Catching The Brown Water Slam

The Brown Water Slam

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recognizes six fishing slams where anglers have to catch a number of recognized species in a given category. The most prestigious is the billfish slam. These regal sportfish are caught in the blue waters of the ocean.

With trips to exotic locales, this slam is as much about living a lifestyle that Robin Leach would have reported on in the ’80s, as it is about catching fish.

A couple of years back, I was thinking of ways to bless Dads on father’s day and I came up with a slam a little more attainable for Dad and all of us with budgetary considerations.

It’s called the Brown Water Slam and it consists of the following species.

Bowfin: Also known as choupique, grinnel, mudfish and mud marlin, this fish fights hard and jumps high when caught. That makes it a great marlin replacement.

Any fish that can literally be found in sewage ditches is worthy of pursuit. Everyone wants to catch a survivor like that.

Bullhead: Also known as a mud cat, these fish bite when nothing else will and where nothing else dares to swim—well, except maybe for the bowfin.

The rule in this slam is the bullhead has to be caught in a bar ditch. A creek won’t do. This is the brown water slam and murkiness is our vibe.

Gaspergou: Talk about prestigious. Any fish nicknamed goo” is something anglers around the world dream about.

Uglier than a bullhead or a grinnel, these fish are found in major rivers and reservoirs in the state. They tend to congregate where the water is a little more brown, than clear so they are perfect for this quest.

Buffalo: Yes, they are nearly impossible to catch on a rod and reel. Sure, they have more bones than a carp and taste half as good, but the buffalo gets huge.

Saltwater TV legend Mark Sosin might tangle with a broadbill swordfish, but has he ever caught a buffalo?

These kind of questions are what make the brown water slam special or at least unique.

Chester Moore