I suppose some would say that I am one of those people addicted to rules. I would deny the addiction part, but I would confess to being very passionate about the framework of a competition.

And that framework is….The Rules!

There is no way to have a fair and equitable competition without rules that design, describe, organize, and create a field and accepted method of play – a de facto structure – within which the competition takes place.

A competition is a contest of skill that takes place within certain parameters -rules. These parameters are there to make sure the participants each have an equal chance of winning based on the rules, the venue, and the actual participation. The only thing that is supposed to make a difference is individual’s or team’s skill and abilities. Those that are able to participate at a higher level of proficiency will, obviously, finish high most of the time. And, that is as it should be.

About fifteen years ago I wrote a piece entitled “When Ego Exceeds Ethics”. The main thrust of the article was my disgust and disappointment with cheating that was occurring during redfish competitions and the lack of rules enforcement by the tournament organizers. However, the entirety of the piece, while well intended, was such a vitriolic rant that it made for painful reading and the point may have been lost.
I have aged a bit since then.

I have a great deal more experience in everything about life. Maybe I have mellowed a tad as well. But – I remain steadfast that rules are in place to protect the fairness of competition and to ensure that every competitor begins and ends the competition on equal ground. Rules should be an inviolate and immutable cog in the machine of competition. I still hold as truth that those who would warp or completely break rules just to achieve a false edge on their competitors are the worst sort of coward.

As I wrote in the original article:

“Ego exceeding Ethics - This occurs when the desire to be the hero, to bask in public acclaim, to finish high, to win, to be seen as one of the best exceeds the honorable action of playing fairly and by the rules.”
 
One of the most difficult things to swallow over all those years was the fact that the majority of honest competitors rarely knew who did what, or why, because the tournament directors seemed unwilling to call anyone out publicly for cheating. This behavior was likely due to fear of legal reprisals as well as our basic human reluctance to tarnish someone’s reputation without absolute proof and/or an admission of guilt.

This was my commentary on that stance:

“This “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy essentially protects the cheaters who are then loosed to ply their trade again at yet another
 event on the same unsuspecting participants.”
 
I also offered a few definitions of the word cheater and then used those defining characteristics to further belittle those that would engage in such behavior. Here is that excerpt:

 “Here are a few definitions of Cheater:
 
1.) To deceive by trickery; swindle
2.) To deprive by trickery; defraud
3.) To mislead; fool
4.) To elude; escape
5.) To act dishonestly; practice fraud
6.) To violate rules deliberately

The cheaters deceive folks into believing they have great prowess at the sport. They deprive honest competitors of their due. They mislead and fool the public into believing they are skillful. They elude detection over and over by deviousness and dishonesty. In fact, they act dishonestly in everything they do. Their entire lives are nothing more than a lie. They violate rules deliberately for their own dishonest gain. They are thieves!
Ego Exceeding Ethics!!”

SO, it is fairly easy to see from the tone of that excerpt that the rest of the article was likely just as acerbic. And, it was.
​
But, I stand by the fundamental belief espoused in the original article that deliberate rules infractions and those that engage in that type of behavior should be dealt with by the black and white of the rules page and not in shades of grey.

So, what are we to do? How can this challenge be met in an ethically responsible manner?

In the original article I called for posting the names, photos, dates, infractions, and penalties on the internet for all to see. Some of you, I am sure, would agree with this stance. Others would say that it is too harsh. I confess that I’m not certain anymore as to exactly what would be the best way to handle deliberate cheating.

Perhaps when there is incontrovertible proof that cheating did occur, these competitors should be forever banned from every tour and trail by the tournament organizers. This would require communication among the various tours and trails and I’m not exactly sure how to encourage that to happen. It is one thing to remove a competitor from your own events but far more difficult to communicate that to the others because of our innate fear of “legal” retaliation. It is a strange thing that our society has evolved into a soft place of such fear that it serves as protection for those that would behave in a less than ethical manner.

In this article I have tried to make the same points while toning down the rhetoric of the original, but rest assured that my belief in honest competition and the inviolable nature of The Rules have not changed.

I’ll leave you with the final quote from the original:

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
 
…….and so is cheating!

by Craig Holt*
 
About 20 years ago, North Carolina’s winter and early spring inshore fishing was a losing proposition. Cold weather chased sportfish from sounds, bays and rivers to the warmer ocean waters, leaving inshore anglers to oil and respool reels, remove rust and repair rods while waiting for spring.

But today, because of strict restrictions on recreational catches, red drum flourish in North Carolina waters year-round. Because reds take lures and bait from January through March, they’re available, even when water temperatures sink low enough to stun spotted seatrout. 
No other saltwater sportfish rivals the size and strength of red drum during the winter, except for striped bass, but they aren’t available for many fishermen, especially those south of Hatteras. 

Here’s some advice from some of North Carolina’s top guides that should help anglers beat cabin fever.
 
Cape Lookout

January is one of the best months for inside and nearshore red drum fishing in the Cape Lookout area.

Joe Shute, a long-time guide who runs the Cape Lookout Fly Shop on the Atlantic Beach causeway (252-240-1427), hunts for reds mostly with a fly rod, but he takes clients unfamiliar with fly fishing and offers them spinning outfits and soft-plastic lures. 

“I fish for them all day long in winter,” Shute said, “and the tides don’t make much difference, although sunny days when tides are low in afternoon are best, when the sun warms mud bottoms.”

In the shallow bays and marshes behind Beaufort and Morehead City, Shute often finds redfish stacked up, sometimes in schools of 50 to 200 fish. He anchors his skiff with a Power Pole and waits for schools to get within casting distance.

“You can see them in clear water,” he said. “I let them swim past me and lay a cast in front of a school and work the fly toward them. If you cast when they’re swimming toward you, you’ll spook them because they can see you.”

On calm days, Shute often takes fly- and lure-casters to Shark Island on the east side at the Cape Lookout shoals.

“If we find them in the ocean, they’ll eat anything,” Shute said. “There’s not much natural bait out there except a few glass minnows. It makes ’em aggressive.

“Sometimes they’re at the Cape Lookout rock jetty or in the breakers at Shackleford Banks,” Shute said. “We get a lot of northeast winds, so it lays down the protected Shackleford beach. A lot of times there’s not even a ripple.”

Big schools of red drum may be in 1 to 20 feet of water off the beach at Shackleford, he said.

“They’ll be the (surf) slots and sloughs, looking for something to eat,” he said. “When it gets brutally cold, they go deeper.”

Shute said when the water temperature in inside waters drops below 50 degrees, reds get lethargic.

Favorite spinning reel lures for ocean reds include soft plastics such as scented Berkley Gulps.

“I often take people with that tackle into the ocean,” he said. “I upsize to ¼-to 3/8-ounce jigheads with a 4-inch Edge paddletail minnow in light green with a single hook. They’ll also hit a Mr. Twister ribbon-tail grub and sometimes even MirrOlures, but I change out the trebles for single hooks.”

When he fly-fishes inside, Shute uses a 7- or 8-weight rod with floating line, and in the ocean, he uses an 8- or 9-weight rod with intermediate line. His favorite red drum fly is a Clouser in black with gold flash.

“Sometimes they want brown-and-orange, black-orange-and-gold or gray-and-white,” he said. “When they’re on oyster rocks inside, you can use a small crab pattern with No. 2 hooks. The main thing is to cast a fly or lure from behind a school.”

Bogue banks

Jeff Cronk of Fish4Life Charters (336-558-5697) and partner Mike Taylor of Taylor-Made Charters (252-725-2623) are two of North Carolina’s most-knowledgeable inshore anglers, with 25 years of tournament experience and plenty of years guiding under their belts.  

From January through March, Cronk said redfish influenced by weather conditions follow two patterns. 

“Cold-water fishing for reds behind Bogue Banks is affected by the preceding November and December,” he said. “The majority of red drum follow baitfish to the surf zone those months because of northeast winds. Going into winter, you can see schools of several hundred to several thousand redfish in the surf. But they don’t stay there. 

“When the weather gets really cold in January, the reds move back inside, along with baitfish — small menhaden, glass minnows and mullet minnows. You can’t find any reds at the beaches, but they do stay close to the surf zone.

“It’s shallower in the bays, so the water (temperature) moderates, pushing them onto flats in the bays. Reds go there and to creeks behind the beaches to find bait. In places with muddy bottoms, reds collect around oyster beds to eat little crabs and mud minnows.”

Although temperatures may drop overnight, redfish become active during sunny afternoons behind Bogue Banks.

“They might be slow to bite in the morning, but let the sun hit (the water) and they turn on,” Cronk said. “I’ve seen schools of 2,000 fish in a 50-yard-wide bay.

Cronk said scented lures attract red drum that may range from 18 to 31 inches in length.

“I’ll use 1/16-ounce (jigheads) or Zoom Super Flukes with a weightless worm hook,” he said. “I also like 3-inch Gulp split-tail minnows.”

Cronk avoids splashy, summertime lures that may spook fish in 1 to 2 feet of gin-clear water. He says small lures moved slowly are best.
“There’s a lot of green slime on the bottom, and you want to keep lures out of that stuff,” Cronk said.
Better yet, clear water makes sight-fishing possible.

“If I know a school is in a bay, I might anchor up and wait for them to come by, and then cast in front of them after they pass my boat,” he said. “I cast when the entire school’s moving away. If I can see them, they can see me.”

One of his top lure presentations is “dead-sticking.”

“I use scented lures,” Cronk said. “I drop a lure 10 to 15 feet in front of a school then barely twitch it.”

Swansboro 

A few miles south of Bogue Banks, guide Robbie Hall said red drum follow the same winter patterns.

“Redfish schools gather in the big bays, marshes and marsh creeks behind inlets at Bear and Browns islands,” said Hall (910-330-6999).
But Swansboro reds go inside for a different reason.

“I think they move into 1 to 2 feet of water to get away from porpoises,” he said.

With menhaden long gone from inshore waters, porpoises target reds and can strip the flesh from a 30-incher in minutes. 
Hall likes to fish soft-plastic lures, including Gulp minnows or Zoom Flukes in goldfish or gold bream colors on 1/8-ounce jigheads ,adding ProCure paste.

“You’ll see schools of 20 to 500 redfish behind Bear and Browns,” Hall said. “You can sight-cast in nice weather. I use light weights so lures slowly drop to the bottom.”

Sometimes, he uses mud minnows because red drum eat them like popcorn. 

 “Mud minnows are their primary live-bait food in winter,” Hall said. “One key is having a trolling motor to get near a school to throw a lure or bait in front of them.”

New River

The New River offers a different winter fishery for red drum than other areas of North Carolina’s central coast.

Most reds are “puppy” size, but they cluster in the backs of small creeks, making 20- to 60-fish days common. In creeks north of Jacksonville, they also mix with large spotted seatrout and largemouth bass and will hit the same lures. Winter days when anglers catch all three species aren’t unusual.

“The drum I fish for are 100 percent in the backwaters of creeks 8- to 12-foot deep,” said guide Ricky Kellum (910-330-2745). “I fish treetops and stumps. It’s a lot like bass fishing. The best thing might be you’re protected from the northeast wind in those creeks. It’s about the only place on the river you can stand it on freezing, windy days.”

Kellum’s favorite winter lures are the Betts Halo Shad and Betts Perfect Sinker Shrimp. They fall slowly with an attractive wiggle.
“I’ve caught reds and trout sometimes with skim ice in those creeks,” he said. “The only time the red bite really slows in winter is when the water temperature drops to 38 or 40 degrees. Reds won’t chase lures in winter, and neither will trout. They want a slow-moving lure, a lot of times dropped right in their faces.”

Winter redfish bites are light, Kellum, said, just a little tick, “not a summer thump.”

For hardier anglers, the New River has shallow marshes near its inlet mouth good to fish during high flood tides on mild days. If it’s windy and cold, fishing can be brutal.

“A kayak is a good thing to have if you want to fish those marshes,” he said. “I throw a 4-ounce Gulp shrimp. I let it sit. You can see them, but you have to wait for them to put it in their mouth.” 

The shallow flats near Eason Creek hold mud minnows, glass minnows and finger mullet during the winter.

Topsail/Wilmington beaches

During the winter, guide Jot Owens of Wilmington fishes muddy bottoms and dark, oyster-rock areas.

“You want dark bottoms with oyster rocks going up estuary creeks or in deep channels,” said Owens (910-233-4139). “Reds stay away from currents unless they’re in the ocean.”

Frigid inside waters push red drum into the Atlantic Ocean.

“I don’t think the temperature hurts them, even if it drops 4 or 5 degrees overnight,” Owens said. “I think it’s the change in temperature they don’t like. So they go to the ocean where the water temperature is more stable.”

Owens’ favorite winter lures are 3-inch Gulp shrimp in natural, sugar spice/glow or molting colors.

“They’re not bright colors,” Owens said. “I also throw a 5-inch Gulp jerk shad in the same colors.”

His rods are 7 1/2 feet, mated with reels spooled with 10- or 15-pound Ultracast Spiderwire for long casts.

