This big red blasted a Super Spook that was worked over shallow grass in two feet of gin clear water. Topwater lures will take reds 24/7. But a gold or copper 1/8 ounce spoon is also a very good option here in Port O’Connor. Capt. Robert Sloan photo
Top Five Redfish Lures:
1) Heddon Super Spook Jr. in chrome/blue, spectrum and bone/silver.
2) Johnson weedless gold or copper 1/8 ounce spoon.
3) Yum Money Minnow, 3-1/2 inches in pearl/chartreuse or clown.
4) Egret 5-1/2 inch Wedgetail in limeade or white/diamond.
5) MirrOlure Lil John twitch baits
Everybody loves to catch redfish, and the best way to do that is with lures most of the time here in Port O’Connor. Sure there are days and places where live or cut baits catch more reds, but it’s a fact that lures will deliver more action packed fishing trips and limits.
One of the greatest things to happen over the past three or four decades is the escalating numbers of red drum. These are gamefish that will eat just about anything that won’t eat them first, which is why they are so much fun to take on artificial lures. You can catch reds on clear sand flats, backwater estuary lakes, in the surf and at the jetties. One of the more unique aspects about reds is that regardless of their size they will eat anything from an inch-long fly-fished streamer to a magnum-sized topwater plug. Without a doubt reds are one of the most abundant, aggressive and strong gamefish you’ll catch – and they will hit a wide variety of lures 24-7.
Topwater Lures
Out of the top 10 all-time most exciting lures to catch reds on is a topwater, and topping the list is the Heddon Super Spook Jr. This lure, with its unique side-to-side action drives redfish crazy. The Spook Jr. will catch reds just about anywhere you can find them. Top colors are chrome/blue, spectrum and bone/silver. When you tie this lure onto your line use a locking loop knot. Something like an improved clinch will hinder the “walk-the-dog” action of the Spook.
Spoons
One of the all-time great redfish lures is the Johnson weedless gold or copper colored 1/8 ounce spoon.
The 1/8 ounce gold or copper weedless Johnson spoon is a salty favorite for anglers in the hunt for reds. The ¼ ounce is best in the surf for longer casts and a faster sink rate. What you want to do is cast it out, and reel the spoon in with a medium/fast retrieve. The flash of this lure is too much for a hungry red to resist.
Swim Baits
A lure that I discovered a few years ago is the Yum Money Minnow. The 3-1/2-incher is perfect. This is the No. 1 lure that I use on my guided wade fishing trips here in Port O’Connor. It’s a sure fire redfish magnet. This is a soft plastic swim bait that is shaped like a shad with a round vibrating tail. When rigged on a 1/8-ounce jig head this lure can be fished on 1 to 3 foot deep flats on a steady retrieve. Cast it out, reel it in and set the hook when you feel a thump – it’s that easy. Best colors are pearl/chartreuse and clown.
Wedgetails
An Egret Wedgetail is soft plastic swim bait that’s evolved into a redfish killer along the Texas coast. It, too, is simple to use. The 5-1/2 inch Wedgetail very much resembles a swimming mullet. The wedge tail kicks out a lot of vibration, looks like the real deal and is perfect for fishing on shallow flats with a medium retrieve. Best colors are limeade or white/diamond.
Twitch Baits
Over the past couple of years the MirrOlure Lil John Twitch Baits have come on strong as a top soft plastic for catching reds on clear water flats here in Port O’Connor. This is a 4-1/4-inch bait with a tube shape that tapers down to a pointed tail. This bait is made for fishing with a lightweight spinning rig and 12 pound test line. When this lure is twitched it darts around like greased lightning. This is a lure that will provoke strikes from reds that aren’t even hungry. Top colors are gold, rootbeer, opening night and margarita. This is a great twitch bait to rig on a super lightweight 1/16 or 1/32 ounce jig head. That allows you to twitch it and let the bait sort of flutter down, which is when most strikes occur. They can also be fished under rattle floats.
Carry these five lures along with you on any given day and sooner or later you’re going to catch reds.
Let’s go fishing!
Book a wade or jetty fishing trip with Capt. Robert Sloan. Call 409-782-6796; go to www.luckystirkeguide.com or email sloan288@aol.com.
