Big bruiser reds are still hanging out in the surf here in Texas. All the usual suspects are out on the waters and hanging good fish. The marsh is heating up too and big boys are scattered in amongst the smaller critters gorging on a grass shrimp population that appears to be vying to surpass China’s 1.4 billion individuals.

Seriously, my last three trips to the drink have been luke-warm affairs. I caught fish, but nothing really worthy. Most of the reds were undersized or lower slot. The funny thing is there are tons of big fish around. They just have so many feeding options like the aforementioned billions of shrimp, that it was hard to get them interested in artificials.

Luckily I have the hand stamp from this old show. I have seen it before and know that along with persistence there are a couple of tactics to help drum up bites from the big drums themselves.

Spoons. The oldest trick in the redfish book is there because it works. That trick is spoons. Gold spoons just seem to entice those reds consistently. I take it a step further using a gulp attached to redfish Magic spoon/spinner - The combination of a stinky gulp and the shiny vibration of a spoon can usually make any lock-jawed red start flapping his gums and striking like he hasn’t had a meal in days.

Another thing to do when the reds are being picky is to remember that their flat little friend the flounder is hanging around the same waters. I have been fishing weedless hooks on my soft plastics and picking flat fish up in good numbers and consistently. The additional tug from the flatties can make a lukewarm redfish day in the marsh downright hot; especially when you are grilling up those succulent little guys at the end of the day.

So, are you ready to hit the water after a dinner of BBQ flounder and redfish on the half-shell? Secret… The night-time trout bite is on fire right now.

Come get ya some!