A Tale Of Two Redfish

On Sunday morning August 9th, my husband, myself, and one of our friends loaded up the boat for a day of fishing. We put the boat in the water at Conn Brown Harbor in Aransas Pass, Texas in pursuit of redfish.

Meanwhile, my friend Terrie had a similar routine with her husband as they were going to fish the Keaton, Florida area.

We get to our wading spot for the day and start getting our gear ready. Wading pack, bait bucket with pin perch and shrimp, net, rod and reel, and a fish bag to keep the fish healthy. I’m ready!

Around the same time, Terrie and her husband arrive at the spot they decided on fishing as they also dive for scallops there.

I wade and cast repeatedly as the hours go by. Nothing is hitting anything I throw at the fish other than a few small trout and reds.

Terrie does the same in Florida as she goes through her arsenal of lures and bait. Nothing significant hitting any of her bait either.

I see in the distance some rain coming my way so I make my way to the nearest island in case I have to take shelter from lightning. The rain hits and I get soaked but it feels heavenly in the August Texas heat.

Terrie in Florida also was unable to avoid a rainstorm and get soaked in the process. Also welcoming in the Florida August heat.

I stay close to the island for a while. I see a few redfish tailing but no hits. I decide to put on a live pin perch and cast it close to shore where I saw them tail. 2-3 feet depth at the most.

Terrie decides to put a small pin perch on her hook as well and casts it out.

I get a hit and I set the hook and it’s something big! It’s on! The fish is taking drag and I let it run. That goes on for a while as I’m negotiating with the fish telling it I will let it go once I land it.

In Florida, Terrie gets a hit on her pin perch! And she knows she’s fighting something big! It’s back and forth with the fish running and Terrie reeling. As the fish gets closer she’s on her own trying to net it from the boat as her husband is way out scalloping in the water.

In Texas I’m taking my time fighting this fish and when i finally net it its a big sigh of relief. It was barely hooked on some skin on the inside of the lip. It’s a beautiful redfish! Definitely oversized but I don’t have anything to measure with so I put it in the fish bag and make my way back to the boat.

In Florida, Terrie is able to land her fish after a few more runs missing the net. As she nets it the hook pops out. Just in time!! It’s a beautiful redfish.

I made my way back to the boat and show my husband and our friend what I caught. We had a small contest going on between us. Biggest fish was the target and needless to say I won that challenge! It measured right at 31 inches. I then released the fish safely after pictures.

Terrie measures her fish. Right at 31 inches!!! Safely released after pictures.

Now here’s the really amazing part of this fishing story. Terrie and I each caught a redfish measuring 31 inches at the Same Time, with the Same kind of Bait in two different states!!!! And both were barely hooked and right after we were soaked by a rainstorm!!!! What are the odds of THAT happening??

Nina Garrett