When Owens fishes inside, he uses 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jigheads. In surf zones he likes 1/4-, 3/8- or 1/2-ounce jigheads 

“You have to throw long casts,” Owens said, “to reach schooling fish. You don’t want to get too close and spook them.”
He prefers light Carolina rigs with fluorocarbon leaders when he uses natural cut bait in the ocean.

“I use cut mullet or peeled shrimp,” he said. “I don’t use live baits because reds aren’t used to wintertime live bait. They find food mostly by scent on the bottom anyway.”

Southport

Winter red drum fishing near Southport is different — and at the same time similar — to inside venues north of Bald Head Island’s marshes.

Although reds may hunker down in mainland marshes and creeks west of the Cape Fear River, no other area has such a singular red drum habitat. A 10,000-acre series of bays, creeks and salt marshes north of Bald Head are protected from the Atlantic Ocean’s swells by a beach to the east and walled off on the west from the Cape Fear by a 3-mile rock jetty, completed in 1881.

Red drum live in the marsh complex year-round because of its southerly location. Only a few people, including guide Jeff Wolfe of Carolina Beach, know its creek channels to fish the massive marsh with fear of grounding.

“It’s tough to catch red drum in winter at open bay flats because the water’s too clear and fish are spooky,” said Wolfe (910-619-9580), “but if you go into creeks on rising afternoon mid-tides with (holes) and muddy bottoms with oyster beds or shell bottoms where drum can stay protected in warm water, or at deep creek bends, they’ll bite mud minnows on Carolina rigs or soft plastics.”

His favorite places are the dead ends of marsh creeks north of Bald Head Island.

“They lay in deep pockets back there,” Wolfe said. “You can reach them in real shallow-draft boats, if you know how to run. That’s why people don’t run it. You can get stuck in there on falling tides. Some places will be 8 to 10 feet deep, and it’ll be 1 to 2 feet in front and back.”

He often drops mud minnows or 1-inch shrimp pieces into holes.

“One bite sets off a chain reaction,” Wolfe said. “Reds from 14 to 31 inches are back there. I caught 90 drum out of the smallest hole you can imagine one Jan. 31.”

* First published in Carolina Sportsman Magazine

​
 
One of the most difficult and daunting tasks assigned to the Redfish World Series Selection Committee was to be as accurate as possible with the creation of a list of 48 of the best teams in the country. These would be the teams invited to the inaugural 2019 Redfish World Series to compete for the title of 2019 Redfish World Champions.

Several Legacy teams were selected first. Then came the work of compiling data for the years 2016-2018 which was the only reasonable way to compare apples, oranges, and pears. It was a massive and complicated undertaking because there is no comprehensive and reliable system available to utilize for the selection process.

Each tour compiles data differently and in varying formats. Simply collecting the data was a time intensive task by itself. Compiling it into a usable form was even more difficult. All the while, the great concern of everyone on the committee was that a deserving team might be overlooked. Tremendous effort was put into the final selections and, while we are sure that not everyone agrees, we are content that we did the best we could with a very complex ranking system.

In the end we realize that the process, while not perfect, led to a field of talent never before assembled in a single event. It also led to dozens of hours of discussions about comparisons of various tours and trails and ultimately to the formation of a National Ranking System that will be in place throughout 2019 for the 2020 RWS event.

This first ranking system may not be perfect either, but it makes sense, it is simple, and it comprehensively includes every level of competition while addressing the variables presented by each tour. Utilizing this ranking system, every team on every tour can follow their status as results and standings are posted by the RWS every Wednesday throughout the year.

Our hope is that the development of a fair and accurate ranking system will create increased interest and participation in competitive redfish events. This, in turn, will escalate the popularity, exposure, fan base, and corporate/sponsor participation in competitive redfish events, tours, and trails.

Another point of interest is that, if redfish competition as sport is to ever become recognized as a professional venue, there must be leagues, divisions, definitions, global rules, and a qualified, competent, and unbiased central organization. All of that won’t happen in one year but if we don’t start thinking and talking about it now, if we don’t realize the danger of remaining splintered, if we don’t plan for the future and act on those plans – it will never happen.

So, here’s how it goes:
 
To accumulate points teams must remain intact. (Example: A + B fish together and A also fishes with C. This would constitute two teams – AB and AC - even though one of the members is the same. So, Team AB could accumulate points and Team AC could accumulate points, but they would not be able to combine points.)

For 2019 the RWS National Ranking System will recognize Six Tour Divisions and One Wild Card Division. The number of qualifying teams from each division is listed in parentheses beside the Divisions below.  Each Qualifying Team will earn an invitation to the 2020 RWS. The Divisions are as follows:

1. IFA Redfish Tour (7)
2. Elite Tournament Redfish Series (7)
3. Power Pole Pro Redfish Tour (6)
4. Tito’s Top Shelf Series (4)
5. Rudy’s Pro Redfish Tour (4)
6. Southern Redfish Cup (4)
7. Wild Card (10)

The Wild Card Division will be comprised of the top ten teams that accumulate points from more than one Tour Division. For example; a team may not accumulate enough points on a single tour to qualify in that division but by virtue of accumulating points from additional divisions they could qualify as a Top Ten in the Wild Card Division.

Points will be awarded to the Top Ten finishers in each event of each Tour Division as follows;

1st = 10 points, 2nd = 9 points, 3rd = 8 points, and so on by one-point increments down to 10th = 1 point. Every Wednesday the RWS will post the running points total of every Division so every team will know exactly where they stand throughout the year.

At the end of the year, the qualifying teams in each of the six Tour Divisions and the Wild Card Division will earn an invitation to the RWS for the following year.

Tiebreakers:

1. Ties in the Divisions with a designated Championship will be decided by highest finish in the Championship event of that tour.
2. Ties in Tour Divisions without a designated Championship will be decided by the highest finish in any single event within that Division.
3. Ties in the Wild Card Division will be decided by the highest single finish in any Division.
4. If the highest finish is also a tie, the second highest finish will be used to determine the winner. If still tied, the third finish will be used and so on.
5. If the teams remain in a tie (i.e identical finishes over all events) then the heaviest total weight of a single event by each team would break the tie. For Tour Divisions the weight is from an event within that division. For the Wild Card it can be from an event from any division.

The qualifying teams from each Tour Division and the Wild Card Division will constitute 42 of the teams to be invited to the 2020 RWS. The remaining six invitations are reserved for the Top Six finishers in the 2019 RWS to constitute the full field of 48 teams.

If a team qualifies through more than one avenue, the next team in that division will be moved up. Example: If a team finishes in the Top Six in the 2019 RWS and then is one of the qualifiers in another tour they would be removed from that division’s qualifying list and the next highest place team would move up. Or, if a team qualifies in more than one division during 2019, they would be removed from the division with the fewest qualifying spots available. If the available spots are the same, they would be removed from the division they had the fewest qualifying points in, etc.
​
This will be the first time a National Ranking System has been devised and used to rank teams for qualification to the year-end World Championship. It will undoubtedly be modified to some degree over the coming years, but this looks like a good place to start. It is simple, it is fair, and it gives ample and equal opportunity to all tours and all competitive redfish teams to be eligible to compete in a Redfish World Series Championship.

​ 

The Florida Pro Redfish Series - now Pro Tournament Fishing - has been a big success over the past couple of years and now has plans to enter the 2019 season with a new name, a new attitude, and a mission to bring the sport of competitive redfishing some additional stability. Their decision to limit platform height on all boats in competition while placing a premium on ethics, conservation, visibility, and sportsmanship is a move that brings the sport back in line with the basic tenets, the roots, of competitive redfishing. 

Pro Tournament Fishing Corp recently announced its 2019 lineup. Pro Tournament Fishing, JL Marine - Power-Pole Total Boat Control, and Blazer Boats will team up again in 2019 to bring a best-in-class series and a new format for the 2019 Power-Pole Pro Redfish Tour! This tour is designed to find Florida’s top redfish team.
 
Consisting of three, two-day tournaments throughout Florida, this series tests anglers’ skills in all patterns Florida has to offer.
 
Then, taking it to another level, the Championship will be held in Delacroix, LA., a neutral spot for all the anglers. Championship winners will receive a GTS 2220 from Blazer Boats valued at $60,000!
 
Pro Tournament Fishing - formally Florida Pro Redfish Series - is also establishing a tournament ranking system for the state. PTF has created a rules committee to ensure fairness to the teams fishing and is committed to ensuring that environmental concerns are addressed at each venue. This new format and new rules committee will work together to ensure that all the teams are fishing on a level playing field.
 

Tournament Dates and Entry Fee: 

Entry fee for the tournaments is $600 per team, per tournament.


January 11th & 12th - Jacksonville, FL

Captain’s Meeting Thursday, January 10th @ Palms Fish Camp Restaurant
Weigh In: Morningstar Marinas At Mayport


February 22nd & 23rd - Steinhatchee, FL

Captain’s Meeting Thursday, February 21st @ Sea Hag Marina
Weigh In: Sea Hag Marina

April 5th & 6th - Panama City Beach, FL

Captain’s Meeting Thursday, April 4th @ To Be Announced
Weigh In: To Be Announced

Championship | May 31st & June 1st - Delacroix, LA

The Power-Pole team of the year will be awarded $10,000 at the championship! 

Captain’s Meeting Thursday, May 30th @ Sweetwater Guide Service and Marina
Weigh In: Sweetwater Guide Service and Marina
 
With every tournament Pro Tournament Fishing focuses on the future of angling competition. Every competition and its impact on the environment, the anglers, the sponsors, and the community is of the utmost importance to PTF. Their vision is to create millions of positive,  extraordinary memories and excitement on and off the water.

Pro Tournament Fishing will use a variety of platforms including tournaments, multi-media formats, and creative marketing strategies to bring inspiration and innovation to every event. Their goal is to be a best-in-class tournament fishing organization focusing on conservation of marine resources while being the role model for tournament fishing.

It is their mission to restore ethical, best-in-class tournament fishing focused on sportsmanship, integrity, conservation, and environmental awareness. They will operate through multi-media and social networks while interactively maintaining high-quality visibility to meet the needs of their anglers, sponsors, members, and fans.
 
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Kent Hickman, Tournament Director at
863.286.5386 or email kent@profishingtournament.com

​
November 25, 2019
For Immediate Release
St. Bernard, LA

by RWS Staff

Torch Eyewear, a proud sponsor of the 2019 Redfish World Series, announces the Final Team selected that will be competing for the Title of 2019 Redfish World Champion!

Torch Eyewear may be a new name in the world of  competitive sports optics but the company was founded, and is being run by, a legend in the industry. Louis Wellen has been a mainstay in the arena of competitive sports eyewear for decades and now brings all those years of  experience into play with the development of the Torch brand and product line. Torch presents a spectacular selection of eyewear for the competitive angler with multiple lens and frame selections that offer varying levels of polarization so you will have the right lens for the conditions on the water every day! When the chips are down, every cast counts, and your vision on the water must be at its very best choose Torch and run with a winner.

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana  September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country, including several Legacy Teams from the past, will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

The 48th team to be revealed is:

Jacob Leininger/Jeff Rogers

Congratulations to Jacob and Jeff and welcome to the Top 48 list for the 2019 Redfish World Series.

The RWS selection process has been an extremely arduous one for our committee but every effort was made to make fair and unbiased selections.  As the process continued we found that some of the final teams were so closely ranked that only a point or two separated them. Other than the 48 teams selected and announced there are twelve excellent teams that are very closely ranked and will make up an Alternate List should spots come open as we move through the Official Invitation and Entry process.

Congratulations to all 48 teams selected. Now the process of issuing the Official Invitations will begin.

Over the next few weeks these 48 teams will have the opportunity to select a team captain, review the 2019 Participation Agreement, and either accept or turn down their invitation. After captain selection and review of the Participation Agreement, these teams will receive an email with instructions to sign the Participation Agreement as well as how to pay the entry fee and the deadline by which it must be paid. Any team spots that are vacated for any reason will be filled with invitations to a team from the Alternate List.  

Our field of sponsors continues to grow as well. More sponsor announcements coming soon.

The List of the first 48 2019 RWS teams is now complete!

1.           Kris Robert/Fred Peterman (Top Shelf Myrtle)
2.           Shane Pescay/Nicky Savoie
3.           Cole Starr/Brent Juarez
4.           Tadd Van deMark/Travis Tucker 
5.           Travis Land/T. Paul Dufrene
6.           Mark Sepe/Jeff Pope 
7.           Mike Tindal/Artie Price 
8.           Jamie Hough/Trent Brady
9.           Martin Simmons/Keith McBride
10.           Austin Angel/Lance Reynolds
11.           Mark Robinson/Tony Salinas
12.           Rick Murphy/Geoff Page 
13.           Barnie White/Chad Dufrene
14.           Fred Myers/Britt Ordes
15.           Barrett McMullen/Jay Cetodal
16.           Charlie Barton/Cody Barton
17.           Greg Watts/Bryan Watts 
18.           Todd McKellar/Bart Crader
19.           John Henninger/Chris Henninger
20.           David Christian/Ray Malone
21.           Joe Wortham/Randy Lane
22.           Ryan Rickard/Graham Taylor
23.           Joey Romero/Jesse Romero
24.           Chris Evans/Matt Stinnett
25.           Travis Hancock/Joseph Gumble 
26.           Jimmy Lloyd/Jeff Steckler
27.           Dwayne Eschete/Kevin Akin
28.           Derek Taylor/Brian Goude
29.           Marvie Benford/Rob Cowan
30.           Glenn Winningham/Jamie Pinter
31.           Kyle Potts/Cody Chivas
32.           Jason Prieto/Brian Visnovec
33.           Jason Dail/ Allen Jernigan
34.           Trevor Taylor/Steve Ward
35.           Chance Angel/Kevin Roberts
36.           Chris Logan/Jason White
37.           Bobby Weir/Matt Schoen
38.           Rennie Clark/Ashley Lowder
39.           Ron Hueston/Chris Hueston 
40.           Jeremy Heimes/Mickey Gibbs
41.           Bo Favre/Trey Fryfogle
42.           Ronnie Pitts/Chris Rosengarten 
43.           Mike Taylor/John Roberts 
44.           Bobby Gilbert /Shane Dubose
45.           Bobby Sullivan/Bo Sullivan
46.           Eddie Adams/Sean O’Connell
47.           Mike Frenette/Michael Frenette
48.           Jacob Leininger/Jeff Rogers

  Congratulations to all these teams and best of luck as we move forward to the Official Announcement period.



​

by Capt Mike Frenette​
 
  
For the most part hunting seasons are either over or winding down but does that mean that your weekends should be spent on the couch? Absolutely not, perfect time of the year to run your boat, play with your tackle, try different lures, and oh yeah by the way stretch your line on some tackle busting 30-40 pound (or larger), world class Redfish.

Years ago, Bull Reds were frowned upon as “trash fish” as they were and are still not the “ones” you want to keep to eat. Times are changing. There are many Louisiana Sportsman and women who do not judge the success of their trip by how many fish they bring back. Remember “back in the day” (how many times have you heard that saying?” when a trip was judged by how many ice chests were filled. This decided whether or not a fishing trip was successful.
 
With the tremendous loss of our largest resource that Louisiana has to offer, our wetlands, which as a result from hurricanes that have ravaged our coastline, sinking of land from miles and miles of canals dug by petroleum companies and estuaries that were heavily impacted “in a negative” sense by the largest man made disaster known to Louisiana in history, the BP oil spill, have all created question marks to what lay’s ahead to our fishery.
 
 
That being said, Louisiana anglers are extremely lucky as when it comes to catching saltwater species such as Redfish anglers can and do expect to catch Redfish twelve months of the year. Most other states do not come even close to the quality of Red fishing that affords anglers whom visit or reside in Louisiana, as a matter of fact Redfish especially the “Giants” are considered seasonal. In late winter there is one area of Louisiana that is considered “the” spot for large Bull Reds that being the Mississippi Delta, especially the Delta region from Empire south to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
 
February and the next couple months are considered a ‘stay home” month cause we usually relate this time period as windy, cold and even rainy days. Oh yeah that can be the truth but squeezed in between the “uglies” one can experience first class conditions and if your lucky you might experience an awesome weather day presenting great opportunities for Reds, especially the giants.
 
Where to Go
 
Unlimited, that’s about the best description that I can give, as there are many options as far as picking a spot or an area to fish. Take a look at any chart, map, Google earth, really doesn’t matter as you will see what I’m talking about. The delta region especially the areas in Plaquemines Parish from Empire south to the mouth of the river and this encompasses both sides of the river. From one side of the Delta to the other you will find numerous cuts, passes, ditches, areas that spin off the river and head to bays or “edges” of the gulf. Where these “cuts” enter the bays or edges of the gulf the water is always moving and as a rule, the higher the river, the more current you will find in the area of these “cuts”. Normally at this time of the year the river should be in the early stages of rising, so be looking for good currents in any of the cuts.
 
Because of the water movement at this time of the year these areas carry quite a bit of very small baitfish that the larger baitfish feed on and yes you guessed it, Redfish as well are searching out these bait fish. As the ole saying goes “Find the bait fish” and you will find the predators and as far as I’ m concerned Bull Reds are the predators of the delta.
 
Working the shorelines left and right of these cuts in waters 6’ or shallower is what you will target. Usually the closer you are to the cut, the deeper the waters will be and as you move away from the cut the shallower it becomes.
 
What to Use
 
Certainly you can pick a spot and cast some dead shrimp or cut mullet next to the shore line and yes you will probably catch a couple of giants, but personally that’s not my style.

Preferring artificial baits for many reasons but the most important is that you can cover so much more area than you ever will when fishing with natural bait. This is the time of the year that you will find the giant Reds working very slow along the bottom in search for crabs, mullet, pogy, or for that matter they are not picky during the colder months. You can almost bet they will eat anything in its way, especially if it’s moving slowly. Showing how close to the bottom they are working, don’t be surprised when you catch your beast that on its stomach you will find traces of mud
 
Couple of baits that I really like to use during the winter: Soft plastics and crank baits are my “go to” baits and you can bet my Plano Stow Away Utility Boxes will be stuffed with them. Reason why, in shallow water both can be worked slowly.
 
 As stated earlier, you are most likely to be fishing in 6’ of water or less and using crank baits that are designed for deep water such as Strike King’s 6 XD’s and 10 XD’s are deadly.
 
For the soft plastics consider Strike Kings Glass Minnow connected to a 3/8 oz. jig head. Certainly these are not the only baits that will work but over the years during this time of the year they have proven to create success.
 
Technique
 
First of all working the shore line left or right from the cuts with your trolling motor really gives the angler an advantage as during this time of the year the giant reds or even the smaller ones for that matter are not schooled up in huge schools as you might find in the early fall but finding small packs roaming the bank is quite normal. Using a trolling motor at very slow speeds allows a stealthy stalk along the shoreline. Usually working the first 100 yards in either direction are considered the “target zones”. When working left or right from the cuts position your boat so that you are going with the wind as this will make it easier for presentation of your baits.
 
Pay extreme attention at this time of the year. It might be just the slightest hint that action is close by.  A small swirl, a tiny flip from a bait fish, or if your lucky a “push” from the potential target, will alert you to the possible presence of the giants. At this time of the year heavy activity of baitfish is not likely so be alert. When you see the first sign of any activity, power pole down and work every inch along the bank.  Even if you do not see signs of baitfish, deploy your power pole about every 100 feet so that you can work the area nice and slow.
 
 
It would not surprise me if by now your wondering why the suggestion to use deep diving crank baits in water 6’ or less. As stated previously this is usually the time of the year when the river waters are usually on the rise and usually the water temperature is cooler. Not unusual to have surface temperatures in the low 50’s or even cooler and as also stated earlier the giant Reds are moving much slower than they would during the warmer months there for being able to work your baits slowly again is priority.
 
Working deep diving crank baits slowly in shallow water is very effective as the crank bait churns up the bottom, leaving a “mud trail”. It truly is amazing how slow you can work these baits, wobbling and chugging the bottom at the same time. All this commotion sends off tremendous vibrations that the Reds pick up on their lateral lines.
 
Now when it comes to the soft plastics and jig head, again SLOW is the key here.  Working the shoreline, cast close to the shore and let the bait fall to the bottom, slowly drag the bait on the bottom for about three feet, tighten up with your reel then raise your rod tip up just slightly so that the bait comes off the bottom just for a second. Drop your rod tip and continue this process all the way back to the boat.  As well, intermittently stop as you are retrieving along the bottom creating what’s called a “wounded technique”.  This bait stirs the bottom as well but in a moderate sense compared to crank baits. That is why the original H&H Cocahoe minnow and the Rage shrimp work well as both have great action when barely moving creating strikes during cool and cold weather conditions. Remember it’s all about slow.
 
Tackle
 
Rods such as medium to medium/heavy action seem to be popular when anglers are pursuing the giants. Sense we are targeting larger Reds you might need a little extra muscle on the strike.  A little stiffer rod may help you in turning the beast, keeping the Red from heading into or rubbing along the canes. If you feel comfortable using light action rods, have at it cause as far as I’m concerned when it comes to fishing, the lighter the equipment the more fun to be had. 7’ in length for the rod is perfect for a couple of reasons: allow you to make long casts and still maintain accuracy.

As far as the reels, that really is a matter of preference. Spinning or bait casters have and always will be debatable. Does it matter? No. I’m a bait caster type of guy but the guy next to me might prefer spin casting.  When your casting down the bank, basically in open water, both styles work.
 
Over the years using braided style lines have become extremely popular and when chasing the giants it becomes quite apparent that braided line either 20 or 30 pound test will truly give an angler “the edge”. During the colder months “the bite” might be very subtle and braided line is so sensitive that you will feel the slightest nudge on your bait.
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Usually when casting soft plastics attaching about an 18”-24” of  20 pound-45 pound test fluorocarbon line to the braid taking the “stiffness” out of the braid, making the bait (soft plastic) look more realistic. When it comes to the crank baits, keep it simple, tie directly to the braid. If you haven’t tried Vicious Braid or Vicious Fluorocarbon give it a try, might soon become your favorite.
 
Tips

• Mid Day.
• Incoming Tides
• Muddy Bottoms
• Check line for abrasions after each fish
• Always net fish head first
• Proper tools on boat
• Take time when releasing 

 
 
No reason to head out on cold days at the crack of dawn. During the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest usually is when the bite is on especially if the tide is in coming
 
As the tide comes in giant Reds will begin working the shoreline as they usually stage from the deeper waters to the shallow waters with in coming tides.
 
If at all possible, look for muddy bottoms vs. sandy bottoms as mud bottoms gather and retain heat from the sun better than sandy bottoms.
 
Always check for abrasions after each battle, as it is very easy for the line to become nicked due to the bony make up and sharp gill plates of the Redfish.
 
Having a good strong net such as Frabill is an important factor. Don’t chase the fish with your net. Simply wait for the right time to net your fish. Allow the giant Red to get close to the boat, position yourself and the net so that the Red is approaching with its head first. Get the head of the Red in the net first. Turn the handle of the net perpendicular to the water and then lift the Red in the boat. Its Ok if the tail is hanging out of the net, he’s not going anywhere.
 
Making sure you have pliers and proper hook removal tools are essential as the mouth of these big Reds are extremely bony. Having proper tools will prevent damage to the Red when the hook is being removed.
 
Take a couple of pictures then lets release it, as these giants are not only old but are our breeding stock. Studies have shown that Redfish usually do not reproduce until the 7th year and that a 35-40 pound giant can be 20-25 years of age, if not older.
 
Don’t just toss the Red back in. Most of the time these giants have exerted themselves during the fight and a little thanks and assistance might be required. Cradle the Red, lower into the water then hold the fish by its tail. Some times they will swim right off but others might take a few minutes to rest. When they are ready, they will simply swim out of your hand.
 
It’s a great feeling to battle these giants on light tackle then watch them swim away to fight another day.
 
Having a successful trip isn’t always about “limiting out”
   
 
Capt. Mike Frenette
Redfish Lodge of Louisiana
venicefishing.net 

November 15, 2019
For Immediate Release
St. Bernard, LA

T-H MARINE , a proud sponsor of the 2019 Redfish World Series announces the next four teams that will be competing for the Title of Redfish World Champion!

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana  September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country, including several Legacy Teams from the past, will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

Our field of sponsors continues to grow as well. More sponsor announcements coming soon.

T-H MARINE - Where anything and everything for your boating needs can be found. Visit their site - https://thmarinesupplies.com/ - thank 'em for helping to make the Redfish World Series a truly awesome event, and see what the buzz is all about with their product lines. T-H Marine Supplies is truly a one-stop-shop for anything on the water. If it goes on or in a boat these guys have it!

Forty Seven of the 48 teams have now been announced! There is only ONE team to go. The selection has been made and the Final Announcement will come very soon.

The excitement to see which new  teams have been added and who the Final Team will be is growing daily. As we approach the end of the selection/announcement process anglers, fans, family, and sponsors across the country have now realized that these are the most coveted invitations in the history of competitive redfishing and are holding their breath hoping that their favorite team will be chosen.

The following Four teams join the first 43 in their pursuit of the title of Redfish World Champion:  
​

1. Bobby Gilbert / Shane Dubose
2. Bobby Sullivan / Bo Sullivan
3. Eddie Adams / Sean O’Connell
4. Mike Frenette / Michael Frenette     

Congratulations to these teams and best of luck as we move forward to the Final Announcement coming soon.

Don’t see your favorite team yet? There's Only One More Team To Go!

​Check back daily so you don’t miss the excitement of the Final Announcement and complete list. 

Baseball – from the earliest days of the sport to today there have been many advancements. The balls are better, the bats more robust, the gloves and other equipment have been upgraded many, many times. But one thing has remained constant – they still throw a ball and an opponent tries to hit it. The work, the skill, the effort, the desire, and the drive required to produce results at a championship level remain the same.

Football – tons of advances in equipment, workout regimen, dietary regimen, and strategies. But one thing remains the same – advance the ball beyond the opponent’s goal line by throwing and catching or running with the ball. The work, the skill, the effort, the desire, and the drive required to produce results at a championship level remain the same.

