Corpusfishing.com

michaeluhlig1 · Horse Mullet Joined: 17 Apr 2013 Posts: 122

This morning when I started fishing, I had no idea that I would be tagging my first Redfish of the year. He fought for 15 minutes, and honestly, I was praying the entire time. He measured 41 inches and weighed 26 pounds. It was an awesome experience. He ran from one side of the jetty to the other, and there were at least two times that my spool was running out of line. I give all the credit to the Lord Jesus Christ, because he kept me calm, and I remembered to "follow the fish". There were plenty of times the line could have rubbed the rocks or the he could have swam under them, but in the end, the enormous fillets are in my fridge.

I caught him on my bay rod and real. I had just gotten this 20 pound braid put on my Shimano Sienna yesterday at Tackle Town. My daughter was very impressed. I am thankful my father taught me to fish, and now, I have been able to teach her as well.

Of course, I had to take the fish to show my Pastor, Donald Leavell. Since my wife also works at Corpus Christi Christian Fellowship, it made for quite the "show & tell". When I arrived, Pastor was in a staff meeting, so everyone got to see the monster!

I am very thankful to have caught this beautiful fish. The meat looked great also. After having reflected on my adventure today, I am so very thankful that I was able to land this fish. A young man helped net him, and to him I am also thankful. Praise the Lord!!!

gut bucket · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2016 7:21 pm Post subject:

Congrats man! Happy for ya on such a beautiful red fish!

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

That's a trophy! Congratulations on a nice catch.
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saltlife · Finger Mullet Joined: 11 Oct 2014 Posts: 47

What did you use for bait was there any others caught?

ziacatcher · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2016 8:01 pm Post subject:

Enjoyed the report and pics. Was able to feel your excitement. Congrats.

AnmRanch · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 26 Jul 2013 Posts: 353

Congratulations on a trophy fish!

Oil Field Trash II · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 1560

congratulations, that's a bruiser!

snakecan2 · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 11:29 am Post subject:

not sure what is bigger or nicer the fish or that smile on your face.

nice job
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SAFisher · Finger Mullet Joined: 08 Sep 2015 Posts: 16

That is a beauty!! What did you catch it on?
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Peter Hammers them!!

michaeluhlig1 · Horse Mullet Joined: 17 Apr 2013 Posts: 122

Thank all of you for the kind words. I caught him using about a 4 inch live mullet. My set up was no more than a 3/4 ounce egg weight with a 4/0 circle hook. Typically, I use croaker hooks with the occasional circle hook set up if I know I am fishing for huge reds or black drum. However, on Saturday my wife and I were fishing the little bridge and I lost a good fish. I didn't know why, but my suspicion was the hook failed, because the on our previous 3 reds, I didn't even need pliers. Those croaker hooks practically fell out of their mouths once we landed them. That's why I bought these 4/0 circle hooks for Tuesday's trip. They are thicker and less likely to bend or break. I was also using a 40$ rod from Walmart and my real of choice- Shimano Sienna. For whatever the reason, my reals do not last very long, so the Sienna is a 29.99$ spinning real that can be replaced if I drop it in the sand too many times!

Honestly though, I am truly grateful for the experience yesterday. Sometimes I don't catch anything at all, but aren't we blessed, that we can just get on the water and fish.

Yesterday, there were just so many things that could have gone wrong that didn't; which is why I gave the Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. I hooked him on the surf side of the south jetty and oddly he showed himself, or at least his monster tale before his first run. Twice during the fight, I was running low on line. After simply running away from the jetty, he then ran out the end of jetty. When this grandfather of a fish hit that open water, I thought for sure I wouldn't turn him. My line was humming as he fled into deeper water. Those of you who fish jetty know how easily the fish can become entangled in the rocks, or how quickly your line can snap if he rubs the line up against a rock. I followed him to the channel side and then back to the end. Just when I thought I was steering him close enough to be netted, he started violently ripping his neck from side to side, in what appeared to be a last minute attempt to free himself from The hook. He did the neck whip 4 or 5 times, and I kept thinking, "This fish is so smart", but I guess he knew a trick or two, to have been 41 inches & 26 pounds. Nonetheless, the man next to me netted him after the 15 minute battle, and I have been SMILING ever since!!!

shallowsport · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 2:36 pm Post subject:

An epic catch! Shocked

Thanks for the story & the pictures.
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OSO YAKMAN · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 10:07 pm Post subject:

Very nice catch. Congrats. Thanks for the pictures.
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ironmanstan · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2016 5:24 am Post subject:

That's a bigun.....you can feed the whole family with one fish maybe twice. Very Happy

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robo42053 · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2016 4:56 pm Post subject:

Good deal, must have been fun.