First, I would like to apologize for the lack of content over the past few months. My personal life has been a total mess lately and things are starting to get back into a better rythm now. Thank you for being patient on more blogs and I promise that video will be coming. We are still fighting to get all of our video back from our first videographer. If there is anyone here who knows someone who is good at editing video, please pass their name along.
Now, lately we've been seeing a ton of schooled Redfish in the Upper Laguna Madre as well as occasional schools in the Aransas and Redfish Bays as well. What brings me to use this as a discussion point is the method in which many, many people are using to "chase" these schools. There is a right way and an entirely wrong way to fish these schools. Patience is key to having success on schooled fish. Being impatient with them will create less catching, not only for you, but everyone else who is trying to get in on the action.
First, once you've spotted a school of fish, it is best to see what direction the school is moving before just rushing into the middle of them. "Running and Gunning" a school will work for a few times if you have them to yourself before the shut down and refuse to feed. Most times using this method will shut them down for hours. The best method is to be slow and quiet around them.
I like to see which direction the school is moving towards and then get at least 100 yards or even better 200 yards away from them, then jump up on plane running directly away from the school. I then make a big circle around the school to stay away from them and get out in front of them and the direction they are running to. I then deploy my trolling motor and use it only to keep in front of them. Once they get about a 100 yards away and I'm in position for them to come to me, I shut down the trolling motor and let them come to me. I would rather not power pole down as it creates "hull" slap on the back of the boat and can spook them to turn and run a different direction. So, drifting into them is the best method. Now, once they are within casting distance, I make my cast. When I feel the fish take my lure, I do not make a hard hook set. I gently put a little pressure on them and use a lighter drag setting. Just enough that they can slowly pull drag, but weakens the fish. I let the fish fall to the back of the school and once he is away from the school, I begin putting more pressure on the fish and get him in the boat.
It is important not to just lay the fish in the bottom of the boat and have him slap the deck loudly and make the school spook. I hold the fish in the air while in the net and remove him that way. This method will keep the school calm. If your lucky, the school will not run real hard and you can use your trolling motor to get back into position to do it again. If the school is moving at a quick pace, I use the trolling motor to move the boat away from the school again before starting my outboard engine. I simply repeat what I just did and get on them again.
Using your outboard engine is possible to use if you do not have a trolling motor. You just have to set up and hopefully the fish will not move on you when they get to close to start your motor. Most of the time a school of fish is moving to an area to feed. They will roam in an area and feed and sometimes you can simply let them go to where they want to be to feed and then simply ease into position and anchor or power pole down where the fish will come to you. They will circle or move back and forth, allowing you to stay in one spot and have them move to you. As they come by, you cast in, use the method of setting the hook that I described and bring the fish to the boat. Most of the time, by the time you get your fish in, dehook, and get them into your cooler, they are coming by again. This is the best method as you might understand.
Last, if the school is what we like to call "wild", they will create a huge head ache for you. Trust me, when people are out using the "run and gun" method, they will get wild on you. They will be moving so fast that it will be hard to keep up with them. Normally when this happens, the fish are not feeding. They are running from the boats and are spooked. You may get a fish or two to eat, but it will be very frustrating. I suggest, getting away from the school and leaving them alone for a period of time, maybe an hour. Come back and look for them quietly. If they have settled down, they will eat. It's getting them to settle down and getting the other fisherman on the water to be patient and let them come back to you.
Another method that works well is a "rodeo". A rodeo only works if you have every boat in the rodeo knowing what their job is. You can get each boat about 10 feet apart in a large circle. The boats on the other side of the circle need to far enough away that everyone can reach them middle of the circle, without casting over the others lines. This will give the fish some distance from the boats and they have no way out. Most of the time, the fish will not run under a boat, unless the water is deep enough. If you are in 3' or so of water, they tend not to like to run under the boats. Thus, the big circle will keep them corralled and everyone can rodeo on the school. Again, this only works if everyone in the rodeo understands what to do. Don't be afraid to tell people if they are making a mistake. Trust me, one mistake from one boat will screw it up for everyone.
This past weekend I was witness to people that did not know what they were doing and the large school got extremely wild and the fish did not want to eat. There were 14 boats trying to chase these fish when the method to catch them should have been as I described earlier. Everyone being patient and simply getting in a line and letting them come to us. I was lucky enough to have gotten on them early and caught our fish early. Once the other boats started running and gunning it was over. It actually was a huge site to be seen. Quite commical at times.
So, the next time you find a school of Redfish, try these methods and you'll see your catch numbers go through the roof! Good luck to you and your fishing buddies as we roll into some of the best Redfishing in August. Trust me, August is the time when these schools are large and feeding. You can see some things that many people never get to witness. It really is something to be seen. If you'd like to take a trip with me to see this, feel free to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call me at 361-443-3784. Until next time.... Good fishing to you all!
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