This Is How To Sight Fish Redfish & Black Drum In Shallow Water
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Artifical Lure Tips
Sight fishing doesn’t get much better than this.
Joe and I spent an awesome morning in Louisiana getting shots at big redfish, chunky black drum, and even one absolutely MASSIVE bycatch.
And while the fishing was a blast, one thing became VERY clear…
If you can’t put your lure where it needs to be, those fish may never give you a second chance.
Check out the video below to see some of our best catches from the trip, the casts that got those fish to eat, and how to recover when one misses the mark.
You’ll know exactly what to do when a big fish suddenly shows up in front of you.
Fish Strong Week is LIVE, and Salt Strong Insiders can save 50% off MSRP on the Slam Stick Traveler featured in this trip, plus score BIG savings on the Slot Machine, Slam Stick, combos, bundles, and more while the deals last.
Featured Gear:
Medium Setup
- Rod: Slam Stick Traveler 7’6″ – Medium Power (Fast Tip)
- Reel: Otis 3000 – Coming Soon (Otis 2500 is available here)
- Line: 15 lb Daiwa J-Braid 8 Grand
- Leader: 30 lb Ande Mono
- Lure: Prawn XT 3.5″ rigged on a 3/0 Hoss Weedless Football Jighead 1/4 oz
Medium-Heavy Setup
- Rod: Slam Stick Travel 7’6″ – Medium-Heavy Power (Fast Tip)
- Reel: Otis 3000 – Coming Soon (Otis 2500 is available here)
- Line: 20 lb Daiwa J-Braid 8 Grand
- Leader: 30 lb Ande Mono
- Lure: Mulligan Bomber 5″ rigged on a 4/0 Hoss Helix Hook 1/8 oz
Casting Accuracy Was EVERYTHING
These fish made it pretty obvious when they liked a cast… and when they didn’t.
Especially with the black drum, the lure often had to land RIGHT in front of their face to get a reaction.
Too far away and they ignored it.
Too much splash and you risked spooking them.
The goal wasn’t simply to cast near the fish. It was to quietly put the lure exactly where that fish could see it and react without having to chase it very far.
The 3 Casts That Got Us Bites
We ended up using three different casts depending on how far away the fish was and how calm the water was.
Sidearm Cast: Great when the fish was too far away for a pitch but we still wanted a low, quiet lure entry.
Underhand Pitch: Perfect for close-range opportunities when accuracy and minimal splash mattered most.
Overhand Cast: Best when we needed more distance, especially when we could cast beyond the fish and bring the lure into its path.
Being comfortable with all three gave us a much better chance of making the right presentation when a fish suddenly appeared.
You Can Still Save A Bad Cast
Not every cast lands perfectly.
One of the biggest lessons from this trip was that a slightly off-target cast doesn’t automatically mean the opportunity is over.
On one of the drum, my lure landed farther left than I wanted.
Instead of immediately retrieving it and recasting, I raised the rod tip and moved it off to the side as I retrieved the lure. That changed the lure’s path and allowed me to guide it directly in front of the fish.
Once it reached the strike zone, I centered the rod, dropped the lure right in front of its face…
And it ate.
Learning how to redirect your lure after it lands can save a LOT of sight fishing opportunities.
Your Rod Matters More Than You May Think
Sight fishing puts a lot of demands on your rod.
You need it to make accurate casts, properly work the lure, feel subtle strikes, drive the hook home, and then control a fish once it takes off.
That’s one reason Joe and I were putting the Slam Stick Traveler through its paces on this trip.
We brought both Medium and Medium-Heavy setups so we could adjust depending on the size of the fish and lure we were throwing.
The Medium setup paired perfectly with the smaller Prawn XT Jr. for the reds and drum.
Then when we spotted a giant gar, I switched over to the Medium-Heavy setup with a 5-inch paddletail.
That turned into one of the craziest catches of the entire trip.
