Tag Archives: fishing
Gentle Casts
How to fly cast gently.
One fly casting technique that proves itself very valuable in the saltwater world is learning how to lay down the fly and line gently. Producing gentle casts can mean great catching and less spooking of the fish you are stalking.
The real challenge though is performing these gentle casts while your eyeballs are popping out of your own head in your excitement! Staying calm and not rushing the cast produces more hookups than trying to rush and hitting the fish too hard.
Here in this clip you can see David does a great job maintaining his composure. This pod of redfish are tailing along the spartina grass edges. You can hear us whispering to each other as he makes 3 casts in order to get the crab fly in the right spot.
On such a calm day you can be sure those fish would have spooked had the fly been too heavy or if he had cast “down” at the fish. Communication on the skiff in the moment is also key to our success.
Landing the fly softly is achieved by aiming your casting loop about eye level above the fish. When presenting the fly, be a little more gentle on the final forward stroke.
To do this, stop the rod tip early in your forward cast. Leave it up a bit longer than usual as you let the weight of the fly line gently pull the rod down. It would go from the 1 or 2 o’clock position down in front to the horizontal position.
With a little routine practice, you can use your line hand to feather it all down slowly. This will help the fly line lay out straight and gentle. That way the fly lands right and softly. For those redfish, you want to be able to move the fly on the first strip. Then you will be able to set the hook properly. And that hungry redfish will then gulp down your crab fly. Fish on!
Book NOW with Capt Kenjo! Great weather is in the forecast!
Whether the Weather
The weather forecast looks amazing! Come on down and get in on the prime winter days before they elapse! Call Capt Kenjo NOW to get on board.
Whether the weather, or not, winter-time is some of the best sight-fishing of the year.
Once the skies go bluebird after a cold front passes through, high pressures kill the wind and warm the shallow waters. Now is the time to strike! The fish wont be everywhere but usually this time of year you will find greater quantities of fish in an area and often times, greater quality of redfish as well.
Focus on niche areas in these seasons as extreme weather ebbs and floods and learn why fish are where they are when they are there.
All the different bottom types such as sand, grass beds, bars, mud, shell, back waters, and main shorelines all have potential to have fish at different times. The tide levels and weather patterns all dictate how and where we find the fish. It can be a slow feed on the fish’s part because when they are cold. Just don’t make them chase the fly down too far or too fast otherwise they will turn off.
Nonetheless, a slow feed does not mean the fish are not hungry because they certainly are. Miniscule strips timed perfectly with well placed and gently laid out casts will most likely get those cold but hungry redfish to eat the fly for you. Just think, this time of year, they cannot afford to pass up a meal either. Sight fishing is exceptional on the Texas Coast during the Winter months. Go outside and look up at the sky if you are nearby. Then call me ASAP to get on flats and catch some winter time redfish! Capt Kenjo can be reached directly at 361-500-2552.
Fly Fishing the Texas Coast
Fly Fishing the Texas Coast in September, October and November is some of the best times to fly fish the Texas Coast. We will likely see larger than average redfish cruising the fats, and in between we expect to find schools of redfish and drum too. Dates are available! Book Online Now or call Capt Kenjo direct for prime dates.
Summer Summary: The summer months on the Texas Coast this year was exceptional again. In regards to the weather, well, lets just say we got wet like the fish and we hunkered down every now and then to wait out a fast moving isolated storm, or two… or three. Before I move on with the Summer Summary, my heart goes out to those in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Help them out any way you feel you can help.
In and around Port Aransas, fly fishing through June and July was productive but difficult in a few ways. Low light, heavy rainfall quite amounting to 3 years work of annual rainfall caused the water to turn off the fish for a short period. There were times when the water looked like someone had mixed cranberry juice with coffee and there were also small and isolated pockets of better water. Nonetheless, we got it done and found fish every time. A short time later the water returned to normal and began producing the fish we all desired. I use Wunderground and FishWeather apps for my weather forecasts.
Fly Fishing the Texas Coast in August was also great when some stability in the weather arrived. The fishing accelerated then and the numbers of redfish schools are growing daily. We also got offshore and chased tarpon and shark in the surf zone on the fairest of days. We managed to hook one tarpon right away and break it off immediately but later we had another 4-5 foot tarpon take a swipe at our shark fly but did not commit.