Golf – From hickory sticks to metallurgical wonders of alloy, golf equipment has evolved tremendously over the decades. But the game has remained constant - completion of a series of designated holes by striking a ball in such an incredibly accurate manner that one is able to complete the series of holes in fewer strokes than the opponents. The work, the skill, the effort, the desire, and the drive required to produce results at a championship level remain the same.

Basketball – by now you get the picture. The work, the skill, the effort, the desire, and the drive required to produce results at a championship level remain the same.

Every sport started out as a friendly method of competition. It was for bragging rights mostly. It was just to see who could master the skills required to perform better than others. And, over time, every sport evolved from that out-in-the-street backyard mentality to a tier of competitions led by those that were the very best at their sport.

It is notable that in every professional sport there has been a limit to the changes allowed by the groups of leaders that oversee the integrity of their sport. These are the people that founded and perfected the professional level of every competitive sport. The common thread among them is a deep and abiding love for, and belief in, their chosen sport.

These are the men and women who loved and cherished their sport above their own personal gain and wanted to be certain that the integrity, the heart, the very foundation, of their sport remained unchanged. They wanted to ensure that performing professionally in any sport became defined by the work ethic, skill, sacrifice, and desire that it takes to get there and stay there.

This is true in fishing as well because not every change in equipment, technique, or method is a good thing for the truth and integrity of the sport.

Fishing is as old as humankind itself. It is man versus fish. Pretty simple really – catch a fish, eat a fish. Then someone challenged someone else with the idea of catching more or bigger fish than the other person. From this very first competition, the idea and concept of organized competition took root and grew.

Methods and techniques and equipment changes flourished. Mason jar tournaments evolved for weekend fun and some of these anglers began to become known for their prowess and expertise in finding and catching fish. They used their knowledge from years of study and hundreds upon hundreds of hours on the water learning about the life and times of their prey. Again and again they were the victors in these competitions and it was due to their skill, intelligence, work ethic, and love of the “pureness” of their sport.

Many different fishing organizations have evolved from that first contest eons ago. All these organizations have at their very core an inviolate principle of sportsmanship. They deny their competitors the use of equipment or technique that gives an unfair advantage to the competitor. It doesn’t matter if that equipment or technique is available to everyone. It becomes a matter of principle,   of sportsmanship, and of honesty in competition. Utilizing a means that detracts from the skill level, work, effort, and drive required to compete at a championship level is simply not allowed in any other sport nor should it be allowed in competitive angling.

Now let’s talk about fishing at a championship level – particularly redfishing. Same story as the other sports. Equipment has changed, techniques have changed, competition has intensified, rewards are greater – and perhaps in no other sport have the changes been as dramatic. Boats, rods, reels, electronics, navigational aids, motors, lures, livewells – every single aspect of competitive angling has changed and changed dramatically.

B.A.S.S., the largest and most well-known fishing organization in the world, has enacted rules that disallow certain techniques that give an angler an unfair advantage over the fish as well as the other anglers. There is zero tolerance for an elevated platform of any kind and of any height. There is zero tolerance for those that would tarnish the sport by competing in an unsportsmanlike manner. There is enforcement of the rules evenly and fairly no matter the transgressor.

Then there is competitive redfishing.

A sport that, 20 years later, is still trapped and writhing in its infancy. A sport still fragmented and lacking in serious leadership and direction. A sport that has witnessed all the same changes in equipment and technique but without supervision, leadership, or direction. A sport that is still locked in the “out-in-the-street backyard” stages. In short, there is no comprehensive authority to turn to for definition of the sport as a sport. A fishing method or technique that is tremendously advantageous and blurs the line of work ethic, knowledge, and skill should not be allowed on the field of play.

But that is exactly what is happening with the equipment and technique of “burning”.

Any angler of moderate skill given the resources to be able to utilize the technique of running a boat on plane in shallow waters, around every shoreline, and across large shallow flats will be able to find fish and compete on the same level as a veteran angler who has honed his or her skills over years and years of tireless study and effort. It is not truth in action because it artificially transcends and defeats multiple levels of competence and skill. Burning is merely an easy shortcut that short-circuits and eliminates what should be the inherent advantages of knowledge, skill, hard work, and personal drive.
​
Simply put, this technique detracts from the skill level required to compete at the highest level. It detracts from the merit, the honesty, and the truth of the sport. Until every redfish tour, trail, and competition in this country bans the use of this technique we will not, we simply cannot, build the sport of competitive redfishing to the level it deserves. Because, as long as this technique is allowed, the separation between anglers of moderate skill and those at the expert level will remain so blurred that a distinction between the two is impossible and the sport of competitive redfishing will forever be denied the growth to attain professional status.

November 09, 2019
For Immediate Release
St. Bernard, LA

CLUTCH FISHING joins the 2019 Redfish World Series and is proud to announce the next three teams that will be competing for the Title of Redfish World Champion.

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana  September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country, including several Legacy Teams from the past, will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

Our field of sponsors continues to grow as well.

This week we welcome Clutch Fishing. Visit their site - https://clutchfishing.com/ - thank 'em for helping to make the Redfish World Series a truly awesome event, and see what the buzz is all about with their product lines!

Forty Three of the 48 teams have now been announced! There are only five teams to go. The selections have been made and the announcements will continue weekly.

The excitement to see which teams are joining this select group is growing daily. As we approach the end of the selection/announcement  process anglers, fans, family, and sponsors across the country are holding their breath hoping that their favorite team will be chosen.

The following three teams join the first 40 in their pursuit of the title of Redfish World Champion:  

1. Bo Favre/Trey Fryfogle
2. Ronnie Pitts/Chris Rosengarten
3. Mike Taylor/John Roberts      

Congratulations to these teams and best of luck as we move forward with additional announcements coming weekly.

Don’t see your favorite team yet? There's still Five more to go!

​Check back daily so you don’t miss the excitement of the upcoming announcements.

by RWS Staff

The Past: It’s a done deal. A record of events. You can see it, touch it, and know what it is.

1960 – Looking back on a simpler time in this country when the average cost of a new house was $12,700, average rent was $98, Gasoline was 25 cents a gallon, a loaf of bread was 20 cents, and you could get a new car for $2600. You could even take a selfie but it was a little more cumbersome with the Polaroid Land Camera and was considered pretty darned expensive at about $93.

And, in the sleepy little burb of Lakeland, Florida Sylvia Watts gave birth to twin boys – Greg Duward and Bryan Christopher.

2018 – Today the average cost of a new house - $369,400, average rent $2000, gasoline $2.80, loaf of bread $2.50, new car $36,270. And a selfie? That’s about $400 on the low end to $1500 at the top.

And, in the dark recesses of one man’s mind (yes, it was Gritter) an idea was born. An idea that would grow into a very special event. An event that will expose, celebrate, and nurture the competitive redfishing industry by showcasing the best redfish anglers in the country. These are the teams that consistently perform at a very high level and, due to their constant presence in the media, are the most influential group of redfish anglers in the world. These are the teams that will make up the 2019 Redfish World Series www.facebook.com/RedfishWorldSeries/

The Future: it’s a funny thing. It is not recorded because it’s not here yet. You can’t see it. You can’t touch it. You don’t have any idea what it contains. But…..we are all flying headlong into it.

Back in 1960 no one knew that home prices, rent, gasoline, food, and photos were going to become so expensive. No one knew that a World Series would come to mean something other than baseball. And, no one knew that these two infants - these Watts boys - would go on to become a couple of the most celebrated outdoorsmen and anglers of their time.

They grew up around water. They waded. They swam. They watched. They fished. They studied.

The water, the salt, the air, the pure joy of being outdoors soon intermingled with their blood and they became one with the environment. They followed, they observed, and they learned all about the creatures of the water, their habitat, and their habits. They became the quintessential hunters of the watery world they loved so well.

Then, came the competitions.

In their late teens and early twenties, they stalked the local bass competitions and became feared opponents. In the mid-1990’s they got interested in saltwater competition. They fished competitively for reds, snook, and trout with Bryan winning the SFFA Grand Champion title on the fly rod in 1997. In 2000 they fished the inaugural Herman Lucerne event in Flamingo, FL chasing six different species over two days. They won that event. And, in 2001, they backed it up with another victory in the same event. To this day they are the only team to win successive titles in that event.

The bit was in their teeth now and there was no turning back.

In 2000 the IFA came along and began their redfish series. The Watts boys were there too. Over the next several years they notched back to back wins, Championship Titles, Team of the Year, and were a constant and persistent force to be reckoned with. Their pervasive success continued with the ESPN Redfish Cup where they were the 2003 inaugural Port Aransas Cup Champions followed by a Championship win in Venice, LA and, subsequently, Team of the Year honors.

Additionally, they have won Team of the Year on the FLW redfish tour, have an uncountable number of Top Ten finishes, and may be the only team to hold Team of the Year honors on all three of those tours.

Not only have they been incredibly consistent with their competitive prowess, but they have contributed widely to the advancement of the sport of competitive redfishing. Their very notoriety brought much interest and involvement by anglers and industries to the sport. They helped make competitive redfishing a topic of general conversation thereby increasing its visibility and popularity.

Current Day: The Watts brothers are much more sedate now and don’t get on the water competitively as much as they have in days past. This is mostly because their days and weeks are consumed traveling and building the brand for one of the finest fishing products in the world – Power Pole! www.power-pole.com/

Oh, they still travel to competitions regularly. But now they are there as Power Pole company support instead of as competitors. This makes the other competitors happy on both accounts.

It is for good reason that these guys are known around the industry as the Godfathers of competitive redfishing. It is also for good reason that they are the first Legacy team invited to compete in the 2019 Redfish World Series in St. Bernard parish Louisiana www.sbpg.net

It remains to be seen if their competitive juices, their desire to win, their innate talents can be re-ignited, stoked to a high intensity, and brought once more to the pinnacle of victory in the fiery crucible of competition just one… more… time.

November 04, 2019
For Immediate Release
Chalmette, LA

ENGEL COOLERS joins the 2019 Redfish World Series and is proud to announce the next four teams that will be competing for the Title of World Champion.

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country, including several Legacy Teams from the past, will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

Our field of sponsors continues to grow as well.

This week we welcome Engel Coolers. Visit their site - www.engelcoolers.com - thank 'em for helping to make the Redfish World Series a truly awesome event, and see what the buzz is all about with their product lines!

Forty of the 48 teams have now been announced!

The excitement to see which teams are joining this select group is growing daily. Fans, family, and sponsors across the country are holding their breath hoping that their favorite team will be chosen.

The following four teams join the first 36 in their pursuit of the title of Redfish World Champion:  

1. Bobby Weir/Matt Schoen
2. Rennie Clark/Ashley Lowder
3. Ron Hueston/Chris Hueston
4. Jeremy Heimes/Mickey Gibbs

Congratulations to these teams and best of luck as we move forward with additional announcements coming weekly.

Don’t see your favorite team yet?

​Check back daily so you don’t miss the excitement of the upcoming announcements.

(36 now confirmed – Just 12 teams to go!)

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country, including several Legacy Teams from the past, will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

Our field of sponsors continues to grow as well.

This week we welcome T-H Marine and Torch Eyewear. Visit their sites, thank 'em for helping to make the Redfish World Series a truly awesome event, and see what the buzz is all about with their product lines!, 

Thirty-three of the 48 teams have already been announced and the excitement to see which teams are joining this select group is growing daily. Fans, family, and sponsors across the country are holding their breath hoping that their favorite team will be chosen.

The following three teams join the first 33 in their pursuit of the title of Redfish World Champion:

1. Trevor Taylor/Steve Ward
2. Chance Angel/Kevin Roberts
3. Chris Logan/Jason White

 
Congratulations to these teams and best of luck as we move forward with additional announcements coming weekly.
Don’t see your favorite team yet? Check back daily so you don’t miss the excitement of the upcoming announcements.

October 23, 2018 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Chalmette, LA

Redfish World Series Announces Four More Teams

(33 now confirmed – 15 more coming soon)

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

Twenty nine of the 48 teams have already been announced and the excitement to see which teams are joining this select group is growing daily. Fans, family, and sponsors across the country are holding their breath hoping that their favorite team will be chosen.

The following four teams join the first 29 in their pursuit of the title of Redfish World Champion:

1. Glenn Winningham/Jamie Pinter
2. Kyle Potts/Cody Chivas
3. Jason Prieto/Brian Visnovec
4. Jason Dail/ Allen Jernigan

 
Congratulations to these teams and best of luck as we move forward with additional announcements coming weekly.
Don’t see your favorite team yet? Check back daily so you don’t miss the excitement of the upcoming announcements.

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Redfish World Series Announces Four More Teams 

St. Bernard Parish, LA - October 18, 2018 


Twenty Nine teams are now confirmed for the inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin”. This World Class event will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana in September 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the World Champions.

Twenty five of the 48 teams have already been announced and the excitement to see which teams are joining this select group is growing daily. Fans, family, and sponsors across the country are holding their breath hoping that their favorite team will be chosen.

The following four teams join the first 25 in their pursuit of the title of World Champion:

1. Jimmy Lloyd/Jeff Steckler
2. Dwayne Eschete/Kevin Akin
3. Derek Taylor/Brian Goude
4. Marvie Benford/Rob Cowan

 
Congratulations to these teams and best of luck as we move forward with additional announcements coming weekly.

