Tag Archives: red drum

October Redfish

Fall is in the air in Port Aransas Texas with the light northerly winds cooling off our waters and the October Redfish are responding well. The tides are shaping up nicely now while the redfish begin to move into the shallows in much more favorable numbers. There are still some dates available to fly fish for October Redfish! Call NOW to get on the Books with Capt Kenjo (361) 500-2552

first time redfish caught near Rockport Tx
First Redfish on the Fly

This time of year brings about so many beautiful colors in the marsh. The blue in a redfish tail comes from the blue-green algae in their diet. There are also some larger fish in the pods too and as we encounter more schooling pumpkin redfish you will want to look closely for the larger fish. The last few we spied that were top slot reds were on on the edges of the school of under slot redfish. A well placed cast for tailing red drum is still important when the fish are in pods or tailing. Using a clean and soft gentle cast will be sure to keep from spooking the tailing redfish. Rockport and Corpus Christi guests can also be accommodated easily!

Happy Fly Fishing Angler Cameron holds a Texas pumpkin redfish
Pumpkin Time!

If you are novice to fly fishing the saltwater, you can easily book a fly casting lesson. Prior to your trip book the casting lesson in order to get your cast in shape before your trip! Book your Fly Casting Lesson HERE!

Do not hesitate to book your next fly fishing trip with Kenjo Fly for October Redfish! To book your fly fishing trip simply give Capt Kenjo a call NOW. 361 500-2552. Or pick a trip through the online calendar at your convenience and book online. BUT DONT MISS OUT! This fall fly fishing season is already excellent shape and underway, making way!

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September Fly Fishing Rockport Redfish
Another pumpkin from a school of tailing red drum

Fishing Spring Break

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#33 for the day (sorry the other hand was occupied) for return Guest Angler Omar

As your Texas Saltwater Fly Fishing Guide, I would advise you to go ahead and book that March fly fishing trip. Regardless of the weather, enduring the elements is part of the excitement of the game. And last year, March was a very good month for Fishing Spring Break. Putting yourself out there in the salt is the best way to learn to succeed on the fly.

Book an Appointment

Now that March is underway, I am confident to say that our weather pattern will be shifting dramatically any day now. It should become warm and sunny for most of the month of March. Fingers crossed! There is no telling when the winds will pickup and start honking. But if the weather in March last year is any indication, you should book a trip online right freaking now for this weekend, next week, and the following weeks of March!

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Omar crushed them

Fishing Spring Break can be great with loads of fish on the flats. If I were to try to guess our weather patterns for the forth-coming year, I would apply last years weather to this year as the pattern so far now that March has begun is very similar.

January 2021 saw some exceptionally great weather and the fishing was excellent. Returning Guest Omar was one who got to enjoy a day of quantity in January where every cast in any place produced a redfish on the fly. There was just so many fish to work with that it was more difficult to try to be selective. Mr. Omar keeps a personal catch log of his saltwater exploits, and that fine day in January he broke quite a few personal records, in particular, landing 33 redfish in a single day even though the moon wasn’t in our favor. Despite the moon that day, the winds, tides, bait and redfish were definitely in our favor for catching.

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Bill got him a good one! O’Yeah!

We caught the redfish tailing, cruising, floating and laid-up already this year. Looking at what February was like this year, it was very similar to last years weather pattern in February. Cold, cloudy, rainy and windy… That was the month of February in a nutshell. But March will be another great time to fly fish the Texas Coast!

Fly Fishing Texas Redfish

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Redfish colors are just golden!
October Gold with 7 spots (2 on the other side)

Fly fishing Texas Redfish is spectacular during the Fall Run in Port Aransas. You can imagine witnessing a school of redfish hump it down the shoreline whopping mullet. Redfish will be schooling throwing wakes and tailing as the falling tides move crabs shrimp and mullet out of the grass. As they do, redfish explode viscously on mullet and shrimp. Because of this classic behavior, this is a perfect time to utilize top-water flies.

My favorite months for sight fishing redfish on the fly is in September October November and even December. As the water cools it thins out the seagrass from its thick summer haircut and signals the bait to begin leaving the marsh areas because winter is coming. Click the link to read more about Fall Fly Fishing Trips.

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Wade Fishing the Longest Mile

As a result of the falling tides the next few months is the best time for fly fishing Texas Redfish. Give me a call to inquire about wade fishing trips on the fly. Most of the time only a good comfortable set of flats boots are needed to protect your feet. I use the Simms Zipit Flats Booties in one size bigger and replace the insoles with some that have great arch support for additional comfort. Waders are not needed most of the time.

We recommend wade fishing in strong winds. The Fall tides provide excellent sight-fishing with a fly guide. Excellent numbers of redfish will come out of the woodwork. You do not want to miss your chance to experience the classic Fall Run along the Texas Gulf Coast

You want to be in Port Aransas during the Fall Run to catch your next personal best sight casted Texas red drum on the fly. Call Captain Kenjo direct ASAP 361-500-2552 or BOOK NOW online!

