Boy did I have an interesting two days of fishing this weekend. Went fishing with a friend on Friday morning in clapboard creek. He caught one real nice trout and a flounder, and I had only one short trout and a jack. Bait was all over in huge pods. He had to be to work by 1pm so we got back to the ramp at 11am, ate some lunch and BS'd for a bit. Once we departed I went down to Browns for the rest of the day... This is when it gets good.

By this time it was high tide and I moved back into a small creek without much luck. Small trout and a lady fish. I headed out right before the tide turned and set up shop at a shell bar. Long and behold, shortly after the water started to move, I saw what I suspected to be red inbound to my location following the baitfish. Not before long, I hooked up with a nice 16 1/2 " red on a mud minnow. FINALLY! No longer skunked by the great red. Once I released him, I noticed they were still in the same area so I pitched out another mud minnow and BAM! The water exploded and I was holding on! Brought in another red just over 27"! Man it felt great! So, I am used to bass fishing and liping the fish, when I went to get a picture of him I instinctively lipped him, held him over the water and it’s like he knew he was over it! Thrashed once and plunk! In the water, I tried to grab his tail but he gave it a shake and off he went. It was just good to get in a nice red so I didn't dwell on it much. The fishing slowed down until later after the sun set at low tide when I got into the trout on top water with a chug bug. Must of caught about 10-12 of them all in the 13" range. Lost one good fish that would have made the cut I am sure.

Now, on Saturday, again I put in at browns just before the sun came up and headed to the same area. Not much action until about 7ish. I could see the fish all around me chasing the bait. Around 7:45 I look over my right shoulder and see my thunder rig shaking all over the place. The mud minnow knew something was after him. The rig disappeared in a blink of an eye and the real started screaming! I rushed to get in the other line and grab the rod. I tightened down the drag and he just kept going and going and going. Big surge after big surg. My anchor was down and by this time I looked down at my reel and I have about 20 feet of line left. I grabbed at the line in a desperate last ditch effort to hold the fish... It was worthless. He made one more surge and SNAP! I just got spooled! I couldn't believe what happened. Really blew my mind. In all my years of fishing, I have never had this happened. Now here is the crazy part... About an hour later I am roaming the same flat thinking that this fish still has like 150 yards of line trailing it. Around this time I am swimming a jig and get was seems like a hit but it feels kind of spongy. Once I get the jig back I couldn't believe my eyes. It was my line! I untangled the line from the jig and gently pull on it to see if anyone is home. YUP! Sure is! So now I am winding this line around my hand trying to figure out how I am going to get this thing in. Well, it wasn't long before Mr. Fish knew I was there and surged again and broke off once more! I rolled up about 60 yards of line and that was all I would ever see of him again.

The tackle I was using to me, was probably a bit light for this kind of fishing. Not sure of the reel but it’s smaller than a Shimano 4000, with a MED action 6' rod. More for bass fishing. I don't blame losing the fish solely on the tackle. Inexperience played a big part. I couldn't get the anchor up and just wasn't ready for something like that to happen. A lot of lessons learned this weekend have just purchased an anchor trolley system with a quick detach mod. This will not happen again.

I did however end up catching a nice 20" trout which my wife and I both enjoyed last night for dinner. Two days of fishing and I am sore as can be and my hands hurt like hell, but it was worth every ounce of pain I endured!

Man, GREAT story! You gotta love exciting days like that on the water. Next time you hook a big fish like that you'll surley handle it better. Some times you can't stop em before they get to an oyster bar or bridge piling and break you off. You had TWO shots at that fish! that doesn't happen very often.

A 4000 reel is definately big enough. What test line did you have? sounds like your tackle was stout enough. or... just get better at chasing em.

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-Jon
GOGITUSOMEGROCERIES.com founder and CEO

The 4000 is the other reel I use. The reel in that situation was smaller than the 4000. Not sure make and model. will post it up when I get home. Line was 30lb power pro with a 20lb fluorocarbon leader.

Dang! What an adventure! Congrats on the reds.

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Melita


MELITA'S CUPCAKE PRO STAFF!

You're takle was adequate. I use Shimano Symetre 2500s and 4000s for reds and trout inshore. Yesterday we landed 18 reds and four trout primarily on the 2500s using 10lb Power Pro. Granted all were mid to lower slot and we did manage to break off three fish but that's how it goes. I like fighting them on lighter tackle!! It just takes patience and practice!!

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2012 Hobie Pro Angler 14

With most salt water inshore fish take what they give you. Don't force them.

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Malibu Mini X & 2012 X Factor

Great story and congrats! Remember even with good braid and a leader you can get broken off by an oyster bed. THat's why it is critical to set your drag hard enough that you set the hook and take the fight to the fish instead of letting him have so much line

However it happens to all of us. I loosen all my drags when I put the reels away after cleaning. Then as I go from smaller to larger reds I find myself tightening the drag more and more from 'rat red' to 'slot red' drag levels

When you are not sure of the species though trending towards a lighter drag is fine, just be ready to adjust quickly to get a good hook set. If it is too much drag fish with softer mouths like trout may get away...

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"This is my signature not my facebook page."

The reel was a IM620 Eagle Claw. Whatever the hell that is??? It was my fathers before he passed away. I have always been accustomed to bait casters and have never liked to fish with spinning outfits. Tho, I am seeing that they are a must for this type of fishing. Atleast when throwing the thunder rigs. The drag was set very loose. I was expecting those small 13" trout or at most the "27 inch" size reds. Not Moby Dick. LOL!! Like I said before, it was some very good lessons learned. And anymore tips on other things like that, that may arise, please feel free to speak up!

Lad

Awesome! Nothing like catching the same fish twice. Yeap keep your drag tight and your rod tip up. Dropping your rod puts all the pressure on your line. Let your rod do the work for you.

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Hobie Pro Angler 12

Great story. I'm from a bass fishing background, too, and lipping a redfish is a mistake I made, too. Fish grabbers are great to avoid that. I imagine you'll set up a camera mount or something soon. Especially if you keep landing big reds! Congrats on the fun.

Well, I didn't exactly catch him, but that would have been epic! Would you consider the 6' MED action rod enough vack bone for these fish?






Yes, the fish grabber is also on my list of must buys before I go back out. Along with a seat cushion! I will need to start bringing my reg camera so I can atleast post some pics.

6 ft med action rod should do the job. I use a 7 ft rod which might be more preferable if playing a fish I would think. My background is with a 9 ft fly rod so you can probably see where I'm coming from.

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Hobie Pro Angler 12

I eventually want to get back into flyfishing. Haven't done it since I was a kid. Mostly fished for bass with the fly and trout. I can only imagine.... Well I guess I will continue to use the rod and see what happens. Its a good allstar rod. Bought it maybe a year ago.

Might want to think about a stake out poll instead of anchoring as well!

Fantastic post! I usually stop reading long posts after a line or two but this was well worth the read. Get back out there and find the rest of that line!

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Olive Cobra Maurader