Father's Day, just one...

Father’s Day, took out Father-in-law and Dad. Morning incoming tide. Lots of bait around, but the bait didn’t seem to be bothered by bigger fish.

Fished a creek mouth with a few small bites, none landed. Using Gulp shrimp, Trout Eye jigs, popping corks. Moved up a creek looking for more action and spotted some big fish breaking the surface, and lots of them. Hoping for some Redfish action we anchored up current and drifted into the spot. We soon realized we were in the middle of a Gar feeding fest. Big ones, some 3 to 4 feet long, and they didn’t care about us or anything we cast near them. Breaking as close as 5 to 10 feet of boat. Strange.

Another oddity/ surprise. At one point, pulled up the anchor and when I got to the chain, there was a full size horseshoe crab hanging on. I almost grabbed it by mistake not paying attention.

Trying to break the skunk, we went back to the creek mouth/point where we started throwing our artificials. Remembered I had a large finger mullet I had caught in the cast net earlier in the day. Put it on a carolina rig and threw it in the middle of the main creek behind us, stuck the rod in a holder and continued to fish the creek mouth.

Nothing.

And then…

The carolina rig started pulling slow and steady. Set the hook and then it started PULLING. Taking line, a lot of line. Figured I had a big ray or a shark. We pulled anchor to chase the fish and avoid getting spooled as the fish was going with the current up the creek.

Fishing with a 6’ 6" medium action rod, spinning reel. Perfect for trout.

Half a dozen big runs and big head shakes.

Chased for ten minutes, spun the boat 360 a few times, dove over the trolling motor, almost wrapped the outboard twice as the fish kept swimming under the boat.

Finally, it took two of us to land it. Front half in the net back half holding the tail…

Bump board measures up to 40"

A nice fish but a real nice catch on 12lb mono.

Thanks “40” It was nerve-wracking.

Thought I might hear from you since it was a 40…inch…red.:sunglasses:

Also, my first red of the year.

Great report!


2017 Sportsman 211 w/ F150XB “Marital Property”

#TheWorstFishermanInTheWorld

Had a few friends ask what was the weight. Didn’t have scale/grip and have read on CF it’s very bad for a bull red fish to hang from the jaw anyway. Any guess of weight for a 40 inch red?

Thanks in advance.

length x girth x girth / 800. Guessing the girth to be 18 to 20 gives you
40 x 18 x 18 / 800 = 16.2 lbs
40 x 20 x 20 / 800 = 20.0 lbs

It’s a nice fish for sure!

They are between 20 to 30lbs depending on build id say 26lbs since it looks healthy, this says 25lb 4 oz. http://txmarspecies.tamug.edu/length-weight.cfm. ive seen people do length girth formula and it was basically the same as the link i puts weight.

That’s a monster inshore fish! Great job, and good on ya for not hanging it for a weight. I’ve been guilty of it myself in the past several times, but like to avoid it now.


1994 Hewes Redfisher 18, 2004 Yamaha 150 VMAX
Malibu X-Factor Kayak

Wow, nice fish, congrats!

I’m not a Dr, those are my initials and I cant edit my user name. Please do not contact me regarding medical issues :slight_smile:

Thanks Mrhardware, and 40inreds. Does that formula apply to most fish or just drum type fish?

Im not sure of the formula but the link does weight for most fish in our waters and is pretty accurate.