For Day 3 with the Enabnits, we decided to head over to Orange Beach and target some redfish in the marshy creeks on the falling tide. It was a race to beat the falling water so we worked smartly and very quickly. For this type of red fishing, a small spoon, small spinnerbait or jerkshad in the prefered method but with beginners to this tricky fishery and relatively inexperienced anglers, a Marsh Works Big Poppy cork with a 3″ Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny proved most productive. We did get into some topwater action as well. As expected, we found very clear and very shallow water where redfish between 23-27″ were observed spraying shrimp along the marshy banks and inside creeks. Most areas held a feeding fish every ten yards. Most fish were found on the banks with their backs and eyes out of the water but we also launched corks down the middle and outwards to produce many redfish as well. Because the fellas wanted some redfish to take back to Atlanta, we concentrated on securing our limit quickly which only took about 20 minutes. After that, we screwed around with the video camera and launched topwaters at them which dramatically reduced the hookups for the trigger-happy anglers:) It was very fun and amusing to watch!! Anyway, it was a great morning with action around every corner and it was fantastic to introduce the enthusiastic anglers to this style of fishing. Many wait a lifetime to experience this morning’s stellar redfish conditions!! We didn’t count but 25+ redfish between 22-27″ is a safe estimate. Ended the morning at Lulu’s for some pints and appetizers. The Shrimp Quesadilla is very nice. Angler’s choice tomorrow but I think they want to take it easy, sip some beers and do some bottom fishing in the bay for grouper or whatever. Not my favorite or expertise but maybe they just need a break from all the redfish. In any event, it should be interesting!! How hard can it be? Book now to experience your own epic redfish trip at Redfish University. Openings after December 7 unless we have a cancellation. Thanks, E Holstman Please click an image to enlarge and view slideshow. *Viewer warning* Video contains an F-bomb...
Read MoreOver 300lbs of redfish at Redfish University-November 9, 2010
We were looking for some visual stimulation this morning for Day 2. Today, the Enabnits and I travelled to Destin, FL. for some shallow water sight fishing for bull redfish. The fellas appreciated the fact that Redfish University doesn’t troll nor throw at birds for these redfish adventures. Like yesterday, we found redfish in very shallow water. Unlike yesterday, these redfish were all over 30″ and 100% of our hookups were a result of sight fishing. Found the fish to be a mixture of challenging and pretty cooperative with a well-placed presentation. It took the fellas a little while to get the hang of it but before long, they were sticking fish regularly. Today we used 4″ Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny and Molting with an 1/8oz. Marsh Works Bull Red jighead. A lighter head helped present the bait more naturally. Several doubles today and strikes from trailing fish which was fun to watch. All fish released happy and healthy. Travelling to Orange Beach tomorrow morning for a redfish, trout and flounder festival. Book now to experience the thrill of Redfish University. Please click an image to enlarge and view slideshow....
Read MoreDay 2 IFA Redfish anglers at Redfish University-November 4, 2010
Today was Day 2 with the IFA Redfish Tour anglers. Again, teams and locations are obviously kept confidential with tournament anglers at Redfish University. Fair is fair..business is business. We decided to fish today(Thursday) since yesterday was so rainy. Cloud cover this morning and high winds made fishing very difficult again but we fished smartly and found plenty of fish before the front blew in. Very tricky conditions, I must say and unfortunately, it will get even more difficult. Stuck some quality fish in shallow water as well as deeper structure. In some areas, we found both slot and oversized redfish which is a great formula for success. Tournament begins tomorrow and I know the guys will do very well and have some heavy weights. A very enjoyable two days of fishing except for the high winds and seas. Good luck, fellas!! Book now to experience the wonder of Redfish...
Read MoreA morning of intrigue at Redfish University-October 31, 2010
Recent bay grouper and snapper reports(my friend Matt’s specifically) have stirred my curiousity. Certainly, Redfish University doesn’t consider bottom fishing it’s specialty and wouldn’t seriously entertain the thought of confidently guiding clients in this realm. My dad and website designer/marketer, Randy Hamilton; well, that’s a different story. Asked the guinea pigs to meet me on Texar at 700am. No bottom finder on the Hewes 21 Redfisher, no rodholders and I hadn’t thrown a bait net(a 12′ ) in about 15 years. After a few really pathetic spreads, I finally got back on track and opened a few big ones. For the first time in ever(10yrs), I filled the livewell on a flats boat with LIVE BAIT, the rod lockers with Penn 4/0 with 6oz. leads and circle hooks and rolled with great intrigue into the unknown. Arrived at an area with some patchy bottom structure and set up a drift with the outgoing tide. Used the GPS to track our path and made a few passes with our large live baits about five feet off the bottom. Randy finds the first fish which nearly jerked the rod out of his hands. A few moments later, a very nice 28″ grouper hits the deck of the 21 Hewes Redfisher. A few more break offs and some sharks in a few hour period then over to the Hilton for our weekly Sunday brunch, Stella Artois and bloodies. It was a fun little trip that I would like to do more often with friends and family. Grouper fish tacos are in the plans for this week! Book now to experience the thrill of Redfish...
Read MoreHigh pressure, very low production at Redfish University-October 29, 2010
Well, it was one of those days that we should have stayed in bed. Guided long-time client and Redfish U. VIP, Bob Willice, this morning in the upper bays for some redfish and trout fishing as well as some location and technique instruction. Bob, living on Santa Rosa Sound, has fished down there with me several times but has never entered East Bay or the Blackwater area. Our results from today may make certain Bob never returns to those areas!!! With the fish predictably biting so well pre-cold front, today’s high pressure, high winds and blue skies, were not exactly a great recipe for success. Nevertheless, we should still catch fish right? You would think… Started at 630am and covered some great speckled trout spots only to find catfish. Travelled further south to some fabulous redfish areas and threw the whole tackle box at them. The day after a cold front passes, it’s very important to scale down your baits, slow your retrieve to a crawl and get around as many fish as possible. We accomplished all three but both of us could not draw a bite. At 900am, I looked at Bob and said let’s go next Friday and we’ll act like today never happened. Bob agreed and we were off. Often times, negatives are accompanied by even greater positives. Because the fishing was so slow, Bob witnessed my panic mode and was able to see a huge amount of areas where there WILL be many fish in the coming weeks. We will return next Friday to find all these fish biting and in the locations they should be in. See ya Friday, Bob! Book now to experience the wonder of Redfish...
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