Here is a recipe that will knock your socks off. Preheat your grill to 350 degrees. Next throw on some hickory wood chips and charcoal. Now throw on a dirty old sock and two or three Menhaden, Bunker, Pogy, Old Wife, Bonyfish, Chebog, Hardhead, Yellowtail Shad, or whatever you prefer to call them. Grill for ten minutes. Remove the now dirty old burnt sock and the menhaden. Throw away the menhaden and eat the sock.
Sorry to disappoint those preparing their grill, but I know of no way to prepare a Menhaden sandwich that would be suitable for human consumption; however, I do know how to make a Menhaden sandwich that works great on large Redfish.
Redfish, Spotail Bass, Red Drum or as I have grown up calling them Channel Bass are quite the common catch this time of year. In recent years many folks have become accustomed to targeting these fish on the flats and in the shallows where large schools are spotted and anglers are able to sight cast to these “tailing reds.” With so much emphasis on these schooling fish on the flats many of folks fail to realize that Redfish are also present in the deeper inlets, holes and channels, thus the name Channel Bass. Furthermore from my experiences while less plentiful those fish residing in the deeper water are often times quite a bit larger than those on the flats. Targeting these larger Reds is not only exciting, but is also extremely easy fishing.
With fish often caught in the 30 plus pound range, I prefer to use 20 pound tackle. Lighter tackle may be used; however, you have to play the fish all the much longer, wearing them down all the more, and the chances of a strong and lively release diminish. A medium action rod capable of handling a 4 ounce pyramid sinker and a conventional reel loaded with 250 yards of line is ideal. While spinning tackle may be used I prefer a conventional reel because I usually fish with either the rod in the rod holder and the reel left out of gear with just the clicker on, or I hold the rod and keep my thumb on the sp