Don’t see your favorite team yet? Check back daily so you don’t miss the excitement of the upcoming announcements.

by Gritter Griffin

​​​ 
The Redfish World Series is the ONLY redfish competition event in the world that brings together, by invitation only, the nation’s top redfish anglers for a fierce four-day competition to determine a true - Redfish World Champion
 
The first ever World Championship competition will be held September 26-29, 2019 in the world-renowned capitol of redfish - St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana.
 
Redfish World Series, LLC has reached a ten-year commitment with St. Bernard Parish to host this event. RWS, LLC is also working with the parish government to create a Redfish Festival specifically for the week of, and culminating in, the Redfish World Series.
 
Similar festivals and events in the parish held in the same location over the past several years have attracted 90,000 to 120,000 attendees per event. This will be the biggest and most promoted event in parish history.
 
The Redfish World Series is the most prestigious and unique redfishing event ever held. Envisioned, designed, developed, and produced specifically to showcase the premier redfish angling talent in the world along with the top tier of the industry in product design and function, the Redfish World Series is the new standard in competitive redfishing and promotion.
 
Only 48 of the highest performing redfish teams in the country will be invited to compete in this annual event. They will be selected from across the spectrum of redfish competition tours and trails from North Carolina to Texas and every coastal area in between. These are the most consistently and highest performing teams from the Inshore Fishing Association, Rudy’s Pro Redfish Series, Florida Pro Redfish Series, Elite Redfish Series, Southern Redfish Cup Series, and America’s Redfish Cup.
 
The RWS is also building fan and participation base for all these tours by designating specific events on each tour (beginning in 2019) that are immediate qualifiers for the following year’s World Championship. There are also invitees from a special cadre of veteran anglers that have been a part of the history, legacy, and growth of redfish competition.
 
The anticipation of the release of the list of invitees for the first ever World Championship has every aspect of Social Media buzzing. There has never been a field of anglers with this scale of talent, competing in this type venue, for a goal of this magnitude. The Redfish World Series is setting an unparalleled precedent for numbers of impressions and sustained interest.

​                                                                                              First 24 Teams 2019

Only 48 teams will be invited to participate in the inaugural Redfish World Series taking place in St Bernard Parish Louisiana September 26-29, 2019. The following list is the first half of the field in random order.

There is no preference, weight, or ranking assigned to the order of the list nor is there any bearing on being on the first list released versus the second. All the teams on this list have confirmed that they will be participating in the 2019 Redfish World Series.

If you know some of these team members send them a congratulations note because these are the first teams that are going to have the opportunity to win the most prestigious tournament in competitive redfish history.

The Champions of the Redfish World Series will receive an exclusive bronze redfish sculpture with a value in excess of $5000 each, a championship ring valued at $1500 each, and a check for a guaranteed $50,000 in cash! Their names will be engraved on a permanent plaque on yet another exclusive redfish sculpture that will be maintained in the St. Bernard Parish government office building lobby.

There is only one first of anything and one of these 24 teams may very well be the first ever legitimate World Champions of competitive redfishing! 

​Here are your first 24 teams:

                                                                                 Redfish World Series Format - 2019

Day 0 – Wednesday - Off the Water Day – no competitors or any of their equipment allowed on the water for any reason except repairs or maintenance with prior approval and accompanied by RWS staff or designee. There will be a White Tablecloth Captains Meeting early that evening and there may be “required attendance” events during the day as well.

Day 1 – Thursday – All teams. Random order blastoff. Bag Limit: Two (2) slot redfish.

Day 2 – Friday – All teams. Reverse order blastoff. Bag Limit: Three (3) slot redfish.

• At the completion of Day 2 the Top 12 teams will retain their two-day weight and will advance to a Day 3 & 4 Gold Division to compete for the title of Redfish World Champion. In the Gold Division the weight from days 1 & 2 are carried over and the final standing in the event is determined by the total cumulative weight from all four (4) days of competition.

 

• The remaining 36 teams will discard their Day 1 & 2 weights and enter a Silver Division where they will compete in a one day shootout on Day 3 (ONLY Day 3 weight counts) for additional cash and prizes. The Top 5 teams in this division will receive a cash prize and ALL remaining teams in this division that complete the Day 3 shootout by weighing at least one fish that day will be awarded a very nice prize package by random draw.

 

• Bubble Team – In addition to moving to the Silver Division, the Team that finishes in 13th place after Day 1 & 2 will receive a “Bubble Team” cash award plus an additional prize (TBD) for each member of the team.

Day 3 – Saturday

• Gold Division Teams – Blastoff in order of current standing. Bag Limit: Four (4) slot redfish. The weight continues to accumulate.

 

• Silver Division Teams – Blastoff in random order. Bag Limit: Three (3) redfish – One fish under 27 inches and two fish up to 28 inches. Total weight of the three redfish bag determines final ranking in the Silver Division.

 
​Day 4 – Sunday

• Gold Division Teams - Blastoff by order of current standing. Bag Limit: Five (5) slot redfish. The final ranking of the Gold Division is determined by the cumulative weight of All Four Days of competition. The winner of this division will be crowned as the 2019 Redfish World Champions. 

More Info:

• Entry $2500 – Deadline Feb 28, 2019. Teams not paid by deadline will forfeit invite.
• Entry fees are non-refundable but are transferable (only in specific circumstances)
• Teams are free to use the Redfish World Series logo and name to promote their invitation to their sponsors, fans, and families
• Team partners are permanent after midnight May31, 2019 (except in extraordinary circumstance)
• Captains Meeting Wednesday September 25, 2019 St Bernard Civic Center
• After all 48 invitations have been issued, accepted and paid - Complete Rules will follow
• “Burning” is absolutely prohibited from September 21-29, 2019, will definitely be included on the polygraph, and is grounds for immediate disqualification. This will be discussed further at a later date.

by Gritter Griffin

Most of the content of this Part 1 comes from Dr. Franklin’s book but it is the message of destruction that is so vitally important. We are rapidly killing off an entire level of the food chain and when a gap like that occurs in a system so perfectly balanced, a widespread ecological disaster will certainly follow.

Recreational and commercial fishermen know menhaden (pogies) are the best bait for almost all carnivores, but their numbers have been in serious decline since the mid-1800s.

You may know menhaden by a different name — “pogies” — or you may have never heard of them at all. Pogies are small, bony, oily fish that many people will never encounter at the grocery store. Pogies are also a keystone species in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic seaboard and when they disappear, bad things start to happen: The ocean becomes murky, and algae blooms spread unchecked. Menhaden are filter feeders, the janitors of the Atlantic — they have always been around to clean up the mess.

And now they’re not.

H. Bruce Franklin, author of “The Most Important Fish in the Sea” notes that - “You won’t see menhaden in the fish market or supermarket seafood section but they are present in the flesh of other fish lying there in the ice.”

“Northern New England was the scene of the largest menhaden fishery. During fall migration menhaden formed a school body with the vanguard reaching Cape Cod when the rear guard had not left Maine, 40 miles wide,” Franklin said.

But today the numbers of adult fish are 13 percent of what they once were. In 1889, utilizing rather primitive methods, Rhode Island harvested 112 million pounds of menhaden. Three years ago the total was 10 million.

Menhaden, Franklin said, are being decimated by a single company; Omega Protein, ground down (reduced) into oil and meal to be processed into hog and chicken feed, linoleum, cosmetics, lubricants, insecticide, paints, soap, and a multitude of other uses.

“None of the uses of menhaden are necessary. The only reason this industry exists is because it’s a little cheaper than the alternatives,” commented Franklin.

Omega Protein, originally the Zapata Corporation, was co-founded in 1953, Franklin noted with relish, by George H.W. Bush.
“They’re converting billions of menhaden into industrial commodities,” Franklin said. “From 1860 to the present catching menhaden has been this nation’s largest fishery. Since the end of the Civil War more menhaden have been caught by weight and by number than all other fin fisheries put together.”

One thousand fish can yield 18 gallons of oil.

They’re fished fish purse seines. Spotter planes locate the school and it is soon surrounded and swallowed.

“Each adult fish is only a pound but there are so many in the net it may now weigh as much as a blue whale,” Franklin said.

Native Americans planted menhaden with corn and taught the colonists to plow them into their fields as fertilizer – which they did - by the millions!

“They made larger scale agriculture possible,” Franklin ventured.

Menhaden are filter feeders, they lack teeth, and churn through clouds of plankton in Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf Coast, and other estuaries.

“Each adult fish can filter four gallons of water a minute,” noted Franklin. “Turn on any faucet or hose and try to get four gallons a minute out of it - you cannot.”

In the mid 1800′s whaling ports were converted into menhaden ports. More than 100 processing factories were built. Over three hundred vessels were based in Maine alone.

“In 1879 Maine was the first state to ban the menhaden reduction industry from their waters,” Franklin noted. ”“But it was too late. The menhaden were gone.”

Only intermittently have they returned to waters north of Cape Cod, virtually disappearing from 1993-2004. Over time 11 other states followed the ban and the industry migrated down the coast landing in Virginia. People were recognizing their importance as food for bigger edible fish.
“By forcing people to rethink the predator-prey relationship menhaden demanded a revolution in human thought,” Franklin said.

But, after WWII the industry drafted surplus warships into the fight.

“The weapons of war could now be hurled at huge offshore schools that had withstood three generations of efforts,” declared Franklin.
The schools shrank in size as fish were harvested far offshore in their spawning grounds.

“As the menhaden population crashed, smaller companies went bankrupt,” Franklin noted, and soon, it was Omega Protein that was left with their fleet of 61 ships and 31 planes.

As a note of comparison, “By the 1930s the bay’s oyster population was one percent of what it was in the 1890s and today menhaden are headed for the same fate,” Franklin said.

The bay’s catch for menhaden has been capped at 109,000 metric tons but the 2007 haul was just half that.
“That’s a true crash and portends a catastrophe for the whole coast,” Franklin said.

The New Jersey population has since rebounded but the fleet followed them north. Franklin would like to prevent that.
“There is a bill in Congress to shut the menhaden fishery in federal waters,” reported Franklin. “Given a chance this wonderfully fecund fish could come back.”
​
“The time has come, actually it came in 1882, for our government to get into the act,” he concluded.
​
More to come,  specifically about the Gulf Coast pogey fishery, in Part 2.

by Chris Christian

If there’s an easier place to catch reds in the fall, it would have to be a hatchery.

Every time I launch at Cedar Key during the fall, I expect to see it. I don’t always, but when I do it still amazes me.

Today I found what I was looking for not three miles from the ramp: a river of bronze flowing steadily across a crystalline, 4-foot-deep grassflat. The school of reds was at least 30 feet wide, 100 feet long and they were packed tight together. Sight fishing doesn’t get much easier than that.

What makes scenes like this so common in this corner of Florida? Geography seems to play a big role. Cedar Key differs in this respect from other fishing holes in the Big Bend. It’s basically a huge point jutting from the shallow backwaters to the Gulf of Mexico. In some places, not even 2,000 yards separates 15-foot-plus Gulf water from a 2-foot flat. You don’t find that kind of terrain in many areas of the Big Bend, and it’s not much different than a long point on a freshwater lake. That makes it a magnet for a variety of gamefish species much of the year.

October is my favorite time to visit Cedar Key. It’s when redfish gang up in large schools, often within five miles of the ramp. Once those reds settle in, they don’t leave the immediate area. They don’t have to.

The entire Cedar Key area inside Seahorse Key is nothing more than one big grassflat, dotted with a few small keys, and interspersed with deeper holes and a maze of channels. On rising water, reds follow baitfish up onto the flats or to the oyster and spartina grass edges of the keys, but they don’t have to leave when the tide bottoms out. They just drop back to the nearest pothole or channel where they await the next flood tide.

Anglers who time their arrival around the last two hours of the flood and the first two hours of the ebb tide will find reds shallow. They’ll be roaming right up to the grass lines and oyster mounds on many of the smaller keys, with Rattlesnake, Snake (the west side is best) and Deadman’s Keys, as well as the inside of McCrary Cove, being top spots to try.

You don’t normally find large schools on these shorelines—it’s mostly singles and smaller pods—but there can be plenty of them. If it’s early and late in the day (or overcast) a topwater plug is often my first choice. Watching a 30-inch red assault a surface bait is worth the price of admission, and you also have an excellent chance of taking some big trout, which will be right up on the grasslines with the reds.

Plastic-tail jigs are another top choice, with a combo of red/chartreuse being a proven producer. So, too, are the newer saltwater spinnerbaits, particularly ones with a safety-pin gold spinner over a soft-plastic jig. If the water is high and the fish are in the spartina, spinnerbaits are more weedless than a jig, and reds eat them just as well.

A gold Johnson spoon is also effective, but if you’re working around oyster bars you can leave a lot of them on the bottom. A better bet over shell is a 1⁄2-ounce floating gold Rat-L-Trap. Veteran guide Jimmy Keith introduced me to this lure a decade ago and it has become a favorite of mine for reds around shallow oysters. This lure will run about two feet deep on a steady retrieve and has the same redfish-mesmerizing characteristics as the spoon, but it floats at rest. When oysters attack you can just throw some slack in the line and it will float free. Over extremely shallow oyster you can dig it down to just tick the top with a stop and go retrieve, and the reds love it.

