Big Reds on the Saltwater Line
THE MAJORITY of my winter coastal fishing during the last five years has been in the Sabine River, and it was not always by choice.
Brutal winds, combined with an equally brutal schedule have forced me to fish when I can, no matter the conditions. So, the Sabine River is my backup plan, but that’s not a bad thing.
This time of year, I have found that if I can find mullet, I can find redfish and usually big ones.
Here are the patterns I discovered and notes I have taken.
• AS NOTED EARLIER, the reds are around the mullet. The area near the Interstate 10 bridge on the saltwater line produced big reds, but only when big numbers of mullet were there. There are many small shad in the system, but that is not what the reds are on. They feed heavily on mullet, so be mindful of that when scouting out areas.
• THE BAYOUS on the river hold some big reds. However, most of the fish seem to be in the mouths of the bayous where they meet the river or near-drop offs in the main river channel. If you do not find mullet on the surface, look below with your electronics, because that could be what the reds are holding on. A steep drop-off with big mullet concentrations is the perfect scenario.
• THE REDS in deeper water (or on the edges of the deep) prefer either crankbaits with deep-sounding rattles or none at all. I have caught them on the Super Pogy from Bomber, saltwater grade, which has a couple of big ball bearings that give a deep-resonating sound. I’ve also caught them on a Rick Clunn R2 Squarebill from Luck E. Strike that has no rattles. Both of these have produced for me recently, but crankbaits with small rattles did not.
I have always been far more confident in heavier rattles with reds. Although they will hit virtually anything at times, I think the louder rattles are great in deep water.
I also think the much quieter, rattle-free Squarebill is great for searching out fish in super shallow water. That’s where I had one demolished by a 36-inch-plus red. Reds can get spooky in the shallows. So, a quiet Squarebill is what I usually start off with in the shallows.
The Sabine River and Neches River as well, can offer excellent action for big redfish during the winter months. In some cases, these reds will be as big as those found at the Sabine Jetties, 20 miles to the south.
On days when the winds are blowing and the lake and jetties are inaccessible, give these rivers a shot. You might just find some really big redfish.
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