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High Tide Summer Red Drum

Back to Redfish School

Now is a great time to book your sight casting on the fly trip for September, October and November 2020 as dates are filling up fast! Click the BOOK NOW button below to see calendar availability… Sept 9, 10, 11 are open for immediate booking!

Look here for additional Prime dates

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Chew On The Fly

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The Texas Summer has been hot that is for sure. Water temperatures were a bit above average this year. But lately the weather has helped it begin to drop. The fishing has been hot as well! The black drum and redfish have been plentiful and in schools, tailing most times and eating flies for just about everyone! The action in September should continue to increase, with larger than average fish showing up soon!

When Mark and his son Joe got on a butt-load of hefty black drum, they took advantage of the pirate’s bounty on their half-day trip with their new fly rods. Needless to say, that gear is now well-christened, salty, and feeling lucky. Shouldn’t we all feel lucky to have and keep such a grand and diverse fishery in our backyards!?!?!? Its worthwhile to slow down. Try turning off the engine for more than 30 minutes. Let the fish be the ones to break your silence.

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There is a First for Everything

Gail got to play with her first ever Texas Redfish on the fly and was in wonder at the magnificence of such an amazing aquatic creature. Even with partly cloudy skies and hurricane tides the fish gave them a good show too!

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21inch Trout

Corbin’s casting skills paid off on a multi-day trip. His relentlessness helped him catch multiple species of fish during a tough few days. Everything seemed to disappear and transition out of the shallows when he arrived but it didnt stop us from having a great time. He’s one hell of a skiff-mate and rode the horse like nobody’s business! Bombing casts to the end of his fly line helped alot. We had also gotten to sight cast to some spectacularly sized trout. Trophies by anyone’s standard. Others got good looks but that lucky angler has yet to break the 25 inch mark. Hooking a big sighted trout is the hardest part. Could this be you? Can you keep your cool when that big ‘ole gator trout appears out of nowhere? Lets give it a try and see what happens!

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Get on board this Texas Skiff and wander about the middle coast to take your shots in a target-rich environment for Redfish, Black drum and Speckled Trout. You never know if and when we will get those perfect seas when we can sneak out front of the jetties and fish the surf zone for tarpon, jacks, bonita or more!!!

The Perfect Times

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MEGA Sheepshead on Fly (Tom is 6 foot 4 inches tall)

Oftentimes, I get asked, “What tides are best? What are your favorite water temps? What is your favorite time of year to fish?” And I always tell them, “Right NOW!” (they’re usually already on the boat with me) and that is true for several reasons. Now is your time to fish, Now is the time you have put aside to do some fly fishing, and NOW is where we are, doing what we are doing! The best time to go fishing is when you have given yourself the time… Why not learn something new about how to find and catch fish during whatever time and weather conditions you get for the day? Why not learn how to cast better? Why not learn some trick casts for catching those more “difficult” fish? Why not enjoy the moment and the experience and the serenity that you are really looking for? And conversely, Why do most people want that “film tour” type of day and only book if you promise them the stairway to heaven, mecca?

Hell, I have been fly fishing personally for 26 years exclusively and guiding many fine people for 10 years in saltwater. Even still, I too dream of those “cherry days” when the fish just hook up on every cast or those days when you get multiple shots (or even one shot) at a trophy or “personal best” fish. You know how every single awesome fishing story starts with, “You should have been here yesterday”… but I always have thought to myself and tell everyone, “Yesterday could be your tomorrow and you better be there [tomorrow]!!!” How many times is the weatherman wrong? What do they know about fishing anyways?

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Fangs for Days Yellow Mouth Speckled Trout

While I guide folks in all sorts of environment variables with all levels of skill and abilities, as your guide I certainly work my butt off starting early and/or finishing late just trying to use what assets you brought to the boat so I can show you the fish you want to hunt and if Lady Luck is on our side and you can keep Murphy from jumping on your back, then we will get to play hooky with some of the coolest fish the Texas Coast has to offer.

Our water temps are just now getting into the PRIME RANGE, and while the onset of the next cold front might chill the water a bit the fish still have to eat. The bluebird skies forecast after this next front are looking fabulous and consecutive. Massive amounts of redfish, trout, drum and sheepshead are going to blitz the shallows all thru next week. Give me a call direct or book anything online using the button below! I look forward to exercising your fly fishing skills and stretching you to be the best you can be for the day with me. Certainly, I will do everything humanly possibly to get you the “fish of your life”! Every cast counts, every opportunity can be seized even in tough conditions unless you stay on the couch watching the weather all pissed off because it was foggy or windy or cloudy.

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We catch them well in low-light conditions too!

Fly Fishing Christmas Gift Idea

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Doubled-up First Timers

Are you trying to figure out what to get for your fly fishing crazed significant other for Christmas??? Look no further! Book them a Texas Guided Saltwater Fly Fishing Trip for February 2019 (or for any other month)!

A guided saltwater fly fishing charter is the perfect gift for those that already have all the latest gear because a guided trip is the perfect place for them to use all that equipment! And if they don’t have appropriate fly rods or reels or flies for the Texas saltwater fly fishing, don’t worry, Kenjo Fly can accommodate ya’ll with top notch equipment!