Pounding the banks is a good way to spend the top hours of the tide, especially during dim light periods, but you’ll be fishing for smaller groups of fish. If you want to stay up to your belt buckle in reds, you need to find the large roaming schools. The top spot for that is the big grassflat between the east side of Seahorse Key and the west side of Deadman’s Key.

This is a big area, and during the 20 years I’ve been fishing it I seldom see more than a couple of boats out in the middle of it; most anglers stick around the shallows on Deadman or Seahorse Keys. But, that open flat can hold some massive schools of reds.

Finding them can take a bit of time. If you’re running a flats skiff with a poling platform and a trolling motor on the bow, you’ve got the most efficient means to do it, since the trolling motor can cover a lot of water while the angler on the poling platform has excellent visibility. If you don’t see the big bronze flash of a couple hundred reds, then the “push” or the feeding splashes that school will make in shallow water should show.

Once you find a school, you can stay with them for awhile. If you don’t charge into them, they’re going to continue to wander and feed. You can pick fish off the edges, and then go back to the school. If you do spook them, stick around the area, because they usually regroup fairly close to where they spooked.

One of my favorite rigs in this situation is a rattling cork with an 18-inch leader sporting a 1⁄4-ounce plastic-tail jig. I can toss this a long way on a 7-foot spinning rod, lay it right in front of the school, and when they get to it, a couple of twitches virtually guarantees a hookup. If I’m really feeling sporty I’ll trail a 1⁄16-ounce jig behind a topwater plug. They’ll hit one or the other, and sometimes both, which can makes things real interesting.

They’ll also whack jigs, spoons, topwater plugs, jerkbaits or just about anything else you’d care to throw. Reds stacked that tightly are very competitive.

Anglers who opt for a fly rod don’t always have it that easy. If you approach fish cautiously you’ll earn a hookup, but the resulting close-range commotion may spook the school enough that it’ll take a long time for them to regroup.

Veteran guide Jim Dupre found a solution to this problem. As he showed me over a decade ago, you don’t have to bring your angler to the school—you can just pull a pod of redfish off of the school and bring them to your angler.

The procedure was simple: Take a 7-foot spinning rod spooled with light line (6- or 8-pound mono, or an even smaller diameter in
braid), add a 1⁄2-ounce gold spoon without a hook, and toss it from a distance at any school of reds sighted. Reel the spoon at a smooth and steady pace, keeping it within a foot or so of the surface, and you can count on some reds trying to kill it. Since the spoon has no hook, about all they can do is bang at it—but they will follow it.

You might have only three or four fish follow the spoon teaser, or maybe a dozen. Either way, every one of them is trying to kill that spoon and the angler on the “teasing rod” will feel every bump and bang.

Keep the spoon within a foot or so of the surface so you can see the fish clearly. When that pod of fish gets within range of the fly rodder, just drop the rodtip, yank hard, and send the spoon flying over the boat.

The end result is a pod of reds, close to the boat, fired up and looking to crush the first edible-size thing they see.
A surface hair bug or popper is an eminently suitable substitute, although any streamer pattern will do.

Dupre saved his spoons that had been through the wringer so many times that the hooks were shot, but any 1⁄2- to 3⁄4-ounce gold spoon should work if the hook is removed. And, his teasing technique was not limited to those schools he could see. There were times when surface chop made visibility so poor that the tactic du jour was to simply fling the spoon as far as you could in likely areas—and reel it steadily—and when you felt the bangs and taps of the reds you knew you had found a school.

Just how big those fish will be, comes under the heading of “it depends.” On one of my recent trips I was into a school whose members all ran between 26 and 32 inches. They definitely school by size, and if you’re not happy with what you’ve found, go find a different school. There can be several roaming the flats at the same time.

Given that some of the most productive areas are just minutes from the ramp, it’s not hard to see red at Cedar Key during the fall.

Low Tide Works, Too!

The most active reds in Cedar Key will be found on the flood tide, but with only two tides a day you can’t always count on catching it when the opportunity to fish arises. Getting there on a low tide doesn’t mean you can’t catch reds. You just have to shift tactics.

Low water will drop the reds back to deeper holes until the next flood and there are a number of good areas within a mile, or less, of the flats they roam best on high water. The area immediately inside the northeast corner of Seahorse Key is riddled with deeper potholes, and Deadman’s Channel runs along the north side of Deadman’s Key, brushes the southern end of North Key, and extends well outward to the west. Both are right next to where the reds roam on high water and traditionally hold them on the bottom end of the tide.

While lures usually get the nod on the flood tide, many prefer bait (live or cut) during low water, since the fish are not quite as active. Live finger mullet are great if you can find them, but many local experts catch plenty of reds on cut mullet chunks or strips or blue crab chunks.

The Seahorse Key potholes are easy to fish. Pin a finger mullet (or a mullet strip or chunk) on a 1⁄4-ounce jighead and work each hole as you come to it. If it’s holding reds you’ll know fairly quickly.
​
The channel is a much bigger area and I prefer to ease along it with the trolling motor, watching the depthfinder to stay right on the hardest drop, while dragging a jig/mullet behind me. Once the first red is hooked, I can drop the anchor and soak baits to get into the rest of the school.

by Jerry LaBella
 
With the arrival of fall, a sort of wild hiatus occurs, and not just along the Gulf of Mexico, either. Frenzied surf anglers also pepper the shores from as far north along the East Coast from Delaware all the way down to Florida.It is here that the sandy seashores become a pincushion for sand spikes and 8 ft. surf rods, not to mention the miles of tire tread prints from various 4 X 4 vehicles.
 
The key target for most of these pursuers is bull redfish (bull red drum).
 
What makes this type of fishing appealing to many anglers is you don’t have to have a boat to tango with these brutes of the surf. With a minimal investment of a rod and reel, ice chest, and some items discussed later, an angler can have success otherwise limited to those with a boat.
Accessibility is the key with this type of fishing, and it comes in many forms. You can fish off the beach, a bridge or jetties, or other structure if you have the proper equipment. Obviously, without a boat one would at least have to have a vehicle that would allow for the transporting of all the needed gear to the location of choice.
 
Careful planning is important because this kind of angling is more often a waiting game. Therefore, to make it more pleasurable you need to bring all the needed amenities: lounge chairs, sun canopy, refreshments, radio, etc.
 
There’s nothing real technical about this type of fishing, which basically involves casting a beefy piece of bait into the surf and waiting for a hookup. There’s no need, either, for any fancy working of the bait to enhance a strike. What will be important, nonetheless, is that you periodically check the bait to make sure you haven’t lost it and to keep it freshly changed about every 30 minutes or so, depending on bait type and how hungry bait thieves become.
 
The saying that “the more, the better” is definitely a principle to follow when considering how many rods to use, but don’t put out more than can comfortably be handled. Use no more than two rods per person and try to place baits in as many directions as possible, leaving a comfortable distance between each. Likewise, when fishing from a pier or bridge you would want to fish both sides, giving consideration to other occupants. Then, after everything is setup, pay attention to where the strikes occur, and relocate the rest of the rods and reels undergoing less action to that vicinity.
 
Once all the rods and reels have been cast out, the handles will have to be placed in a supporting device called a sand spike, or rod holder, which is driven and secured into the sand away from any lapping waves. This device may also be used wherever there’s a place with a railing or similar fixture (bridge rail, pier post, etc.) so that it can be taped or tie strapped securely to an up right.
 
A sand spike can be purchased at most sporting good stories, but you can construct one very easily. All you need for a sand spike is a 4 foot length of 1 3/4 PVC from your local hardware store. With the use of a hacksaw, cut one end on a 30-45 degree angle and the other end square. Clean the rough edges by scraping them with a razor knife. The angled end is driven into the sand; the other end is for the rod handle to go into.
 
To prevent loss of rod and reel you must make sure that the drag on spinning reels are set loose enough with bail closed. On bait casting reels, set them in free spool ratchet position, before placing them in the sand spike. After placement, test to see if they will remain secured in the spike by pulling out the line in front of the rod tip, simulating a fish strike. Adjust drag tension accordingly so that spike will not be pulled from the ground or fixture to which you attached it.
 
The game of patience begins when all lines are out and you’re laid back sipping on a cold one, waiting to be pleasantly interrupted by the loud clamoring sound of your reel’s drag. When that happens, set the hook immediately and get the other lines out of the water. On bait casting reels put the reel into lock mode (fighting position); on spinning reels tighten the drag enough to set the hook and allow for the run.
 
Despite popular theory, it’s not necessary to wait before setting the hook when catching bull redfish or black drum. These fish can engulf a fist-sized bait in one inhalation. If you wait a few seconds before setting the hook the fish may become gut-hooked, making it less likely to survive if you decide to release it.
 
Fight the fish long enough so that it wears down, and don’t be overly concerned if there’s a lot of wave action. Keep the line taut and use the waves to your advantage by allowing the surf to bring the fish right on the beach. Once landed, keep it clear of the lapping waves or it may be sucked back out to sea.
 
Fighting a bull redfish from a structure is an all together different challenge. Here drag tightening and rod manipulation can make a difference between landing or losing the fish. If a fish is headed for structure, such as piling legs, rocks, etc., and the present drag setting is unable to turn him, you may take a risk on tightening the drag more to head him off.
 
However, if that’s unsuccessful, you might try the “gambling tactic” if you are wary of line breakage due to abrasion.Since fish fight and run at the sensation of resistance, put the reel in free spool or break the bail open, which ever is applicable, and hope it steers clear of the potential obstacle. Allow the fish a few seconds and resume the fight with your rod tip pointing to where you want it to head–hopefully out of cover.
 
Fishing above the water from a pier or bridge presents a different challenge. Such places can make it difficult to landing the fish unless you have a bridge gaff handy. Remember, the longer the fish stays idle in the water, the more likely it’ll rest enough and rebound, possibly putting you back in the same situation you just got out of.
 
Like the sand spike, the bridge gaff is also something you can make. This device allows you to gaff the fish and hoist it up to where you’re located. This piece of equipment is nothing more than a very large treble hook fastened to a 1 ft. long shock leader of 200 lb. mono with about 1 pound of egg sinkers directly above the treble hook eyelet. A 30-40 ft. length of 3/8 rope is then tied to this leader after making a closed loop with the use of barrel crimps.
 
Landing a fish with the bridge gaff is relatively simple, if you have an assistant to direct the hook so that it gaffs the fish under the mouth area. Once the fish is gaffed, immediately place the reel setting in proper position to relieve any line tension (i.e. break bail, etc.) just in case the fish breaks free from the gaff it won’t snap your rod in two due to the fall.
 
Tackle is critical when scuffling with these broad-shouldered surf-runners. It is therefore important to use at least 25 pound test mono line, but braided line in at least the 6/30 class will be a better choice, particularly where structure is eminent.
 
A stiff surf rod of 8 or more feet in length, with a reel of no less than 200 yards capacity will be mandatory. This type of rod makes for longer casts and added leverage for maneuvering these heavy-duty redfish away from critical structure.
 
A simple, effective leader to use is a fish-finder rig. This rig allows the fish to take line without feeling the resistance of the sinker. These are especially useful when fishing the surf since the line will basically stay where you cast it.
 
A fish-finder rig consists of a 2-3 ft. length of 40 pound mono leader with an 8/0 hook on one end and a barrel swivel on the other. On the tag end of the fishing line slide a large snap swivel (eyelet end) up the line and place a pyramid sinker (at least 4 oz.) to the clip side of the swivel. Then tie the tag end of the fishing line to the leader at the barrel swivel. Depending on size of bait, current and waves, the sinker weight might need to be increased or decreased. Pyramid sinkers are the key here since they will dig into the sandy bottom and hold your line in position.
 
When using this type of leader setup, some have been puzzled when casting heavy baits with too light a sinkers. What takes place is a short cast with the bait traveling way beyond the sinker location. If this happens, increase sinker weight to equal or more than the bait’s weight. This will allow the sinker and snap swivel assembly to remain nearer the leader section during the cast, preventing it from double backing and entangling itself.
 
Many baits work well when going after bull reds; but make no mistake about it, fresh is best. Squid, mullet, pinfish, porgies, croaker all work well. But many veteran anglers choose whole or cracked crab because it is least prone to be taken by sharks, catfish, or picked clean by bait fish.
 
Nevertheless, no matter which one you choose, one thing is for sure – when the surf’s red, the bull’s will be fed!

By Danno Wise


One of the most anticipated annual occurrences along the Texas coast is the bull redfish run. Although the run can happen anytime between July and October, September is typically prime time for oversize red drum. It is during the ninth month that every day truly offers redfish aficionados the opportunity to catch a fish of a lifetime. 

Anglers looking to hook into bull reds can find them in three areas during September - beachfronts, passes and bay waters. However, the central figures in the unfolding drama of the bull red run are the Gulf passes. In order to consistently be successful pulling bull reds during the run, fishermen need to understand the underlying purpose for these passes and the reason the redfish are drawn there. 

