7 weeks, 20 states, 7000 miles one BIG Redfish.

As some of you know, I took the family on an insayn road trip this summer.  We towed the Yak-A-Haul-It behind the truck camper with two kayaks aboard in the event we had time to get on some water. 

Well, after touring through what seemed like a zillion states in the mid west we dove south and hit the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama.  After playing in the 90degree Gulf, I was destined to put my kayak in somewhere somehow.  Keep in mind I am directing this train wreck with my wife, kids and 3 dogs with me, and my parents and their two dogs following us.  Getting time to research, fishing, campgrounds, routes, meals, repairs, etc... was a full time event.

Anywho, we made it down to Grand Isle Louisiana and decided to stay 4 days which gave me some time to hit the water.  I met a lot of great people that gave me some tips on what to use, where and when to use it.

I launch near the Bridgeside Marina and worked my way under the bridge to see what I could muster.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bridge+Side+Marina,+Louisiana+1,+Grand+Isle,+LA&hl=en&ll=29.206492,-90.034933&spn=0.020078,0.042272&sll=29.230652,-89.9986&sspn=0.020073,0.042272&t=h&hq=Bridge+Side+Marina,+Louisiana+1,+Grand+Isle,+LA&radius=15000&z=15

Down there the ticket for targeting Bull Redfish (Redfish 27" and up ) was to run a pre-tied setup that utilized a 4oz egg weight crimped midway along a 3' length of 80lb mono. On the end was a huge hook, not even sure what size it was, but I can put two fingers side to side within the gap.  Upon this hook you impale a tangerine sized chunk of mullet.  This fish is a trash fish that smells much like shad does.  Toss this rig over and let it drift along the sandy bottom 15-25' below.

Fished a few hours catching nothing but salt water cat fish (Hard heads).  They destroy your bait, and are extremely annoying.



So, I run out of frozen mullet to fish with so I drop down a homemade squid jig with a small circle hook to see if I can catch me some more bait to use on the Bull Reds (the one the 7" catfish is hanging from).   5 seconds into the drop and my 6.6 UglyStick LITE spinning rod goes nutz!  Line is peeling off it the spool so fast I nearly panicked thinking I snagged a passing dolphin.  There were dolphins all over the area most of the morning so I wasn't sure what to do here.

I tightened up the drag enough to let it slip, but not so far as to break off the ten feet 10lb mono that was Albright knottied to 10lb braid.  Whatever hit my jig was like a freight train and I used my Mirage drive to chase this monster down.  I pulled me hard in nearly every direction, around two of the bridge legs, out into the middle of the bay and around and around.  The pole was repeatedly wrapped clear under and around my bow from both directions nearly snapping.  Once it turned and took off behind me and I have my pole handle pointing to my right rear and the tip was under the rear of the kayak. 

When I thought I might have a chance to see what was pulling me around it would take off like a rocket and nearly spool me over and over.  I get it close and it would just bolt. 

Thank god it doesn't have the stamina of a cheeta and eventually pooped out towing me around.  When it finally surfaced, I nearly crapped!  One huge Bull Red and my net is way too small to doing anything with it.

Luckily it was so tired, I was able to get my lip gripper on it's mouth and get it gilled before it regained strength.

My biggest, longest, heaviest fish I've ever caught let alone on a kayak. 
43" @ 36.5lbs on 10lb mono/braid combo generic UglyStik LITE spinning rod.






It was 102 degrees outside, humid as a steam room, and the water was 88-89degrees.


Grand Isle, LA is my new favorite place to visit outside of Oregon. 

That is awesome. Great report and pictures.

Great report.  I've battled a few of these fish in the Gulf of Mexico.  My folks live in Naples, Florida.  Fun fishin~

Awesome report, Craig!!  Nice fish!

Freaking sweet! That red is a monster!

Whaoooo!  not THAT is a sick ass redfish!  congrats insayn!

Kaboom!  Nice one there.

-Allen

Craig, you just made my day(night)! Such an awesome catch! With salmon gearing up here now, I can only have hope!!!

dude, that's a monster ! nice catch and great report.

 Awesome! Great report and congrats on the HUGE red. Welcome back!

Now to post your pics from last week on the willamette

Way cool story.  Awesome job getting that fish in.

During this entire battle, I was sure he was about to either straighten the small circle hook, snap the line, or snap the pole.   
This UglyStik LITE 6.6 rod and Shimano Sahara 2500 (10lb line) has been my go to combo for the past couple years for most fishing.  Been surprised at what it can handle. 

So far I've landed trout, bass, yellow perch, crappy, blue gill, walleye, surf perch, saltwater catfish, starry flounder, dungeoness crab, croaker, greenling, black/blue rockfish, cabezon, lingcod, now a huge bull redfish with it. 
Cheap setup, but seems to get the job done. 

During this entire battle, I was sure he was about to either straighten the small circle hook, snap the line, or snap the pole.   
This UglyStik LITE 6.6 rod and Shimano Sahara 2500 (10lb line) has been my go to combo for the past couple years for most fishing.  Been surprised at what it can handle. 

So far I've landed trout, bass, yellow perch, crappy, blue gill, walleye, surf perch, saltwater catfish, starry flounder, dungeoness crab, croaker, greenling, black/blue rockfish, cabezon, lingcod, now a huge bull redfish with it. 
Cheap setup, but seems to get the job done. 

Awesome story and photos! And as someone who prefers lighter tackle than most - NICE JOB - I am truly impressed. I've never gotten that high of a fish weight to line weight ratio (yet) - very impressive!

Yeah I like the 2500 size shimano reels. And the sahara is decent for the price. I've learned the hard way that paying more for saltwater spinning reels does not necessarily mean longer life! Spinning reels are so susceptible to salty corrosion.