so can you. However, I still have one burning question.

THINK ABOUT!

If shallow water redfish are smart enough to determine that once they feel unnatural movement their focus becomes scanning the unfriendly skies, why is it that scientists and environmentalists tell us that you can not take a redfish fingerling raised in a hatchery in Sarasota and place it in the waters of Pine Island Sound in order to help increase the redfish population. Other Gulf Coast states have developed massive re-stocking programs that are so successful that anglers complain about catching too many reds, their recreational limits are usually three times greater than Florida’s and restaurants within these states offer farm-raised redfish on their menus. As Southwest Florida and the state continue to grow, the man hours needed to produce a recreational catch limit, usually one fish such as a redfish or a snook, will continue to increase in proportion to the fishing pressure that is being added to our fish stocks. I think it’s about time Florida starts to ADAPT. A serious re-stocking program such as our Gulf neighbors have should be on the front burner instead of some other issues that are negatively affecting our angling and boating community. Increased fish stocks can only increase revenues. From hotel rooms, to boat and tackle sales to home sales. Think about it, have you ever seen a picture of an angler holding fish that wasn’t smiling.


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