Tag Archives: pass

First Texas Redfish on the Fly

Not everyone catches their first Texas redfish on the fly, but we did catch a poor man’s tarpon (a.k.a. ladyfish) while working on casting skills! Nonetheless, we got shots at backing redfish in the thick matted grass beds. We also found some floating redfish. And with these fish you have to get the fly in front of them ASAP before the sink back down out of sight! It was an amazing day where these Gents were able to learn a lot of new skills and adapt quickly.

BOOK NOW

first, time, saltwater, beavertail, texas, fly, fishing, rockport, aransas, pass, port, bay, fly fishing, sight, casting, lessons, airflo, hatch, temple fork outfitters, tfo, lines, redfish, black drum, corpus, christi, ladyfish, on fly,
Poor Mans Tarpon on Fly

There was this pod of about 20 tailing redfish, which we only thought to be less than 5 fish, but when they flushed from the cast we could easily see about two dozen reds.

Congrats to Jonny and Andrew for enduring the heat and learning their cast so fast. Their willingness to return this fall to give it another go is awesome! See ya soon, fellas! Kudos to you for taking that first saltwater leap of faith! The sky is the new limit! Soon enough though we will get Jonny and Andrew their First Texas Redfish on the fly!

Recommended startup gear for entry level anglers is as follows:

Fly Rod: TFO Mangrove Coast 7wt | Reel (put your investment here for longevity): Hatch Iconic 5wt or 7wt | Fly Lines (for finesse and distance): Airflo Fly Lines: Flats Technical Taper (formerly known as the Bonefish Taper, in 7wt size). This recommended gear is intended for year round use in most all situations. It is preferred for its close and long range accuracy, as well as for its stealth. The Gulf Coast fly Line is very good for applications where the fish are eating larger flies or when you can hit the fish on the head and they still still eat instead of spooking.

Practicing your casts with this equipment can certainly help you get better shots at your first Texas redfish on the fly.

Get it ASAP, and lets go fly fishing!

Slow down and smell the fish

slow, down, smell, fish, big ugly, over slot, redfish, texas, port, aransas, corpus, bay, christi, beavertail, guide, trips, adventure, red, drum, lighthouse, lakes, fly, fishing, port, laguna, madre, rockport
Wade fishing Texas middle coast can make this drum your 4th fish in your Grand Slam (redfish, trout, flounder to round it out)

We got to slow down and smell the fish recently. This day did not disappoint. We had a lot of shots at fish like this surprisingly and we caught one each…

This big black drum was one that got the hook. It is quite a cumbersome ordeal to wrangle these big lethargic drum to hand. Oftentimes though, I too have to remind myself to slow down and smell the fish. Unfortunately these fish don’t smell like roses but the principal goes further than just enjoying the moment as the saying implies.

Wade fish the Texas Marsh to Slow down

It has its merits, and during the right time of year you could even land a grand slam of redfish, black drum, flounder, and trout on the fly or spinning tackle. Slow down and smell the fish is not all that bad of an idea if you’re a keen outdoorsman.

flounder, over slot, redfish, texas, port, aransas, corpus, bay, christi, beavertail, guide, trips, adventure, red, drum, lighthouse, lakes, fly, fishing, port, laguna, madre, rockport
Texas Coast wade fishing provides the low and slow angles needed to put flounder in hand

Certain bait species produce slicks and or oily residue on the surface of the water which can unique scents. When mullet are concentrated and being fed heavily upon, the wind will waft the odors of the mullet downwind and if you have a sharp nose, you can pickup on some of these locations. The menhaden and speckled trout are also two of the sweeter smelling odors. Some even say the trout slicks will smell like watermelon! Have you ever experienced the watermelon smells on the water?

Dates available for September, October and November!

You can book a trip now by calling Capt Kenjo direct at 361-500-2552, or shoot him a text message with your name and preferred fishing date and/or send an email ASAP…

over slot, redfish, texas, port, aransas, corpus, bay, christi, beavertail, guide, trips, adventure, red, drum, lighthouse, lakes, fly, fishing, port, laguna, madre, rockport, abel, reels,
Fly fishing for redfish near Rockport Texas

OR… simply use the blue button below for express and convenient booking! Then don’t forget to slow down and smell the fish!

BOOK NOW

Hannah Storm Effect

Hurricane Hanna Port Aransas Corpus Rockport Fly Fishing texas coast gulf flood wind speed redfish drum black sea trout madre laguna
Radar Image

Hurricane Hannah (Cat 1) is making its way onshore now. From August 24 2017 to today’s date, July 25 2020, its been 3 years and 1 day between Hurricane Harvey and now this storm, Hurricane Hanna. Looking at it on a map overlay is always impressive. Its breadth is classic for Gulf Storms, broad and widespread. Its good to finally get some rain down this way too!

