Sight Fishing Big Black Drum & Redfish In Marsh Ponds
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Fishing Reports
It’s tough to beat sight-fishing action when it comes to inshore fishing.
And this video shows some awesome footage we captured while targeting redfish, black drum, and trout in shallow marsh ponds.
Here’s what you’ll see:
- #1 mistake to avoid when sight-fishing
- Multiple drag screaming doubles on big drum/reds
- Slam Shady vs. Gold Digger Color Comparison
- Equipment breakdown at the end
Watch the marsh pond chaos unfold below.
The travel rod I used in this video is part of the Ultimate Traveler System Bundle, and it’s still heavily discounted Black Friday sale that’s still running strong!
Featured Equipment
- Rod: Slam Stick Traveler (Medium-Fast)
- Reel: Otis 2500
- Line: Daiwa J-Braid 10 lb
- Leader: Ande 30 lb Mono
- Lure (Me): Mulligan 4″ Gold Digger rigged on 3/0 Hoss Helix 1/8th oz
- Lure (Joe): Mulligan 4″ Slam Shady rigged on 3/0 Hoss Helix 1/8th oz
Guide
We had the pleasure of fishing with Capt. Hollywood Johnson on this trip. His business is located in Islamorada, but he goes over to Venice on a yearly basis, targeting big reds and black drum as shown above.
If you’d like to book a trip to Louisiana, we highly recommend Journey South Outfitters.
Final Thoughts
This trip was another reminder that our #1 goal fishing is to find areas with as much life as possible. Joe and I were using complete opposite colors, yet we both caught some nice fish since we were fishing in good 90/10 zones.
Also, the decision to use weedless lures when fishing in heavy structure zones like this was a game-changer… we would have really struggled if we used any lure with exposed hooks in this area.
If you’ve got questions about the setups or want help dialing in your own approach, drop them in the comments and I’ll help out.
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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).
Great vid and nice catches. Interesting, though. We have black drum in our canal almost year round. As far as artificial…I have caught them on Prawn Jrs. and a Vudu shrimp, but they NEVER pursue any soft plastic “fish”. Due to my experiences, I assumed black drum were a 100% crustacean diet. Apparently not. Interesting stuff. Thanks again.
After going to Louisiana multiple times, I will never buy a lure based on seeing it catch fish over there because those fish are much more aggressive than anywhere else I’ve fished. I have tried catching black drum on paddletails countless times in FL, and it has never worked… those drum in LA are shockingly aggressive.
Looks like an amazing trip Luke! Louisiana is such an awesome fishery! A small group of us from here in the Smokies used to make an annual trip in October to Biloxi where we would board the Beachwater 2 owned and operated by Dean Gladney, and then head to Chandeleur Islands in Louisiana waters for an awesome 2 1/2 days of fishing!!! Caught my largest Big Ugly on artificial using a Johnson Silver Minnow spoon in gold color there in Chandeleur!
That sounds like an awesome trip!
Looks like a fantastic fun trip.!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!
It sure was. Thanks for making time to post the nice comment.
Well like I said before now you finally realize what its like fishing in tannin stained water versus the areas you normally fish in clear water from jacksonville all the way to at least north Carolina on the Atlantic coast the c water is pretty much murky most of the year same goes for a couple gulf coast states like Mississippi and Louisiana dont know about Alabama but the other 2 I know there water is murky like it is here in jax fl where I fish and I have also HEARD the redfish there in Louisiana are kinda stupid in they will hit just about anything but like I said its just what I heard not so here in northeast fl they can be pretty picky at times but I believe its because of florida getting more fishing pressure maybe don’t know anyways thanks for the info and all you do
Yes, the redfish in Louisiana are much less spooky than the ones in Florida since there’s much less fishing pressure there. We had some redfish eat within 10 ft of the boat which I’ve never seen happen in FL.
Oh it happens to me alot because like I said in my comment the water in Louisiana is pretty much the same as it is here in jacksonville northeast fl the water everywhere else in the whole state of Florida is the way it is in your neck of the woods on the gulf coast I know you fished st augustine area I believe in winter time in a kayak years ago a few years before covid after reading one of your reports but in that time of year because it was winter time the water like here in jax fl has cleared up some but most of the year its almost exactly like it is there in Louisiana just saying there is no other place in Florida like it is here in northeast fl so now you know thanks for the comment and all you do
That’s a Quality day of fishing. Congrats
Thanks Christopher!
I felt like I was there on the boat with you fellas, congrats on some fun brother time !!!! No place like La. !!!!!!
Thanks George!
I saw it all! Appreciated you showing all aspects of your fishing day. Especially enjoyed your excitement on a great fishing day. Fired up and ready to go find them myself!
Thanks Curtis!
That was awesome! 😎📷🎣🧂💪🏻
Thanks James!
I love learning rights and wrongs, they are valuable lessons that last a lifetime.thank you
Thanks for making time to post the nice comment Michael!
Love you boys catching fish. 🤗🎣🙏💯
Thanks Bob!