For starters, as are many of nature's more glorious events, the bull red run is all about spawning. Bull reds, which are actually mature female red drum, move from the open Gulf, where they spend most of their time, close to shore and, specifically, close to Gulf passes that connect Texas' various bays to the Gulf of Mexico. Simultaneously, recently sexually matured male and female redfish begin to filter out of the bays, where they've spent their formative years, to the beachfront in order to congregate with the spawning stock. In this instance, the passes act as open doors for the redfish leaving the bays looking to start the second stage of their life in the Gulf waters. 

Once these two groups get a chance to mingle, the passes play yet another important role in this ritual. According to biologists, redfish actually drop their eggs along the beachfront and rely on tidal currents to sweep them through the passes and into the protected bay waters, where they newborn redfish will have a better chance of survival once hatched. These same bay waters will be home for the first few years of each red's life, until they mature to the point they, too, can join in the annual beachfront spawning ritual.

Of course, unlike salmon, bull reds have no qualms about feeding during their spawning ritual. Therefore, anglers located schools of bulls have a very good chance to hook into them. The key is located the schools and presenting baits in the proper way. 

BAYS

Redfish leaving the bays typically do so in fairly large groups. These fish start 'ganging up' during late summer, preparing for their trip to the open Gulf. Over the course of a couple months, each of these large groups will meander through the bay and toward the pass. Typically, these schools will follow some sort of defined boundary, such as a shoreline or channel edge while making their way to the open Gulf. 

Although these schools of freshly matured reds may be using deep channels as a road map to the spawning grounds, they will usually travel over the shallow shelves paralleling the deep channels. And, while these schools typically travel at good clip, they will stop and mill around while feeding. At times like these, anglers can wade to or stake out a boat within casting distance of a school and pluck fish from the perimeter without spooking the main school. 

When working a school of feeding reds, fly rodders are at a distinct advantage in that they can quietly present their offering to fish on the fringes without causing a fish-spooking splash. Conventional tackle fishermen are best served using spinning rigs and casting weightless or lightly-weighted lures to fish around the edges of the main pod. 

Cruising fish will also eat. However, they will rarely deviate far from their designated course. And, anglers need to toss something that gets their attention. 


BEACHFRONT

When most anglers think of bull reds, images of surf fishing come to mind. Without a doubt, many big bulls are pulled from the beachfront suds each summer and fall. By and large, the majority of fish caught from shore are subdued by fishermen armed with heavy surf sticks loaded with natural baits such as cut mullet, skipjack, cracked crab or jumbo live shrimp. 

The primary reason for this is bull reds spend their time along the beachfront essentially cruising in big loops. In areas where the water clarity isn't good enough to allow fishermen to see approaching schools, laying out set baits only makes sense. However, from the mid-coast down, where beach-bound and boating anglers can both identify roving schools, lures and flies come into play. 

For fishermen with the ability to spot fish moving along the shoreline, holding fire until the fish are within range is the best bet. Boating anglers are, of course, at an advantage in that they are able to position themselves in front of moving schools - and stay with a school as it moves up and down the beachfront. Beachfront and jetty fishermen are more reliant on the kindness of schools willing to move within casting range. 

As schools approach, anglers should be at the ready. The biggest mistake in this scenario happens when fishermen misjudge the depth of the swimming school. Clear water tends to make fish appear closer to the surface than they actually are. Most often, even sighted fish are at least 4 feet below the surface. And, though this fish will readily eat, they won't stray far from their path to do so. 

Essentially, this means fishermen need to toss offerings that will quickly sink into the fish's line of sight. Fly rodders should use heavily weighted baitfish patterns paired with sinking lines.

PASSES

Whenever reds are found in passes during this time of year, they will be on the move. Therefore, anglers working inside passes should employ the same strategies as beachfront fishermen working along the beachfront. If the water is too muddy to see, set baits on the bottom and wait for passing schools. If the water is clear enough to sight fish, hold your fire until a school moves through. 

In either instance, fishermen are usually able to attack fish in passes with equal success whether they are in a boat or not. The reason for this is two-fold. One, passes are generally relatively narrow and fish usually follow the shoreline to some extent. Secondly, most major passes are lined with jetties, which provide excellent perches for bull red seekers. 

TACKLE

While bull reds don't require extremely heavy tackle, anglers wanting a realistic shot at subduing one of these brutish drum should use a little beefier sticks than what are normally employed for bay use. Conventional tackle fishermen can typically get by with 7-foot medium to medium-heavy rods paired with a reel capable of handling 175 yards of 12 pound test. The exception to this would be surf fishermen, who need slightly longer rods fitted with reels capable of holding around 250 yards of line. Fly rodders should use 9 or 10 wt sticks paired with either intermediate or full sink lines. 

Whether fishing the bay, beachfront or in passes, anglers should know that every day they wet a hook during fall they have an excellent opportunity to land an over-size redfish.

by Danno Wise
 
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that August is a summer month. However, the red hot redfish action that is generally associated with fall fishing actually begins in the weeks leading up to Labor Day. That means August through October is prime redfish time. And, this includes a variety of areas along the coast. In fact, late summer begins a period of angling excitement when fishermen tackle redfish of all sizes in a variety of venues, with a variety of techniques and using a variety of baits and lures. So, although we are only talking about a single species, the diverse places and ways to catch redfish this time of year means that anglers can literally do something different every single day of the month.
 
 
Shallow flats and shorelines

Contrary to popular belief, not all inshore fish are found deep during late summer. In fact, August is the time maturing reds in the back bays will begin ganging up and working their way down to the Gulf passes for their annual spawning ritual. And, as single become doubles, doubles become pods and pods become schools, they we be more and more common in shallow water – over skinny flats and along shorelines.
 
Keeping with the theme of variety, shallow water fishermen are presented with a myriad of methods that can be productive on late summer reds. When found on the shallow flats, redfish can easily be taken with a variety of natural baits, such as shrimp, mullet, and crab. A variety of artificial lures, including topwaters, spoons and soft-plastic jigs, will also work – not to mention the streamers, attractors and poppers cast by fly fishermen.
 
Regardless of what bait or lure is being thrown, there are a variety of ways to target redfish in shallow water this time of year. For natural bait fishermen, they most basic method is to anchor down and fish bait on the bottom, general in sandy potholes or along the edges of grass beds. A modified bottom fishing method that has developed in Deep South Texas is known as “humping.” The basic purpose of humping is to cover water while bottom fishing. This technique involves casting downwind of a drifting boat with a bottom rig, then reeling steadily, but just fast enough to keep slack out of the line as the boat drifts toward the location of the bait. Once the boat gets close to the bait, it is reeled in and recast. This method can also be used by wade fishermen walking toward their bait while reeling.  
 
A number of natural bait fishermen choose to freeline their baits instead of anchoring them to the bottom. This method can be used with live or dead bait, but is most commonly used with live shrimp, finger mullet or crab. It involves using either no weight or just enough weight to cause the bait to get below the water’s surface. Anglers then allow the bait to swim naturally around structures such as potholes while maintaining enough tautness in the line as to detect strikes.
 
Another method of natural bait fishing pioneered on the shallow grass flats of South Texas is casting mullet strips. Essentially this involves hooking a mullet fillet on a 4/0 Kahle hook and retrieving it like a soft-plastic jerkbait.
 
Popping corks and maulers can also be utilized on flats from 12 inches to 4 feet deep. The larger, oval and cupped faced models should be used in deeper, darker waters, while cigar shaped versions are better for shallower or clearer water. Both natural and artificial baits can be hung beneath corks and maulers. Good examples of lures and baits that can be effectively used beneath maulers and corks include live shrimp, finger mullet, pinfish, live crabs, artificial shrimp, soft-plastic jigs and lipless crankbaits.  
 
When fish are not sighted on flats, anglers should employ fan casting – casting at small angular increments in front of the boat drift or wading direction in order to effectively cover as much water as possible. This method can be employed by both artificial lure and natural bait fishermen.
 
Another effective method to use when fish aren’t sighted is selective blind casting. This basically involves casting lures and baits to potholes, grass edges and other likely fish-holding structures. Anglers should also cast toward slicks, nervous water, active bait and any other sign of active fish.
 
Of course, for many fishermen, there is only one satisfying manner in which to catch redfish in shallow water – sightcasting (this is what most people relate to fly fishermen, although long rodders can be productive both sight-casting and blind-casting). When sightcasting, anglers may see tailing fish or may see fish beneath the surface when visibility is good. Later in August, it is also possible to see entire “herds” – giant schools of redfish – working the flats.
 
Which brings us to another point -- how to work a school on the shallow flats. It is critical to be able to work school efficiently to catch multiple fish from one school. To do this, anglers should first determine the direction in which the school is moving. Then, look for any “stragglers” that may not be tight against the main “herd.” Casting to fish that are not right next to other fish is the first preference. If the school is bunched tight, anglers should attempt to cast to fish that are at the near edge. Hooking fish on the edges allows anglers to “steer” the fish clear of the remaining school without spooking them.  
 
 
Jetties & passes

Again, the annual redfish run starts in late summer and that means Gulf passes and the jetties that line them will be hot spots for both slot-size redfish as well as big “bull” reds.
 
Of course, knowing redfish are found in Gulf passes this time of year and actually finding and catching them are two different things. In order to fully understand how to locate schools of bull redfish during the annual run, it is important to understand why they migrate to the beachfront each year. In short, bull redfish run has everything to do with the continuity of the species' life cycle – it is a spawning ritual that must be fulfilled every year.
 
Redfish are unique among Texas inshore species in that they do not live, grow and die in the same body of water. Redfish are born in backwater estuaries and marshes. As they grow, they move out into bays and saltwater lakes, where they will spend the next few years of their lives. Once they reach sexual maturity - usually around 28 to 32 inches - they move into the open water of the Gulf of Mexico. They spend the remainder of their lives in these open, deep waters. But, each year they return to the Gulf passes to spawn, giving Texas inshore anglers a great opportunity to tangle with “oversize” reds.
 
As is the case on the shallow flats, there are a variety of lures, baits and techniques that will account for redfish in Gulf passes and near jetties. Around the jetties and in passes, most reds are taken on natural baits such as mullet, jumbo live shrimp or crabs. Each of these baits can be fish on the bottom or, when fishing around jetties, freelined. However, artificial lures such as ½-ounce jigs, swimbaits, 1 oz spoons and lipless crankbaits will take their share of redfish near the rocks as well.
 
 
Surf

The beachfront is the most accessible of all redfish venues. And, every stretch of beach from Boca Chica to Sea Rim will be producing redfish during late summer. Again, variety is the operative word when talking about targeting redfish in the late summer surf.
 
Both natural baits and artificial baits will produce fish in the surf. At times, anglers choose to combine the two. When pursuing bull reds, some fishermen opt to pin a big live bait - either mullet or shrimp - to the bottom and wait for a school to pass by. While waiting, they will often pass the time by throwing spoons, jigs, sinking plugs or topwater plugs into the first two guts.
 
In areas such as Boca Chica, South Padre Island and Padre Island National Seashore, where the surf is clear enough to allow schools of redfish to be easily sighted, anglers pursue schools on foot, in boats or in vehicles and toss artificial lures to them. Heavily weighted, fast sinking jigs and swimbaits are the best choices for casting to cruising schools of beachfront bulls.
 
 
As you can see, there is no reason to wait until October to get in on outstanding redfish action. After all, the legendary fall fishing for reds along the Texas coast actually begins in August. So, any anglers growing weary of fishing deep structure for schoolie specks during late summer can always sight-cast the shallow flats or probe the close beachfront or pass for redfish of all sizes. 

Day 0 – Wednesday - Off the Water Day – no competitors or any of their equipment allowed on the water for any reason except repairs or maintenance with prior approval and accompanied by RWS staff or designee. There will be a White Tablecloth Captains Meeting early that evening and there may be “required attendance” events during the day as well.

Day 1 – Thursday – All teams. Random order blastoff. Bag Limit: Two (2) slot redfish.

Day 2 – Friday – All teams. Reverse order blastoff. Bag Limit: Three (3) slot redfish.

• At the completion of Day 2 the Top 12 teams will retain their two-day weight and will advance to a Day 3 & 4 Gold Division to compete for the title of Redfish World Champion. In the Gold Division the weight from days 1 & 2 are carried over and the final standing in the event is determined by the total cumulative weight from all four (4) days of competition.

 

• The remaining 36 teams will discard their Day 1 & 2 weights and enter a Silver Division where they will compete in a one day shootout on Day 3 (ONLY Day 3 weight counts) for additional cash and prizes. The Top 5 teams in this division will receive a cash prize and ALL remaining teams in this division that complete the Day 3 shootout by weighing at least one fish that day will be awarded a very nice prize package by random draw.

 

• Bubble Team – In addition to moving to the Silver Division, the Team that finishes in 13th place after Day 1 & 2 will receive a “Bubble Team” cash award plus an additional prize (TBD) for each member of the team.

Day 3 – Saturday

• Gold Division Teams – Blastoff in order of current standing. Bag Limit: Four (4) slot redfish. The weight continues to accumulate.

 

• Silver Division Teams – Blastoff in random order. Bag Limit: Three (3) redfish – One fish under 27 inches and two fish up to 30 inches. Total weight of the three redfish bag determines final ranking in the Silver Division.

