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[daveyboy]

went out by the church on the island with two buddies and came across a whole bunch of redfish tailing in about 18" of water. we threw croaker and piggies with no luck. they were right in front of us. tried some lures but nothing. and i left my gold spoon in the truck. there were no sandpockets just grass. everytime i threw a lure nothing but grass came up. no topwaters with us either. wish i knew what they were feeding on? Does anyone have any ideas why they wouldnt hit or any suggestions what to use to make them hit?

thanks
dave

[Skipjack]

Alot of times when they have their heads stuck in the mud like that they are feeding on crabs.

My friend Mr. Champ has a place right on the Oso and I have learned a few things about redfish and crabs. Champ will throw all of the fish remains at the dock so that the crabs will come in. The redfish will feed on those crabs.

The interesting thing about the crabs is they will bury themselves under the mud so you can't see them. The only thing you see is a little water movement where they breathe. It looks like a small volcano. Anyways, you can scoop your net down over that volcano of water and scoop up a good bait sized crab. Then, you throw that crab out there. The reds will be tailing along with their heads in the mud trying to spook the crabs out of the mud for a free meal.

Alot of the time, those reds won't hit croaker, mullet, piggys and shrimp cause they are on a crab feeding frenzy.

You throw that crab out there and its instant redfish. I have seen it happen many times.

Hope this helps. Get a crab that is about 2 inches across maybe 3 inches. Those little guys are money.
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-Skip

[FlakMan]

I use a small gold or black spoon with a crab FishBite teater on a 1/0 Owner Aki hook. Just stop the spoon in front of the red and it will suck it up.
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Ahh sand between my toes!

[daveyboy]

thanks and i was wandering where could i get baitsized crabs? Maybe the T-Heads or something..

dave

[jason79reds]

Had the same thing happen on 8-8-04. Found several grass beds in copano with reds cruising. spent 3 hours sight casting to reds with very little luck. i aslo noticed them feeding on crab, but had nothing in the tackle box that resembled a crab. had a few hits on sand eels and buzz baits but no hook ups.

[tyler]

and tip it with a crab flavored fishbite. Those baits are about the size you are talking about.
Magic even had a tarpon eat one in the surf off his yak last summer.

[rabbit]

I think roys may have a jig that is a crab imitation.
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Fishing and Kayaking its a rough life but somebody has to do it.

[GoinCoastal]

Soft plastics will work too!!!

If you rig a red/white plastic weedless on a light jig (1/16oz) and work it above the grass, they 'll find it. I use red/white most all the time and I have had tailers jump on it.

If the grass is floating everywhere, rig a large plastic worm weedless and weightless. Swim it slowly thru the grass. I like to use worm rattles too. Often, this can attract their attention.

If they just won't hit anything at all, go to a plastic crab.

You can use an Exude or DOA crab. The way you work them is the way a crab moves. Now, most of us think of crabs crawling along the bottom. That's true but that's not the way they swim. They haul butt sideways and swim up in the water column. If you just swim the crab lure thru the water, the red will see it & often hit it just like that. However, if they are finicky....... a real crab will swim until he sees a predator at which time he will stop and head to the bottom to hide. Do the same with the plastic crab. Swim it until its close to the reds, then stop and let it drop. Now wait for a few seconds. If nothing moves toward it, do it again. The key is letting your crab "hide".
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GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet

[rabbit]

Hey coastal how do you cast those weightless plastics? Im luck if I can get ten feet with one
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Fishing and Kayaking its a rough life but somebody has to do it.

[GoinCoastal]

I use spinning gear, a large worm, sand eel or assassin, and I cast with the wind. You will be surprised a how far it will go. Personally, in those conditions, I will actually will use freshwater plastics so I can go bigger. I like 11" worms or the original SLUGGO soft plastic jerk baits on wide gap offset worm hooks.

Also, Mustad has a new keel weighted keeper hook that places the weight under the soft plastic as opposed to the front like a jighead. That too helps to keep grass from hanging on the lure. I just started using these and I really like them. Gives the lures a slower fall with more wobble than a weighted jighead.
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GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet

[pescador76]

I am new to this board and I just want to say thanks to all who give of their experiences and help starters like me feel included immediately.

[rabbit]

Thanks I will check those out
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Fishing and Kayaking its a rough life but somebody has to do it.

[Allen Ricketts]

Sometimes when you run into a school of reds tailing, they are rooting up coquina clams also, dang near inpossible to get them to hit anything. A friend that sight casts for reds and has been doing so for many years told me that sometimes when they are feeding on clams or a new crab hatch, chunk a topwater a just barely twitch it real slow near the reds. Sometimes it will piss a red off and he will hit the lure out of plum meaness. Good luck, Allen

[Mr. Champ]

This time of year the reds are tailing thick, so I have a great time practicing fly techniques. The advantage you have now is that you can get extremely close without spooking them, and you do not have to throw in front of them to lead them out.

I'll tie on a clouser of any color or a crab fly and toss it over the top of the school, then just strip it through the crowd. 8/10 casts will produce a red, and nothing is more fun than reds on fly. This gives you an excellent opportunity to practice casting and fighting the fish.

Try it, you won't be disappointed!

-Cheers-
Champ
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Everyone should believe in something.... I believe I'll have another.

[waterdoc]

SKIPJACK AND COASTAL ARE RIGHT ON. WITH CRAB FLIES YOU WANT TO HIT HIM IN THE HEAD , GET HIS ATTENTION THEN LET IT SIT HOLDING THE LINE AND WAIT FOR IT TO TIGHTEN. USING 1/0 CIRCLE HOOKS WITH LONG LEGS SOME JB WELD ON THE BOTTOM FOR BETTER RESULTS