World Class Christmas Redfishing Trip

I went west to Alabama for our annual Christmas trip to Gulf Shores .My wifes family has a nice house at the beach there which we get together at for eating ,celebrating , fishing , and general relaxation . I have a friend over in Orange Beach [ which is just down the road] that is as hard core a fisherman as you will ever meet . Now my wife’s cousin Don and I are in the same category so we took Matts advice [ and boat] on the day and time specified for a trip down the beach to catch the bull reds chasing the pogies just outside the surf in about 20 feet of water .We left out of Orange Beach/Perdido Pass. That fishery is best when a wintery cold front is pushing through with winds straight from the north. The theory is that the offshore winds push bait into the Gulf and the pogies come to feed and the birds [Gannets and Pelicans and Terns] follow and show you the way to the Redfish that are gorging from below.

Well we found the right conditions and we were seeing red on the Raymarine Screen . We all dropped 6″ grubs and all hooked up at once . Then the tackle started getting lighter , and we ended up with multiple triples [ at least 5 times] with fly rod,10# test spinning with no leader and small baitcaster reels all singing with 17-27 Lb reds on the other end . I snapped my favorite Tripletail Rod on the first fish but continued to use the “shortened version” for a while . It was an awesome 3 hour flurry of redfish with only minor moves to stay on them . That is something everyone that like to fish should experience . At the end of the day we released at least 30 big reds and were ready to do it again the next day .

Alas the winds changed to a more northeast direction and a little rain was in the mix . So Christmas eve was a “no fish” day ./ We did get to put Don’s new 20′ Pure Panga in the water and do the break in on the Suzuki 50 H.P.With that task accomplished we were eager to go again Wed A.M. and did . The wind was cold and from the northeast . We saw a few birds and hooked one up on the new boat . Thats the way to get a new boat truly broken in . That was a trip where everything came together and the rejuvenation factor was high .

 Good friends
Good Fishing.Good Times .

I want to wish everyone a happy new year and a prosperous,healthy 2008 !!!!

Marc Grove