Last week’s charters aboard the “Hook and Ladder” have been producing some amazing catches of redfish. The fall run of these fish has recently began to show up on the flats of Sarasota and Tampa bays. Catches of twenty or more of these bruisers were the norm last week. Most fish have been in the 23-26 inch range with a few pigs getting up to 34 inches. We have been keying in on the mullet schools close to the mangroves on high tides and then following the troughs that run off the flat on the lower tides. These troughs serve as fish highways on the exceptionally low tides we have been having.

Next time you are out fishing, pay attention to the subtle changes in depth at the edge of the outside bar of any grass flat. What you will see is a series of small natural channels that funnel the water off of the flat on outgoing tides. The largest of these usually hold snook and other predators that ambush prey leaving the shallower water of the inside grass flat. Target your efforts here to capitalize on our low tides we are having this week.

Last Wednesday I had a charter with Ian, Joyce, Matthew, Mike, and Fay Griffin all the way from Great Britain. Using the technique listed above proved fatal for a few redfish destined for the dinner table and at least 20 left my boat with sore lips.