You say you enjoy fishing the shallows for puppy drum? Well, of course you do! This month we talk with Captain Jonathan Bland of Bay Bound Guide Service about catching reds in shoal water.
Q: What's your go-to tackle when chasing reds in the shallows?
A: I like to use a 6’8” medium rod, extra fast action, 10-pound braid, and about three feet of 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. Any 2500 to 3000 series reel will do the job. St Croix makes numerous nice affordable rods with these specs.
Q: What's your favorite lure and/or bait, and why?
A: My favorite lure to throw for reds in the shallows is a quarter-ounce Texas Eye jig with a four-inch Z-man paddletail, just about any color, but I prefer ones with some gold flash in them. The places I fish have lots of grass and this lure allows me to fish them without getting snagged. It also throws really well and is a great “locator” lure, allowing me to cover a lot of water in a short period of time. Once I locate fish, I typically switch to a MirrOlure or jerk baits, that really get the fish’s attention and draw reaction strikes.
Q: How do you like to fish those paddle tails?
A: When fishing for puppy drum you need to slow your lure down, people are often reeling too fast. Even in just two or three feet of water you’ll miss opportunities. A slow retrieve allows the fish to see the lure and chase it down.
Q: What type of spots do you look for the reds in?
A: When fishing for reds I like to target grass beds or oyster bars. On the Lower Bay grass beds are plentiful, and finding ones that have the clearest water surrounding them is important. Fishing the leeward side of creeks, sod banks, or points will help with finding clean water when it’s windy. Focus on environmental features like the mouths of little creeks and guts or tucked away coves that are thick with grass.
Q: What haven’t we talked about yet that you believe is key to catching drum in the shallows?
A: Fun fact: the hardest part of red drum fishing is finding them, not necessarily getting them to bite. They’re very opportunistic feeders and will eat just about anything you throw at them and if the lure is near them, they’ll likely eat it. Finding them is what’s challenging. They love to eat juvenile crabs, so environments like shallow grass beds and oyster bars are conducive since crabs live in these environments. And don’t hesitate to fish in water shallower than three feet—reds like the shallows, that’s where the bait they feed on is. And by the way, when taking a boat into unfamiliar shallows fishing an incoming tide gives you some insurance if you are to run aground.
If you’d like to jump aboard with Capt. Jonathan and chase after those redfish, among other Chesapeake Bay species, contact him via phone or text at (410) 610-4971 or email at [email protected].