New Orleans Redfish Report

April 10th – 12th, 2007

 

Like a lot of you, I wondered just what New Orleans looked like after Hurricane Katrina.  Well, the area surrounding New Orleans is still devastated with little signs of returning soon.  The good news, the French Quarter, Garden District and parts of downtown New Orleans are up and running and back to business as usual.  I would say the only disappointing part about our visit to New Orleans was the food; it’s so good you just can’t consume enough in one visit; we’ll have to go back.

 

The weather in April can always be a question mark no matter where you travel and this was no exception.  The first day of our three day redfish trip was a blow out due to a strong thunder storm that moved in from the gulf.  The weather report was expected to be better the next day so we made arrangements to take a “Plantation Tour” with our wives who accompanied us on the trip. 

 

 

The 200+ year old oak trees that line the entrance to the “Oak Alley Plantation” was truly an impressive site.  The tour guides here and at the “Laura Plantation” gave a descriptive picture as to what life was all about during this historic period.  One can only wonder just how you would have fit in. 

 

Our fly fishing guide, Captain Barrett Brown, was waiting for us in front of our hotel at 6:30 am.  The day greeted us with “

fog”, I was thinking that we were still back in Central California.  As we drove out to the launch, we went through St. Bernard’s Parrish; it was still suffering from the effects of Katrina.  Since it was still foggy when we arrived at the launch, we waited a while for it to lift before we launched the boat.  It was the GPS that saved our morning; we couldn’t have made our way around the Bayou without it.  Capt. Barrett was not impressed with the water clarity so he rigged up the fly rod with one of his favorite spoon flies.  The sun started to burn through the fog as I started blind casting the shoreline in search of a cruising redfish, it didn’t take long and I had my first of the day.  Doug Fritz, my fishing partner, was next, the conditions had improved and he had several opportunities at visible redfish.  His best of the day was a 14 pound redfish.  We also caught several sea trout and Doug even caught one flounder, boy that’s fishing the bottom.

 

 

 

 

The weather the second day was much improved with the expected temperature to be in the 80’s.  From the launch we made our way further out in the Gulf and found some clear water where we could site fish.  Doug was first on deck and the wind was less than cooperative but we did see many, many redfish along the shoreline.  Doug caught a huge “Black Drum” which weighed of 38 pounds.  It was quite a dog fight getting this fish to the boat and in the net. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now it was my turn, Captain Barrett poled the boat along the shoreline a short distance when he decided it was time to move.  We drove several miles to a long skinny inlet off of one of the bayou channels.  He quietly poled the boat to the back of the inlet where we could use the wind to our advantage.  The water clarity was very good which made for some excellent site fishing.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw what appeared to be a fin pop through the surface some distance away.  I asked Captain Barrett what was that?  He said it was a big redfish.  He hurried to get close enough for me to make a cast; I made several casts around the fish, trying to encourage him to come after the fly.  But he wasn’t interested in chasing anything, his nose was on the bottom and wasn’t even aware that we were there.  Captain Barrett said drop the fly closer to him, which I did, right on his head.  One strip and fish on!  This was a big redfish, which ran way into the backing several times.  We didn’t realize how big until I managed to get him back to the boat.  After several more runs and several attempts to lift his head, Captain Barrett finally got him in the net.  The redfish was 29 pounds our biggest of the trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was an an excellent introduction into the area and fly fishing Louisiana style.  Can't wait to return, possibly this fall.

 

Recommendation:

Even though the surrounding New Orleans area is still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the redfish are still there.  I would certainly recommend that you go and enjoy yourself.  Captain Barrett said, “the guide business is no where close to pre-Katrina but it is picking back up”.


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