Louisiana Redfish and Black Drum

[FISHEYE]

My friend Vernon and I went down to fish with guide Rich Waldner of Port Sulfur, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, LA for redfish on Dec 4-8. We only got to fish 4 days due to weather. The first 3 days were in the 80s, near 100% humidity, with wind and not much sun. The last day was really foggy, and cooler but we went anyway and did really well. This was my 3rd time fishing with Rich and as always he gave 110% everyday. V has fished with Rich many times. We started early based on the tides and always seem to be the last ones back at the launch right at dark. Rich is a retired Marine Colonel F-4 jockey and a really fun guy to fish with. Poling his flats skiff all day keeps him in fantastic shape. We saw a lot of fish every day and many, many big ones from 25-35 pounds. The best day was on day one when we got shots at many big bulls and landed 3 of 25#, 28#, and 30#. I lost a few due to the articulated fly I was using with only the trailer hook. Once I got rid of that I stopped dropping fish. On day 2 we also dropped some really big fish. I don't think they were really hammering the fly, just kind of picking it up. I fished a short black bunny fly, with a touch of chartreuse and copper UV polar chenille all week, and Vernon fished one of Rich's mullet patterns. Both have heavy lead eyes to get down fast. In addition to the bulls we caught a fair number of fish in the 10-15# range and many small fish. We also caught quite a few black drum with the biggest being 46# (my new personal best by 2#) and several in the mid- to high 20s. All fish caught were caught sight fishing in 10 to 24 inches of water. The last day when the wind died for a hour the big reds and drum were tailing in the shallow oyster beds. It was amazing to see these big fish tailing in the shallow water. We are going back next December!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0255_zps3c9c2df3.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0255_zps3c9c2df3.jpg.html)

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0246_zps46fada1b.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0246_zps46fada1b.jpg.html)

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0225_zps0b082837.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0225_zps0b082837.jpg.html)

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/DSCF0860_zps54a77f95.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/DSCF0860_zps54a77f95.jpg.html)

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0222_zps8d048be5.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0222_zps8d048be5.jpg.html)

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0220_zpsff988191.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0220_zpsff988191.jpg.html)

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0216_zps3f45f3a5.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0216_zps3f45f3a5.jpg.html)

28# Redfish
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/DSCF0859_zpsd2c1a900.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/DSCF0859_zpsd2c1a900.jpg.html)

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0192_zpse128fa3e.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/IMG_0192_zpse128fa3e.jpg.html)

30# Redfish
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/DSCF0855_zps5900a6a7.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/DSCF0855_zps5900a6a7.jpg.html)

25# Redfish
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/DSCF0852_zps39b2b082.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/DSCF0852_zps39b2b082.jpg.html)

46# Black Drum
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s240/BN2FSH/Dec%2013%20Redfish/46poundblackdrum_zpsd0f2db7c.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/BN2FSH/media/Dec%2013%20Redfish/46poundblackdrum_zpsd0f2db7c.jpg.html)

[David Lee]

Nice !!!!!!

D.~

[jbird]

Good grief Phil! Have any trouble getting your arm back in its socket after that trip? I gotta go do that!!

[Darian]

Holy Cats!!! Those are some really beautiful beasts. Congrats on a great trip. I've been debating about taking that trip for a couple of years. Looks like it's time to start planning. :cool:

[FISHEYE]

Darian, if you plan to go when the big bulls are there (November-Feb) better get cracking now. The best guides are probably already booked for next November and maybe December; I think Rich Waldner is almost all booked in those months and many days in Jan & Feb too. I think when the Mississippi starts getting muddy and that water gets into the marshes in the spring, the sight fishing goes away and so does the chance to target the big fish, but they still might be there. Plan on 6 days or so and you might get 4 or 5 due to weather. There are not as many guides fishing there as you would expect to my understanding, but there are some really good ones. You can check out Rich at fishwithrich.com. He is closer to the fishing than some of the other guides which makes for a longer day. This is not cheap and I think they mostly all charge $600 per day but it is worth it because its a beautiful area and redfish and drum are a blast. They don't fight like roosters or tarpon but there is something to be said for sight fishing big fish in a foot of water and watching them eat your fly. Pretty cool to to make a crappy cast and watch them turn around and nail a fly behind them.

[Darian]

Thanks for the info. I'll check out the guide you've mentioned. From everything I've read, November-December is the prime time??? Would there be any opportunity to to target big reds in October???

[FISHEYE]

I think some but it is better Nov-Feb. But contact Rich or just google some guides down there. You might also look at the Uptown Angler website but then book directly with the guide. Some names I remember are Greg Dini, Greg Moon, Kirby Lafleur, and I know of 3 others or so whose names escape me at the moment.

[Tony Buzolich]

Darian,

For two of the last three years Jim May and I HAVE gone in October and did very well on bull reds. Traditionally winter has been the season for bigger fish but that's not always the case. Some of it depends on your guide and how the conditions are when you're there.

We've been using Capt. Greg Moon for several years now and he knows where and how to find big reds. I know, everybody has their favorite guide and there are a lot of good ones. But Greg Moon and his partner Rocky Thirston are a couple of the best down there.

Greg has been telling us all year that the summer and fall have really been good too and that September of this year was one of the best months he's ever had with more big fish than he could imagine. If you go to his website at www.louisianaflyfishingcharters.com read a few of his older reports and take a look at some of the pictures of fish taken throughout the year, not just winter.

Jim and I have been talking about going back again even earlier next year when we don't have to bring along so many heavy clothes.

Here's a couple of October reds from this year.
Tony
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/IMG_4769aupload_zpsacfb58c9.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/IMG_4769aupload_zpsacfb58c9.jpg.html)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/IMG_4724upload_zpsba7d4471.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/IMG_4724upload_zpsba7d4471.jpg.html)

[Darian]

Tony,.... Check your PMs. :cool:

[jerry from sac]

Fished awhile back with Capt. Rich Walder and fishing was good when the weather cooperated. Fished the last couple of years with Rich and am very happy with him. The black drum weighed 36 lbs. I'm not a big fan of black drum, the big ones really don't fight very hard. I've caught many smaller ones and they fight okay. I've never been slimed so bad as this big one. Worse then any tarpon I've caught.
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae324/57jerry/RP16713.jpg (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/57jerry/media/RP16713.jpg.html)
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae324/57jerry/RP17013-1.jpg (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/57jerry/media/RP17013-1.jpg.html)
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae324/57jerry/RP17013.jpg (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/57jerry/media/RP17013.jpg.html)
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae324/57jerry/RP16513.jpg (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/57jerry/media/RP16513.jpg.html)
http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae324/57jerry/RP16313.jpg (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/57jerry/media/RP16313.jpg.html)

[Darian]

Looks like you had a great trip and the weather must've cooperated, too. The Redfish in the last photo has some really beautiful color. Thanks for sharing.... :cool: