They’re back. The ole’ “SLOBBERKNOCKERS” are back in force. I have seen several schools in the Indian River Lagoon and the Mosquito Lagoon recently. I noticed some were a little spooky, but they will eat if you are patient. We are talking about a trophy fish of a lifetime. One of these giant redfish will make your day. Usually these magnificent fish return in good numbers in February and March. The opportunity to catch these creatures remains solid through October.
It is really important to approach these fish with caution and stealth. One thing I have noticed recently is the misuse of trolling motors. Too many anglers have become lazy and use the trolling motor instead of the push pole. You may still be able to catch large reds with a trolling motor, but you will not catch as many. One of the worst mistakes anglers make when fishing large schools is approaching the fish from the back. When you are behind the fish they can feel the pressure from the boat. Keep the school off to the side and keep the sun at your back so you can see the fish. The worst possible scenario is using a trolling motor, pushing behind the school and casting over the top of the school.
Casting your bait in the proper position is another key factor. The ideal method is casting in front of the school and coming across the face of the fish. If you cast over the school and the bait is coming toward the fish it does not look natural. Have you ever seen a school of bait fish swim toward a school of redfish? I don’t think so. If you can have the bait swimming across and away from the fish you will increase your chances of hooking up ten fold. These fish are not stupid. They have seen it all and become more educated each year.
There are many types of baits you can use to try to coax a “SLOBBERKNOCKER” into eating. They can be very finicky and some days they may be looking for one certain bait. I will always try to catch one with artificial bait first. Some of my favorite choices are top water plugs, a Rip Tide four inch Mullet on a 1/8 ounce jig head, a gold spoon, and maybe the most successful bait, a jerk bait rigged on a Daiichi “Butt Dragger” hook. You will have to vary your retrieve on all of these baits until you get a bite. If the fake stuff won’t work then go to live or cut bait. A free line mullet or pinfish rigged on a circle hook may work best. A big jumbo shrimp with split shot is hard for the big fish to refuse. If those baits fail try blue crab or cut mullet. One bait they will almost never refuse is fresh cut ladyfish. If these don’t work, try a stick of dynamite, because they ain’t eatin’ that day.
Finding these fish can be a chore. Most of the time they will be in deeper water and sometime they can be hard to find if it is windy. Big redfish like to hang out around drop off areas where they have easy access to deep water. When it is calm they are much easier to find. Some key factors to look for would be the water rising as they push through the water column. Look for a color change. Sometimes it may be a dark spot in the water and other times you will see the red tint shining brightly. Many times you will see the fish swimming with their fins barely breaking the surface. The ultimate way to see them is when they are tailing in three feet of water. When you see a redfish with his broom like tail above the surface your heart will pound. It is an awesome sight.
One last area of importance is your tackle. Make sure you have taken steps to ensure landing a “SLOBBERKNOCKER”. Use no less than a medium heavy rod with some backbone. Karma Rods have some awesome products on the market. I spool my Quantum reels with 15 pound Power Pro fishing line. I like to have no less than 125 yards of line. When fishing for the big fish I use no less than a 20 pound fluorocarbon leader. Usually I will step up to 25 or 30 pound test. Generally a 3000 series reel will do the job. Make sure you have tied new knots and check for any weak spots in your line. A great way to check knots is to attach your hook to the boat eye and walk out 50 yards of line and see if you can move the boat. This is also a great way to check your drag. Your drag setting is so important. The drag must be set right to land a giant red.
Hopefully these tips will help you land your “SLOBBERKNOCKER” of a lifetime!
Tight Lines and Good Fishing
