After the storm eased up and the skies finally cleared on Sunday, we were able to slip off the dock and get on the water for a little scouting mission. It was a true “one man, one rod” kind of day, quiet, focused, and all business. The main objective was simple: locate a couple of fresh honey holes for the upcoming tournament. Sure, I’ve got plenty of reliable redfish spots, but tournament fishing sometimes requires pushing farther, thinking differently, and exploring water you normally pass by.
The bite started off sporadic with quality fish here and there, but then we found a beautiful spoil island that was absolutely holding giants. We must’ve passed a dozen boats on the way in, yet once we slid into position, we had the entire stretch to ourselves — which is always a good sign. The depth changed dramatically from about 3.5 feet down to less than a foot, and every redfish we laid eyes on was 22 inches or better.
I marked the waypoint and kept moving, wanting to see if the pattern held elsewhere. We were throwing topwater plugs, Gulp on a 1/8-ounce jig head, and artificial DOA greenbacks. The wind was ripping, pushing over 10 mph at times, and even tucked behind mangroves, accurate casts took some work. Despite the conditions, the fish cooperated, and we managed to locate two brand-new hotspots that just might hold the winning tournament redfish when it counts most. Tight lines.