Limited time: Salt Strong Insiders can save 50% off MSRP on the Slam Stick Traveler featured in this trip, plus score BIG savings on the Slot Machine, Slam Stick, combos, bundles, and more while the deals last. This offer ends September 8th, 2026, so don’t wait!
Final Thoughts
This was one of those mornings that reminded me why sight fishing is so addicting.
You’re watching the fish.
You’re trying to make the perfect presentation.
And when everything lines up, you get to watch the whole eat happen right in front of you.
But it also shows just how important casting accuracy can be.
Practice your sidearm cast, underhand pitch, and overhand cast BEFORE you need them, because when a big redfish or drum suddenly appears 20 feet from the boat, you may only get one shot.
What’s your favorite way to sight fish, and which of these casts do you use the most? Let me know in the comments!
Tight Lines!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cast for sight fishing?
It depends on the distance and conditions. An underhand pitch is excellent for close fish, a sidearm cast helps create a quieter lure entry at moderate distances, and an overhand cast is useful when you need additional distance.
Where should you cast when sight fishing redfish or black drum?
Whenever possible, place the lure slightly ahead of the fish and close enough that it can easily see the bait without requiring a long chase. On this trip, some of the drum wanted the lure almost directly on their nose before they would eat.
How do you fix a bad cast while sight fishing?
If your lure lands slightly off target, you can sometimes use your rod angle to redirect its path during the retrieve. Raise the rod and move the tip to one side or the other to guide the lure back toward the strike zone.
What lure did we use for sight fishing?
Our best results came on the Prawn XT 3.5″ rigged weedless on a 1/4 oz Hoss Weedless Football Jighead.
Where was this sight fishing trip filmed?
This trip was filmed in Venice, Louisiana while fishing with Capt. Hollywood.
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Awesome video and great tips, thanks Luke!
Looks like you’re fishing near Venice, La.
Yes. We were staying in Cypress Cove Marina in Venice, LA. That is such an awesome fishery.
Great trip and tips! I also enjoy fishing in Louisiana. Is that Captain Hollywood from Florida? Where did you stay?
Thanks James! Capt. Hollywood is actually from Islamorada, FL where he has a guide business focused on getting families out on the water getting bent rods.
He used to fish Venice years ago tournament fishing, and now goes back every year for a month to take clients out to enjoy the amazing fishery over in Venice. We stayed on a houseboat rental that was in Cypress Cover Marina which was perfect because it has a restaurant for food/drinks in the evening, and a pool for cooling down after a fun day on the water.
Great stuff! And those with a bass fishing background will really excel in this situation…well done🤙
Thanks Tim! Yes, the bass guys who are used to doing short casts will have a big advantage for this type of fishing… it is very rare that I can get pitch shots to reds while fishing in FL.
Now you got a taste of what i deal with here in northeast florida because Louisiana just like northeast florida there waters are pretty murky as well and yes you have to almost drop it right in front of them to get a hit because there sight is so limited that’s why in the summer months one of my favorite baits for the little daytime fishing I do after the nights are over is the spinnerbait and with a stinky gulp bait pinned to it and the flash and vibration of the blade if there are at least signs of red activity im pretty confident im going to get hammered but was surprised when you said you were sight fishing them because here in northeast florida sight fishing is pretty limited and usually only occurs when the water starts to clear like in the early winter or early spring don’t really here about it in the hot summer months but as we all know anything can happen in fishing thanks for the info and all you do🤔😉👍
The only reason we were able to sight fish those fish is because they were big ones holding in very shallow water allowing us to barely see the outline of their backs close to the surface.
The prior days were all in deeper water where we could only blind cast. Videos from those trips will be coming out soon.
Excellent info on when to use which type of casting. Great to see you brothers having an absolute blast CATCHING fish with Hollywood !! I saw that SALT STRONG Pro-cure !!!!
Thanks George! Yes, I’m doing some testing on a custom scent from Pro-Cure. It has been performing great so far.