Post Hurricane Harvey Redfish Shrimp Fly Port Aransas Corpus Rockport Fly Fishing texas coast gulf flood wind speed redfish drum black sea trout madre laguna
Post Harvey Red Drum

In Port Aransas so far, in my observations using the Aransas Tower (weather station), gusts up to 45kts have been measured and water levels are almost at 4ft over sea sevel… Our coastal area ecologically will benefit from a natural event like this. It will in effect, give our bay and coastlines a nice refresh and possibly help restore some seagrass beds in the lower portions of the coast. Nonetheless, for all our area, once the weather stabilizes again for a few days or up to a week or two, the fishing should be outstanding like after Hurricane Harvey was. It did take some time then but it wasn’t all that long and the fish were chewing on everything!

fiddler crabs, flies, slatwater, texas, port, aransas, corpus, christi, rockport, laguna madre, real, fly fishing,
In Living Color – Fiddler crabs display pastel colors

The was some insanely great fly fishing done after Harvey. Once they finally turned on it was non-stop action. The redfish were absolutely gluttonous after the weather finally settled and ate voraciously on every cast for quite a while! These fish showed obvious signs of gorging themselves. Their bellies were so full! Even the scales on their bellies showed obvious sign of stretching! I can hardly wait to get back on the water, but now is the time to prep for the next few weeks/months of heavy fishing!

Ya’ll get on the books now for August and pick some more dates in September October and November too while your at it! Jacks and Tarpon are still on the list, we just need very special conditions to chase them. If we cant hunt them where they live because its too rough, we will default to the bay where we can sight-fish redfish black drum and speckled trout. The next few months should prove to be a whole lot of excellent sight fishing to be done in the coming months! Call Capt Kenjo direct at 361-500-2552 or just hit the Book Now button in the top right corner of the page!

Big Moon Rising

…Jacks attack. In Wolfe Packs. And they’re HAULING ASS! With Port Aransas behind them and Aransas Pass on their right, the Pack of jacks keep moving with their fins exposed on the surface of the water…

jack, crevelle, fly fishing, port aransas, texas, gulf, coast, guide, charters, beavertail skiff, airflo, fly lines, popper, topwater, flies, saltwater, rockport, corpus christi

Teamwork Wins

“HOLD ON!!!” The water is frothy from the giant group of marauding jack crevelle but their presence is still overshadowing by the howling winds, open bay and huge whitecaps.

As we approach at charging speeds you begin to think… Can we get that fly in the water fast enough? Can I keep the line tight to make the oversized foam head POP!?!?!?!? Yes!?!? NO!!!! Wait a second… “FISH ON!!!!!”

In this short moment of the feed and hookup, serious thoughts parse our minds of everyday mundane worries and we think clearly, knowing the answers, yet still so much unknown… Confident yet humble…

The Angler wonders silently while being sprayed by the massive thrashing beast in the water… “Will the leader chaffe? What test is it? “Wait, What hook are we using?” So many things can go wrong in a split second its not funny, except it is, considering all that we try to do, sometimes 1 star may not be in alignment and the leader breaks, or the hook straightens… Or the hook pulls through flesh, sometimes the fish’s, sometimes ours.

After 2 blistering runs over a quarter mile of chase, the hefty jack crevelle succumbs to tension and decides to hang under the boat into a strong current, heading upwind towards Corpus Christi Bay… For 15 minutes… “Steady now, keep pressure!” You hear the captain speak calmly… Thats it, she dont like the boat but we’re gonna land this one guys!

jack, crevelle, fly fishing, port aransas, texas, gulf, coast, guide, charters, beavertail skiff, airflo, fly lines, popper, topwater, flies, saltwater, rockport, corpus christi

Jack on Deck

Two wraps on the leader and Chris knows he’s got 8ft to go and with a nearly 4ft Jack at the other end it is only a matter of reaching for the tail in depths unknown and feel for contact… “You got it NOW, PULL!!!!! HAUL that fish into the cockpit! ” Yee-haw’s and Ooooh-OUI’s are exchanged. Hugs are generously given to and from everyone on the boat, just as the fish gave to you in your experience. Revive it, let it go, and the hunt can resume.

Call Captain Kenjo for prime dates and availability. June has a few dates open and July as well. Get on board NOW 361-500-2552 or email: [email protected]

 

Wading – Time To Get Wet

black drum, texas, coast, fly fishing, guide

Monster Black Drum a.k.a. big uglies

NOW MUST BE ABSOLUTELY MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR! Wet-wading the hard sand flats, crispy air temps, cool wet feet and warming water while being surrounded by countless numbers of redfish with chances at BIG Bonus Trout…. need I say more??? Dinosaur Black Drum? Hummm?

It is happening now. The water temps are perfect for wadefishing and for redfish crushing large baits and wading is the absolute best technique for windy situations. Last couple days have been sick sight fishing and we are getting crushed. Rumor on the street is that the fish are hard to find and I couldn’t agree more. There is a recipe of environment variables that are crucial this time of year. Being in the right spot and AT THE RIGHT TIME will surely make a story to tell!

reddrum, fly fishing, port aransas, texas, coast, wade, wading,

28 inches of fun

“The fleet of large black submarine redfish rise from the depths in formation, combing the shallows as they reach a comfortable hunting level, their food tightens formation as well and then absolute and utter mayhem ensue..”

I have a few dates left in February and March has more dates available.

redfish, texas, coast, port aransas, fly fishing, guide

Low-Light Stalking

We will be working this pattern as hard as we can, but its time to get your feet wet and get the numbers UP ASAP! I cant say how long this pattern will last!

Call me IMMEDIATELY for available dates and to get on board! Capt Kenjo 361-500-2552