New Orleans Redfish/Biloxi Marsh - Part Two

[Tony Buzolich]

Because of the murky water it’s critical that you place your fly within a foot or two of the fish’s head in order to get their attention.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/061.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/093.jpg

I spot another bigger fish and make my cast only to get ignored. “Cast again closer” Greg yells. This time I get his attention and a good grab but fail to get a good strip set and he shakes loose after several quick runs around the boat.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/034.jpg

We decide to move as the wind comes up and cross another open bay looking for quieter water. As we move the boat’s push pole comes loose at speed and snaps in half as it hits the bottom. Damn! This ends our day and we’re just getting started. Greg’s not happy either as carbon fiber push poles don’t come cheap. Fortunately he has a back up at home for the next day.

The following morning is clear and calm and we head farther south and west bordering the gulf’s open water and the many oil rigs farther out to sea. There is some deeper water here that allows bigger fish to come onto the flats and hopefully to our flies. Several state and world records have come from right here Greg tells us. And soon enough I spot what appears to be at least a 25lber. coming straight for the boat. I make one quick cast and the big red turns tail across the flat. I choke for a moment and try to regain composure but this fish was definitely a lot bigger than what we’d been seeing.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/095.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/073.jpg

We continue on working small creeks between the grass islands picking fish up to 8 lbs. as we go but still looking for that BIG one Greg promised. This is definitely hunting first to find your fish and then the casting. We end our day with a nice double and decide to call it quits as the tide has topped out and the fish are totally laid up.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/088.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/098.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/114.jpg

On the way back to the marina we pass a small gator sunning himself. What an incredible place.

I know I’ll be going back soon, TONY BUZOLICH

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/087.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/118.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/060.jpg

[Darian]

Hey Tony,.... What a great trip!!! Thanks for sharing. It brought back some great memories. Never been to new Orleans but I was fortunate enough to spend a short period while a teenager in Long Beach, Mississippi, about 27 miles east of New Orleans on the gulf coast (not sure any of that town is still left after all of the hurricanes). At any rate, I caught Redfish, Speck's and spent some time eating sea food on the beach at some clambakes while down there. I feel the same way you do about going back. :D :D

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Wonderful post Tony....great photos.

Have always heard that Louisiana is the best for Redfish.

[FISHEYE]

Thanks for sharing Tony. I did my first trip there last March and have another scheduled for Dec. NOL is a wonderful place and those marshes are stunning.

[mems]

Who dat Tony, dem reds sure like dem shrimps. Glad you had a good time down in the Crescent City. I hope you got to go to some good places to eat. Jim looks like he enjoyed himself as well. It is fun sight fishing to big bulls, but those rat reds are lots of fun on small gear. Too bad no black drum. I haven't been back since Katrina, but a visit should be in order some time soon. Thanks for posting hope you got some oysters on the 1/2 shell. Don.

[Tony Buzolich]

Hey Don,

Geez, talk about good food everywhere. I feel like I put on twenty pounds. One day we even went looking for your old hangout and found Casamentos. It was closed when we went by and a bit hard to find being unfamiliar with all of the neighborhoods.... (actually we were lost :) ) Thankfully my wife brought her Garmin.

As for bull reds, we were a bit early. They really like the cooler water of winter but then you have to play the weather game.

One thing I can't say enough about is how clean everything is there. People just DON'T seem to litter. Everywhere we looked there were NO plastic bags, floating bottles, or trash laying around anywhere. Even street gutters or highway medians or river banks didn't have trash thrown around. People REALLY seemed to care .
TONY

[mems]

Sorry to hear Casementos was closed. It is off Magazine street and a little out of the way from downtown. I lived on fourth street in the garden district. I love that oyster bar. Thanks for telling me they cleaned up the city, that was always one of the bad things about New Orleans, especially durnig Mardi Gras, trash everywhere. I hope you guys got some good gumbo, and a hurricane. Tell Jim aloha for me, Don.