I have to admit as an outsider looking in I never gave much credit to Sciaeops
ocellatus "Redfish" as being worthy of the passion created by anglers that fish
for them. In past years I have had some token encounters with redfish but as a
rule never targeted these complex fish. I took the "don't confuse me with the
facts but tarpon, permit, snook and bonefish are the saltwater fish worthy of my
energy and time with a fly rod". In the past few years of residing in an area
where redfish live I have found myself becoming obsessed with these dynamic
sport fish. I have the luxury of chasing redfish on average 4 to 5 days a week.
Some days before work I am on the water at daylight and back to the office by
9am on other days I may go after work and fish til dark and there are those days
I dedicate all daylight hours and the entire tide cycle to these fish. I have
found my mind to either be calculating where I need to be every minute I am on
the water. My brain is on overload with calculations that include wind,boat traffic, tide, water temps, air
temps,seasonal trends,water clarity, food source and yes finally finding a
redfish I can cast a fly at. At my age I probably should put all my effort in
those magic hours of the first third of the outgoing tide or the first third of
the incomming tide and take a break but for some strange reason these fish have
captivated me to a point where I want to learn everything about them in regards
to where they will be and what they will be doing during the entire day.
My wife often goes with me on the intercoastal chasing reds with the exception of
early morning when the fat labrador Zoe always will awake for that crack of dawn
trek.
Assuming is never a good idea and that is never more true when assuming all redfish and redfish schools are the same. The one thing I have learned here in North East Florida is every school of redfish has it's own unique personality that changes with the conditions in and around the waters they live. The redfish dwelling here are subject to elements that redfish in the gulf may or may not be exposed to. I have even noticed redfish schools 5 miles apart near where I fish behaving differently from one another. These fish have a daily feeding routine that is regulated by so many factors it is truly mind boggling.Isolating those differences in the school personality makes for more opportunities in regards to getting a fly in front of a feeding red. I have come to the conclusion that fly selection is not as critical as many other saltwater fish as a well placed and timed baitfish,crab,shrimp type pattern may catch the same fish at the same time. I can go on and on but in a nutshell my Redfish University graduation day is forever away and that is just how I like it.
I am still trying to figure out why in the hell they call them "redfish" ?
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