1. If you absolutely “must” catch more than two keeper-size redfish (and no other species) to consider that you’ve had a good fishing trip, you might not want to head out on the water this weekend. Things are still really tough and slow for saltwater anglers.
2. I’m predicting that Golden Meadow will probably be one of your top destinations for catching redfish and drum (no trout!) this Saturday and Sunday.
3. Plan to do your fishing later in the morning (which means you can sleep in a little longer than your usual 4 am wakeup time). Getting started around 9:30 or 10 am will give the water a chance to warm up a little, thereby giving the redfish a chance to warm up a little too. Until the temperature climbs a tad and stays warm for a couple hours or days at a time, “catching” is gonna continue to be hard. The fish are cold and consequently lethargic.
4. Restrict your fishing grounds to “the marsh” behind Cut Off, Galliano, Golden Meadow, and Leeville. It’s the “inside water” that will probably hold the biggest concentration of reds for the taking. Most are centered amidst oyster reefs, coves, pockets, points, shell beds, and shoreline drop-offs.
5. You’re gonna need a trolling motor because you gotta cover a lot of water in order to find the fish. Simply just cruise the shoreline until you either see some tell-tale activity in the water or actually get a couple of “hits” from your cast-and-retrieve pattern.
6. Plan to use both artificial as well as natural (dead and live) bait. Until Mother Nature settles in and establishes a fish-production pattern you’ll need to bring along live Cocahoes, shrimp if you can get any, maybe silverside shiners, market shrimp, and chartreuse, smoke, and white plastic lures.
7. Look for the cleanest water you can find.
8. Look for slicks that indicate fish actively feeding.
9. Fish both under a popping cork about 14 inches deep as well as tightline off a Carolina rig. You will have to use what they want you to use. Until spring arrives, the fish are calling the shots and setting the game rules.
10. To charter John “Captain Hawkeye” Aucoin for one of these trips back into the Golden Meadow marsh, simply call 985-637-1103 or 985-632-6988. Of course, all bookings are scheduled first come first served.