 
​Day 4 – Sunday

• Gold Division Teams - Blastoff by order of current standing. Bag Limit: Five (5) slot redfish. The final ranking of the Gold Division is determined by the cumulative weight of All Four Days of competition. The winner of this division will be crowned as the 2019 Redfish World Champion. 

Ah yes, southern Louisiana! There’s nothing quite like it.

With 40% of the nation’s coastal wetlands it is the best place to catch fish and hunt critters of every description. It is indeed a true Sportsman’s Paradise.

But for how long?

For far too many decades the creel limits of Louisiana have been much more liberal than other coastal states. For far too long the annual killing rate of inshore fish has risen steadily. For far too long the pervasive sentiment has been “there’s just so many we can’t ever catch them all”. Perhaps several decades ago, before the splendor and natural beauty and bounty of Louisiana was discovered, these creel limits and thoughts made sense.

They no longer do.

Prior to the boom in recreational fishing, tournament fishing, and guided trips over the past 10-15 years there was little serious damage to the vast fishery of coastal Louisiana. The harvest was but a fraction of the total. It was an easy thing for it to remain self-sustaining.
Perhaps it no longer can.

I would submit to you that within the next ten years we will see a continued and significant decline in the numbers and quality of inshore species in Louisiana unless a reduction in creel limits and sensible management plans are enacted. More guides need to promote catch and release formats. The state needs to remove the ability of customers to keep the captains limit too.

Louisiana is second only to Florida in recreational harvest and is second only to Alaska in commercial landings. Creel limits and fisheries management are not easy considerations for a state that realizes over $800 Million in total economic impact from recreational fishing alone. When the recreational number is added to the $2.4 Billion in total economic impact from commercial fishing it becomes a staggering $3.2 Billion-dollar discussion.

Think on this a minute – four people who do not regularly fish book a guided trip for redfish and trout. They leave the dock at 0700 and are usually back before 1000 with 25 reds, 100 trout, and a smattering of black drum and sheepshead. These fish are cleaned, bagged and put on ice. The erstwhile anglers, after many smiling bragging-board pictures, haul their catch back home where a few of the fillets are actually consumed. But, the majority are consigned to the garbage dumps or used for pet food after they are freezer burned. It is unreasonable to expect that this quantity of fish will be properly maintained and eaten in an expeditious manner. It is, quite simply, a killing waste and it is hurting the entire ecosystem.

Not convinced yet? Read on dear friend.

In the coastal parishes of Louisiana there are 730 licensed guides. If these guides are making a living at their craft (and I assume they are) they will likely average 150 trips per year across the board. These trips will be to catch reds and trout. SO, let’s average four clients per boat X 150 trips X 730 guides X 5 redfish per angler and captain = 150 X 730 X 25 = 2,737,500 dead redfish. And the trout harvest is worse, much worse 150 X 730 X 125 = 13,687,500 dead trout (This is the maximum potential. I am aware that limits of trout are not always fulfilled every day.)
But wait, there’s more.

There were 260,000 Resident and Non-resident saltwater licenses sold in LA in 2017. Some more simple math reveals additional terrifying numbers. Let’s say that the average number of fishing trips for recreational anglers is 20 and that on 15 of those trips they fulfilled their creel limits of trout and reds. 260,000 X 15 X 5 = 19,500,000 redfish in danger of demise. And the number of trout is exponentially worse with a potential downside of over 390,000,000 trout removed from the fishery. And that is if the average number of annual trips by these anglers is 15! It is likely much higher than that.

When combined, the potential annual recreational and guided impact is a stunning 22.2 Million redfish and 403.5 Million trout in Louisiana alone. These numbers do not include the allowed commercial quota for resale.

Now, before you all get the tar and feathers and gallows rope ready for Ol’ Gritter I would ask you to reflect a little on your fishing experience over the past 10 years and give serious thought to the numbers and quality of fish you saw and caught then and now. I can honestly tell you that I have not spoken to a single individual, guide or otherwise, that has said the fishing was better now than it was 10 years ago. In fact, there is an almost universal sentiment that it is significantly worse. Perhaps you will consider why it is so very unusual to catch a speckled trout over 2-3 pounds in LA. Seems pretty simple to me that if we are killing several hundred million 12-inch trout every year that it becomes a foregone conclusion that larger fish would be a much rarer commodity.

The issue is that Louisiana has been discovered. And the influx of anglers to this amazing paradise is not going to slow anytime soon. In fact, all trending analyses predict a continued upward swing in numbers as more and more people discover the simple joys of a few days on the water.

Thus, my thought that a reduction in the creel limits and a more sensible size restriction would benefit the entire fishery making it much more sustainable while not affecting the bottom line economic impact at all.

I have fastened my armor and prepared for the onslaught……..begin!

Contact  gritter@redfishconnection.com

Over many millennia Mother Nature created some of the most unusual, unique, and diversified ecosystems the planet has ever seen. One of the most successful and spectacular of these areas was in the southern part of the North American Continent that would later become known as Louisiana.
A vast area of marsh and land interspersed with beautiful woodlands, waterways, lakes, bayous, and grasslands all nestled right up to the vast ocean known as the Gulf of Mexico. Pristine and perfectly balanced, this wonder of nature existed in harmony for thousands of years.

Enter -humans.

At first it was not a big deal. The master predator known as Homo Sapiens lived a life that was in harmony with nature as well and the impact on the existing environment was nominal.

Enter – Civilization.

The perfection and bounty that was southern Louisiana was rapidly and voraciously pillaged and destroyed. First by Big Sugar and quickly followed by Big Oil, Big Gas, and Big Shipping. In the name of “progress” these entities were allowed to continuously and, perhaps irreversibly, destroy one of the wonders on the world in the name of $$$$!!

Untold numbers of politicians and land managers of this incredible resource made their very substantial living and built significant personal wealth from the fees, bribes, and kickbacks paid by corporations to allow them to skirt rules and become literal scofflaws at regulations. They promulgated a culture of resource rape unparalleled in the history of the entire coast.

Pipeline canals were blazed throughout the marshlands running willy-nilly over the entire area until it looked like a veritable roadmap of straight intersecting lines. These straight-line canals and waterways created a diversion of existing water flow patterns and allowed rapid water flow and swift destruction of the coastlines of these fragile areas. Gates, fences, posts, wellheads, fittings, wrecks, pipes, lines, hardware, drums, and detritus of every description was simply abandoned in the marsh because it was cheaper to do so than to clean it up.

Vast quantities of poisonous waste products were simply thrown overboard or jettisoned from construction sites and machinery to contaminate and kill local wildlife. No heed was paid to the enormous destruction caused by these companies and individuals because “progress” and financial happiness was everywhere.

Except, at the level of the natural inhabitants of the marshlands where there was only anguish and death on an unimaginable scale. And when, finally, some of the havoc was brought to light, there was a petulant and half-hearted effort at a “clean up”.

An effort that was, and is, a standing joke.

It is nearly impossible to run a boat for any length of time in the marshes of south Louisiana without hitting some piece of discarded junk from the heyday of canal and well construction. And I cannot understand why it is still allowed. Unmarked wellheads, gates, fences, pipes, buoys, sunken debris, wrecks, barges - all of these are the responsibility of the companies that put them there and they should be held accountable for cleaning them up.

Additionally, because of this raping of the marshlands that was known as dredging, well-building, canal cutting, and pipe laying, the places where there was solid land previously utilized for homes, growing crops and grazing cattle have been rapidly disappearing. So, the people that owned these lands now claim the water above it and wish to restrict the use of said water as though it were their personal lawn. Barriers, gates, chains, pipes, ropes, and more – including surveillance equipment – are being utilized to selfishly maintain control over their “lawns”.
Yet, the only group popularly, and loudly, singled out as “destructive” is the recreational and competitive anglers of the region.

For some reason, boaters running freely across open, navigable waterways are being despised as the culprits for all the land and coastal ecosystem devastation. When the reality is that it is the very companies that paid these landowners, politicians, and regulators billions of dollars to allow themselves the destructive latitude to create the Gordian Knot it has become.

Landowners vs Anglers. The outcome is a foregone conclusion, and no one really wins anything.

Except for the companies responsible for it all that foment the angst between these two parties thereby staying in the shadows and safe from exposure of their misdeeds.

I would submit to you that there is a better solution.

These same influential landowners would be much better served to join forces with the angling community and like-minded politicians thereby utilizing their financial, lobbying, political strength, and resources to force the companies actually responsible for the loss of their land to clean up their despicable mess and restore the marsh to some semblance of normalcy.

This would be an extraordinary coalition that could force an unprecedented effort to mandate a massive cleanup of this ecosystem that has been so battered and abused by those that profited from their malfeasance.

I watch with interest.

Contact  gritter@redfishconnection.com

Words are funny critters. Sometimes they are solid, definitive, and bold. Other times they are shady, weak, and fickle. But words are how we communicate with each other in speech, reading, and writing. SO, how do we keep up with this conundrum that words sometimes create?
We DEFINE them.

We give words specific definitions, so everyone knows exactly what each word means – right?

Wrong.

Often words have many different meanings depending on the context of their use, so it is extremely important to understand exactly how a word was used in relation to the other words around it to really know what it means.

Fickle? Absolutely.

Difficult? Sometimes.

Necessary? Undeniably.

Now I say all that to say this – the topic of “burning” shorelines with boats, specifically “tower” boats is a subject of great interest to a lot of people. And, frankly, it should be a topic of interest to a lot more people than it is. If you are a competitive angler, it should be in the very forefront of your mind along with a plan to DO something about it.

I have stated the obvious here before and I’ll repeat it again – if we don’t police our own ranks and hold the culprits responsible for their actions it will be done for us and it will be done in a way that suits the fancy of bureaucrats who may not even know which end of a rod to hold on to. This issue has become a hot button with people who don’t know a redfish from a mullet. The reason for that is that it is not being touted and decried as an “illegal” way to find and/or catch fish. No, it is on the chopping block because it is causing irreparable harm to the ecosystems of the marshes and estuaries of our coastal regions. And THAT, dear friends, is something a whole lot of people care about.

I can clearly remember 10-15 or more years ago when I was trolling along through back ponds and flats in Louisiana looking for reds and they would literally come up to the boat and swim right along with me making happy grunts all the way. I have had, on many occasions, redfish come right up to the spinning prop of my trolling motor to see if it was something to eat. I have sat my boat in one spot and caught reds without making a cast. I would simply have a few feet of line out and go “dobbing” for reds by just letting the lure straight down in front of them as they cavorted around my boat.

So, tell me – when was the last time you saw redfish acting like that? Many of you will have to say ‘never’ because you came to game after the changes were wrought. Some of you have only come to the game in the last 2-4 years and you may never see that kind of behavior. And it is we, my friends, it is WE who have done this. And it must be WE who correct it.

With those thoughts on our mind let us look a couple of words. Let’s examine “burning” and “tower”. Most of the rhetoric I have heard and read has centered around the word “how” – as in, “How do we stop people from doing this?” or “How do we define burning?”

I am about to help you with that.

But first let’s see if we can define a “tower” boat. Top drive? Dual helm? Six feet? Ten feet? Flat bottom? Vee hull? Shallow draft? Deep draft? Specific make? Model?

The more people you ask, the more complex - and obscure - the definition becomes.

Well, ok then, let’s have a go at “burning” shorelines? Fast? Slow? Ten feet off the bank? Twenty yards off the bank? Using a TRP? Standard lower unit? Can ONLY done by “tower” boats? Can be done by ANY style boat? What exactly IS this thing called “burning” to locate fish.

Same result. The more people you ask, the more complex – and obscure - the definition becomes.

Now we get to the meat of the matter – How do we define “burning” so we can make a rule to stop it. This also brings us to an interesting quandary because the more we try to define “burning” in this context, the more complex the definition becomes and the more vague and obtuse its meaning. In fact, the only thing you can honestly say about the practice is that it is a method of using a boat under power, usually on plane, to cover large areas of water with the express purpose of locating fish.

Aha!

Now we have something to work with because purpose means intent. And, there is no question in anyone’s mind that they did or did not perform an action with the purpose, the “intent”, of locating fish.

Each one of you knows, in your own mind, what “burning” is. SO, if you do it you simply cannot hide from that intent and it will sink your boat on a polygraph because you WILL fail the question. You see, your intent to perform an action is a powerful thing and it cannot be diluted or refined. It is INTENT, it is in your mind, it is a part of your conscious will, and you simply cannot subjugate that intent when asked about a specific action.

Now, and without a specific written definition, we can hold people accountable for their actions by indicating that the purpose and the intent are illegal in tournament activity including ALL prefishing activities.

I would submit to you, whether you agree with my little word trial or not, that you CANNOT defeat a polygraph if a question is phrased about an “action with intent”.

All that needs to happen now is for EVERY angling competition, tour, and trail to insert a rule making it illegal to utilize a boat (any boat), on plane (yes, you know what that means too), with the intent and for the specific purpose of locating fish.
Ya’ll chew on that bone for a bit. I have some fishing to do.

Contact  gritter@redfishconnection.com