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EXTREME "SLOBBERKNOCKER" REDFISH (Aug. 2007)
There are "Slobberknocker" redfish and then there are "Extreme Slobberknocker" redfish
by Captain Dave Rogers

What is the difference? Any redfish that weighs over 35 pounds is in the extreme class. There are also those that push 50 pounds. This summer has produced several of those huge fish.
I had a nine year old boy catch a red that weighed 49 pounds according to the formula used to weigh fish. It is important not to hang a large fish in a vertical position. It can cause major damage to the organs, vertebrae and jaw. It is important to take care of these huge fish.

The Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon are home to some of the largest redfish in the world. Yes, the world record is 94 pounds 2 ounces and the fish was caught in North Carolina. The Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon is home to our fish. They have been here their entire lives. Our breeder fish can be caught all year long. The best months are usually from April through October. I have caught them in the other months just not on a regular basis. We have an unbelievable estuary.

Another unique feature about the lagoon is we have very little tidal fluctuation. The wind and rain have the greatest affect on our water levels. The big reds love that and they have many homes in the system. It is not uncommon to see schools of "Slobberknocker" redfish range from 20 fish to over 400 fish. There are times when I have seen even larger schools. It is truly an amazing sight that I witness on a daily basis. The great thing is, I never get tired of seeing these schools and I still get butterflies every time. When I coached and played ball I always got the same feeling prior to the game. It is all about the game. The big boy reds know how to play the game and they play it well. You have to have passion to play the game and I will always have that passion.

Another fantastic way to catch these fish in using top water plugs. Because the mouth of a redfish is on the lower part of the jaw they must lift their head above the water to eat a surface plug. The MirrOLure Top Dog and Poppa Dog are my tow favorite plugs. These plugs are great for two reasons. One is the distance you can cast these plugs. You almost need a license to fish two counties when tossing these baits. The other reason is the great action they produce. The Top Dog is great for walking the dog and the Poppa Dog works as both a chugging plug and a walking plug. When a big red eats one of these it sounds like someone dropping a bowling ball in the water. Totally awesome!

The big reds also eat cut mullet, cut ladyfish, blue crabs, shrimp, live or dead pinfish and live mullet. Usually I will carry several of these baits on the boat. Sometimes the will only eat one type of bait so you need to be prepared. When fishing these baits I use fifteen or twenty pound Power Pro Red with a twenty or twenty-five pound fluorocarbon leader tied together with a uni-uni knot. I use a Daiichi 4/0 circle hook and a Palomar knot tied to the hook. When you see the fish it is important to cast past the fish and in front of them. If you land the bait on top of the school it is over. Once you have the bait on the bottom let it sit and just hang on. When a fish picks it up you and the boat are going for a ride. It is like casting a line and hooking a Volkswagen going down the road. They are one strong fish.

Great patience is required when fishing for "Slobberknockers". They tend to be very aware of what is going on around them. There are some days when the just will not eat. When they are eating it is a blast. Catching five or more big fish is a pretty good day. There are times when you can catch ten or more. The best days I have had catching big reds was in July of 1999 and July of 2005 when we caught and landed 27 fish between 15 and 36 pounds. My anglers and I were flat worn out. These days I try to catch two or three fish per angler and then find another school.

Catching the "Extreme Slobberknockers" requires you to be fishing the right schools. There are usually the extreme fish in every school of large redfish, but there are a few schools that are nothing but monster fish. I have personally landed 22 redfish over forty pounds in the past ten years. I have had several clients accomplish that feat. It takes a little luck to hook one that size, but when you do it is well worth the effort. The sheer power and beauty of these fish make them the most sought after inshore game fish in the world. They are awesome!

Tight Lines and Good Fishing

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