September fish activity will continue to improve and remain very consistent through November. You can find an available date by using the Book Now button, choose the type of trip you are looking for and the calendar will be displayed for you to select a date that works best for you.
There are many more pics and stories to share so we will save those for another time. Get on the books to experience fly fishing the Texas Coast and lets ramp up the fall run early while the waters and weather is fairly quite again!
Texas Jacks on the Fly
Mighty Texas Jack Crevelle
There are times where the weather shifts the voracious activities of the mighty Texas jack crevelle. It can go from Off to Wide Open in an instant. That is when we need to be ready to strike. Then it can go from On back to Off again just like that! As the weather changes dramatically and frequently during the late spring season, it can move the fish around but they still have to eat.
One thing is certain, if they disappear from one area, they will reappear in another at any time. In full force, when it is time, they will put on the feed-bag! Variables continue to evolve and all of these get the fish staged and worked up to put on a grand ole show! So get on the books now for your chance at catching one of these Texas Jack Crevelle! The last few dates open are June 14-17 and this particular week could prove to be very exciting!
Rob and I hunted high and low for the jacks but didn’t track them down immediately. So we detoured to the flat, picked off his first redfish on fly then heading back out into another area to scout for the jack crevelle and sure enough, we found them, off the beaten path and Rob crushed 3 of these fish on his first saltwater fly trip ever! Knowing how to double haul absolutely helped Rob throw the 11-wt the first time and get that big popper fly where it needed to be!
Here is a short video of a big Texas jack that I had hooked up with while scouting before a client trip. Sorry for the rough work but I was working the skiff solo! I was using the R.L. Winston 11wt B3 Plus paired with Hatch Finatic 9 Plus with the drag rather tight. The Winston Alpha Series is latest and greatest and I’ll be adding the 12wt Alpha to the skiff soon!
Seasoned Black Drum
Spring is the time to be fly fishing for seasoned black drum and sunshine is NOT required! All along the Texas Coast black drum are moving and feeding, despite fog, rain, wind and bluebird skies. I highly recommend we wade fish for these “siphons of the flats” to be most effective in catching as many as possible and to keep from displacing the school of drum from their own dining areas.
While sunshine is not required to sight fish for black drum, and even redfish, one thing that helps a fly angler most on the Texas Coast is having a clean, quiet and straight cast paired with a smooth retrieve of the fly. If you can make the drum chase your fly you can get them to eat it. Game on! Fish ON!
There are still a few dates available next week for fly fishing trips in Port A! So if you want to fly fish the Texas saltwater marsh on foot for seasoned black drum, sunshine is not required! Simply book online or give me a call asap to get some black drum in your hands despite the weatherman being such a sour-puss.
Call Capt Kenjo immediately at 361-500-2552 or reserve online at your convenience with the button below!
If you care to harvest some drum, you can prepare your seasoned drum blackened style it like Emeril.
Fall Floaters Rolling Redfish
It is the beginning of the Fall Run and everything looks like a red drum target to me… “There they are! Hold your cast… Wait… Wait… OK! Now! Cast!” The Fall Floaters Rolling Redfish are certainly busting their guts with shrimp crabs and finger mullet right now!
NOTICE: Last minute cancellation for next week (Nov 10-12)! Book immediately and get $100 off each day of fishing when you book all 3 days! Call Capt Kenjo TODAY to make your reservation. 361-500-2552
Meanwhile, as soon as we hooked up to a redfish, the other fish in the vicinity started coming right for us! I try to zoom my $150 smart phone to “capture” the moment just as the redfish are right in front of us. To truly admire nature for all its pricelessness it is best to be there, in the moment. It is so cool just to see them doing their thing. Sometimes schools of redfish will push along a shoreline whopping any and all bait in their paths.
Redfish schools doing all sorts of tricks are abundant during the Fall Run. Floaters are when the redfish will hover just below the surface or swim by casually cruising. They are easy to see even in bad light. And if the red drum are not doing that you can expect the redfish to be tailing on crabs in the grass. Other times they are popping, whopping, and even have their backs out of the water belly crawling over the mud. Here is an archived article showing our catches of Fall Floaters & Rolling Redfish Tails. In a few days I will post a recent video of “backing” redfish in the mud right after a cold front and the water temps dropped to 56 degrees Fahrenheit!