Call NOW at 361-500-2552 if you have questions or Book Online to view available dates for any month in 2019.

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27 inch redfish


Change of Seasons

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Low Tide Pig

It can be hard to explain and even harder to forecast because the weather dictates fish behavior and creates or breaks patterns. So many variables come into play, it can be difficult to determine exactly which variables are the most influential at any given time. It is certain though that the changes in seasons overlap each other, as one weather pattern rescinds another one take over… slowly but surely.

The last few weeks had a few hard short-lived Northers with light winds remaining from the north signaling the redfish to move onto the edges of the flats and feed very heavily with the strong falling tides. Their bellies were full to the brim, and got those fish fat and looking like their bellies would explode if they took another bite.

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31 inch Texas Bull Redfish

Then, that 2 week long “light early winter pattern” ended and the SE winds and partly cloudy skies took over again and have dominated the forecast for what will end of being about a 2-week period. This changed the fish pattern once again and we zigged when we needed too. Coupled with the full moon pulling out most of the tide before sunrise we jumped back to some of our late summertime patterns and continued to work over the fish despite some moderate winds.

Fast forward a few days from now and we should find ourselves back in an “early winter” pattern and we will zag then to stay on the best fishing we can find. This flip-flop of weather patterns will continue through December with each passing cold front lasting a little longer than the last.

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This flood tide redfish was loving crabs in the succulents

Eventually the summer patterns will fizzle out and we will soon be into a deep winter pattern by January/February with the exception of those bluebird days when the sunshine warms up key flats and allows us to sight cast again. On those duck weather days though we will strategically fish deep water flats and structures to pull good numbers of fish even though the aren’t up shallow.

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There is a “first” for everything!

Michael and Marjorie decided to come down and give me the opportunity to put them on their first sight-casted redfish (on the fly)… Their determination was proven and learned quite quickly that the sight fishing game changes everything and since last Saturday have already booked another date in December!

Schools of fish are appearing now with larger sized fish and schools appearing along the outer edges of the flats coming up out of the deep and small to medium sized school fish are popping shrimp up and down the shorelines regardless of wind direction. And now, tonight in the wee hours while the rooster sleeps, another Norther is expected to descend on the Coastal Bend and with that will signal the fish to “put on the feed bag” again!

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In the skinny on the fly

With all that said, the next week or two should see traditionally amazing “winter pattern” redfishing and I look forward to showing all of you as much of the action as I can!

Contact me ASAP by phone or email for available dates! 361-500-2552 If I don’t answer I am probably wrestling some REDFISH!!! Not to worry Ill call you back soon as the sun sets!

Below are a few pics from guests that I had the pleasure of guiding during the summer months and it was a unique experience where they made spectacular catches! These are my favorite pics and the experiences leading up to them are always great!

 

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Sunset Bull Redfish

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Never Give UP!!!

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Windy Day Redfish on Spin and Voodoo Shrimp!

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This redfish was hard work in the end but completed Johnny’s first South Texas Grand Slam (sheepshead, trout, ladyfish and red drum)!

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Jose caught this Houndfish in Aransas Bay

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Wind Driven Cow Patties! Or the redfish been messing around! We caught redfish over the tops of these the week before when the tide flooded normally bone dry habitat! We EVEN caught redfish in the cattle trails too!

Grateful Redfish

Kissed by a redfish…

Upon arrival it was soon discovered that the saltwater flat was almost drained dry making the normal redfish haunts obsolete and more than skinny. So much for depending on the accuracy of the printed tide tables.At least the wind was down and made for more dependable sight casting.

Without hesitation, the angler suits up for what proves to be a gorgeous day with blue bird skies and light and variable winds from the West. Wading out beyond the normal terrain, eyes are peeled back as if they were stuck open with toothpicks looking for anything that moved. Before to long, a large spot tail appears about 50 yards away and the pace is quickened to close the distance. With care, so as not to spook the finned creature from the skinny water lagoon, the distance is closed in a matter of minutes and once within casting range the fly is presented carefully and lands with a soft plop. The redfish turns and follows for a few feet then is distracted by the real deal and turns away to eat a live crab nearby. Another presentation is made just off the right shoulder of the hefty redfish and not more than 3 feet ahead. “Gotchya now” a voice is heard… Then WHAM! The fish eats the fly and with two good strip strikes the fish lets loose and clears the angler’s line as if it were on a power driven motor and with a few more kicks of its powerful tail the backing appears on his 8wt.

red drum, fly fishing

Strong 28-inch red drum in skinny water

After a brilliant tug-o-war the fish succumbs to its challenger and is posed for a quick portrait of a beauty of a 28-inch redfish. “There you go, swim free my pretty. Your game was great and more than fair.”he Lone Red Ranger swims a few feet away freely, then turns 180 degrees and comes back and kisses the anglers boot. A gentle nudge with his hand guides the grateful redfish away and a moment is taken in silence to consider that the redfish came back to thank the sportsman for his fair fight and safe release.

what the h3!!?

what the h3!!?