The Tampa Bay Times

Redfish schools have invaded the flats around Pinellas point.  On a low tide in the morning, I look for a school on an outer sandbar.  These fish are staged on the edge waiting for the tide to come in.  Once the water level rises, the fish will move further onto the flat closer to the shoreline with mangroves and oyster bars.  I start early in the morning by throwing my 12 foot cast net under one of the many bridges.  I pick the brightest light and throw on the down current side.  The net will sink quickly away from the pilings, preventing it from getting caught on the bridge.  Scaled sardines, threadfins, and pinfish have all been caught in the net.  Using a large 12 foot cast net will fill the live well quickly.  Terns and seagulls have learned to look for boats.  I stopped throwing live bait chum because the birds have been so relentless on stealing our baits.  Once terns start diving into the water, they will spook reds and other targeted species. I like to use a 2/0 circle hook when targeting reds.  Redfish have thick skin around their mouth; this allows the circle hook to grab the corner once the line is tightened.  Do not set the hook, let the fish pull tight and just start to reel.  The hook will set itself.  If you set the hook, you will pull the hook out of the fish’s mouth because of the bend on the point.  It needs to work its way into the mouth before any hook set.  Captain Rob Gortawww.captainrobgorta.com727-647-7606

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