Call now or BOOK NOW online for your express convenience! Capt Kenjo 361-500-2552
Fly Fishing Texas Redfish
Fly fishing Texas Redfish is spectacular during the Fall Run in Port Aransas. You can imagine witnessing a school of redfish hump it down the shoreline whopping mullet. Redfish will be schooling throwing wakes and tailing as the falling tides move crabs shrimp and mullet out of the grass. As they do, redfish explode viscously on mullet and shrimp. Because of this classic behavior, this is a perfect time to utilize top-water flies.
My favorite months for sight fishing redfish on the fly is in September October November and even December. As the water cools it thins out the seagrass from its thick summer haircut and signals the bait to begin leaving the marsh areas because winter is coming. Click the link to read more about Fall Fly Fishing Trips.
As a result of the falling tides the next few months is the best time for fly fishing Texas Redfish. Give me a call to inquire about wade fishing trips on the fly. Most of the time only a good comfortable set of flats boots are needed to protect your feet. I use the Simms Zipit Flats Booties in one size bigger and replace the insoles with some that have great arch support for additional comfort. Waders are not needed most of the time.
We recommend wade fishing in strong winds. The Fall tides provide excellent sight-fishing with a fly guide. Excellent numbers of redfish will come out of the woodwork. You do not want to miss your chance to experience the classic Fall Run along the Texas Gulf Coast
You want to be in Port Aransas during the Fall Run to catch your next personal best sight casted Texas red drum on the fly. Call Captain Kenjo direct ASAP 361-500-2552 or BOOK NOW online!
The Perfect Times
Oftentimes, I get asked, “What tides are best? What are your favorite water temps? What is your favorite time of year to fish?” And I always tell them, “Right NOW!” (they’re usually already on the boat with me) and that is true for several reasons. Now is your time to fish, Now is the time you have put aside to do some fly fishing, and NOW is where we are, doing what we are doing! The best time to go fishing is when you have given yourself the time… Why not learn something new about how to find and catch fish during whatever time and weather conditions you get for the day? Why not learn how to cast better? Why not learn some trick casts for catching those more “difficult” fish? Why not enjoy the moment and the experience and the serenity that you are really looking for? And conversely, Why do most people want that “film tour” type of day and only book if you promise them the stairway to heaven, mecca?
Hell, I have been fly fishing personally for 26 years exclusively and guiding many fine people for 10 years in saltwater. Even still, I too dream of those “cherry days” when the fish just hook up on every cast or those days when you get multiple shots (or even one shot) at a trophy or “personal best” fish. You know how every single awesome fishing story starts with, “You should have been here yesterday”… but I always have thought to myself and tell everyone, “Yesterday could be your tomorrow and you better be there [tomorrow]!!!” How many times is the weatherman wrong? What do they know about fishing anyways?
While I guide folks in all sorts of environment variables with all levels of skill and abilities, as your guide I certainly work my butt off starting early and/or finishing late just trying to use what assets you brought to the boat so I can show you the fish you want to hunt and if Lady Luck is on our side and you can keep Murphy from jumping on your back, then we will get to play hooky with some of the coolest fish the Texas Coast has to offer.
Our water temps are just now getting into the PRIME RANGE, and while the onset of the next cold front might chill the water a bit the fish still have to eat. The bluebird skies forecast after this next front are looking fabulous and consecutive. Massive amounts of redfish, trout, drum and sheepshead are going to blitz the shallows all thru next week. Give me a call direct or book anything online using the button below! I look forward to exercising your fly fishing skills and stretching you to be the best you can be for the day with me. Certainly, I will do everything humanly possibly to get you the “fish of your life”! Every cast counts, every opportunity can be seized even in tough conditions unless you stay on the couch watching the weather all pissed off because it was foggy or windy or cloudy.
Low Tide Summers
The fishing has been good this late summer, with just about everyone getting to take a few shots at some big fish! Adam nailed this thick 28.25inch redfish on a slicked out day.
Quite a few anglers got in on some good fun with consistent tailing redfish pods. The winds kicked back up last week for a few days but have subsided again (as of last night) and the forecast for the next week or so is certainly favorable.
Call Capt Kenjo ASAP to book a trip, or just “Book Now”. Dates are immediately available!
