Fishing with Capt. George Tunison | Redfish ‘schooling’ is back in session
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You may have missed it, but school,s already started or ... redfish schooling activity is definitely underway in Southwest Florida and I'm happy as a clam about it.
Silently poling up on a patch of happy tails waving in the early morning sun, while their owners vacuum the bottom below for anything moving, still makes my hands shake with excitement. Moving the boat quietly ahead getting in casting position, making that perfect near splashless entry cast two feet ahead and to the edge of the school, the turn, the take, the fight and suddenly reels are quickly heating up.
Can't get enough of that action be it for bonefish, redfish, tarpon, permit or even for carp, shallow water sight fishing is one of angling's greatest thrills on any type rod but double the fun when using a fly rod.
I had just arrived in 2000 and soon started fishing the islands and flats leading into Burnt Store Marina. Leaving Matlacha an hour before sunup, the boat produced a long and beautiful underwater electric blue white light trail due to bio-luminance as we motored north into the blackness of Charlotte Harbor. Getting into position we quietly waited for the first light of the sun to illuminate the flats. Eyeballs straining in the half-light, suddenly you realize you're looking at a field of wagging tales. Casting to the edge of a huge school of 8 to 15-pound feeding reds often caused 2-4 fish break from class and race each other to be first to inhale some gold medicine, my gold spoon. All redfish are born hungry. Redfish in a school are not only hungry but highly competitive as well.
This fast action lasted for three seasons till all of a sudden everyone and their brother started camping out there until finally the huge redfish schools broke up. Over the last 22 years I've observed good numbers of schools and fall schooling activity in Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound but nothing like the numbers we witnessed in the very early 2000's. Right place, right time.
For the traditional spinning or bait casting angler in any region of the U.S.A. where redfish live in shallow water, you already know they will hit a variety of lures but the truth be told, you only need one. Time to take out the toothpaste and shine up the only shallow running redfish lure needed for these parts, your trusty gold spoon or, better yet, a small selection of them.
Probably the second most important redfish lure choice to have along would be a variety of fresh and saltwater plastics from vibrating paddle tails to flukes. Lures that can be easily skip-casted far back and under the brush, dock or unforgiving mangroves are the deal. If you're new to skip-casting, that means sweeping your rod tip mere inches from the water on the forward cast then releasing causing the lure to rapidly skip forward just above and on the water's surface allowing you to place your player far back and under where the fish are hiding.
The third lure to have along is your favorite topwater plug because shallow water reds love to inhale them, especially when they are schooling and quiet competitive. One of my favorites is an old school Arborgast Jitterbug in black or frog finish. Traditional Zara Spooks and Rapala Skitterwalks are also great choices.
The number four spot goes to your favorite fun out of the "normal" box of lure choices. Plastic frogs and creature baits for largemouth bass, spinner and buzz baits all work as well.
For others, the fly rod is the only weapon of choice. Big popping bugs, gurglers and sliders take care of surface duty while weedless gold fly spoons and hook-riding upward keel flies are hot choices for subsurface work.
Season is open year-round with a one per person limit; 18 inches to 27 inches to harvest. Two per vessel.
Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at (239) 579-0461 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.