Fishing Oil Rigs for Louisiana Red Fish – Season 13, Episode 21

Season 13 – Episode 21 is Live on Youtube!

James heads to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana to join long time friend Ben Brettingen to target red fish.

Are Red fish table fare?

I’m kicking myself even more now for not going out redfishing when I was in FL last month. Looks like a blast.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Are Red fish table fare?

They are a lot like bass are here. Most people are strictly C&R with them, but there are some that will eat them and are fine to do so.

Good to see ya Ben! Good show.

S.R.

munchy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
Are Red fish table fare?

They are a lot like bass are here. Most people are strictly C&R with them, but there are some that will eat them and are fine to do so.

Actually this species is a salt water drum fish. Red Drum…

…so would you eat a freshwater sheepshead?

Not to be confused with Red Snapper, a saltwater delicacy…altogether different but can be confused unless you been there.

This link helps explain, and has pictures…

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/redfish-four-american-species/

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Munchy wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
Are Red fish table fare?

They are a lot like bass are here. Most people are strictly C&R with them, but there are some that will eat them and are fine to do so.

Actually this species is a salt water drum fish. Red Drum…

…so would you eat a freshwater sheepshead?

Not to be confused with Red Snapper, a saltwater delicacy…altogether different but can be confused unless you been there.

This link helps explain, and has pictures…

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/redfish-four-american-species/

I didn’t say the fish was like a bass. I said they get treated the same as bass in regards to C&R and eating them. And yes people eat them. Just Google Redfish Recipes. There’s a limit on them for a reason. Last I checked there is no limit on Sheepshead….

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Are Red fish table fare?

I’ve had redfish blackened and grilled redfish stuffed with lump crab meat. Both were fantastic. People catch and keep the smaller reds (sub 27″ class) and the “bulls” are protected with tight limits on the 27 inch plus fish.

I will be doing this trip annually going forward until I’m in the ground. There’s no way to convey how incredible the experience is until you’ve done it yourself. And the trip is CHEAP with airfare in the $250 – $400 range, depending on carrier, round trip.

Freshwater sheepshead are related to red fish. Saltwater sheephead are one of the best eating saltwater fish. Redfish is also delicious.

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Munchy wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
Are Red fish table fare?

They are a lot like bass are here. Most people are strictly C&R with them, but there are some that will eat them and are fine to do so.

Actually this species is a salt water drum fish. Red Drum…

…so would you eat a freshwater sheepshead?

Not to be confused with Red Snapper, a saltwater delicacy…altogether different but can be confused unless you been there.

This link helps explain, and has pictures…

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/redfish-four-american-species/

Freshwater sheep head is pretty dang good actually. So long as you trim the red meat which is common with any fish. The meat is white and flaky and bland. Just like walleye. I was surprised

Bucket list trip for sure.

I gotta say it though… 8 minutes of content, 20 minutes of ads. I understand you gotta keep the lights on but I’ve really noticed it being to the point of annoying the last couple seasons.

James, Great Show, it brings me back to a trip a few April’s ago trip to Cameron Louisiana. We fished a private Fishing Camp at the edge of the marsh which had a dock and a control dam, the water flowed in and out via the tides through this control dam. With the current, it was a natural magnet for big Reds, Seatrout, and Black Drum. My profile picture pretty much says it all. We had some Cajun cooks that really put on a feed, grilling the redfish skin side down, with their own seasoning mixture on top……fabulous.

Does anyone have guide recommendations to do a similar fishing trip?

Had a blast fishing with James & Pat! Learning the marsh and how to fish it has been such a great experience. Not that fishing in the Midwest was getting old by any means but the challenge of learning how to catch fish in a 100% different environment was a great breath of fresh air. Looking forward to having you guys back down again!

Might be sooner than later with the 500″s of snow they’re calling for up there

Justin Haack wrote:

Does anyone have guide recommendations to do a similar fishing trip?

Give captain Jimmy Corley with Waterfowl Specialist Guide Service a call. He’s a great guy and has helped me learn a ton!

Fishing Charters

Eelpoutguy wrote:

#1848963
Are Red fish table fare?

Reds are fantastic table fare. Fillet them and leave the skin/scales on, and throw it on the grill. Redfish on the Half Shell! We’ll end up keeping quite a few reds, but very rarely the big ones like we were catching for the show. Perfect size eater red is about 18″-24″. In LA you’re allowed 5 Reds, 16″-27″, no more than 1 over 27″.

I’ll keep Speckled trout to fry, and Redfish to grill, and don’t get me started on Sheepies. Probably one of the better fish to eat in my opinion, just a little tougher to clean.

Great episode gents!

For those who might want to try something a bit different, there are quite a few places around the Galveston, TX and Corpus Christi, TX area where you can rent a kayak and fish the saltwater marshes. It is really fun to hook a bull in a kayak.

One thing to remember, and James did mention it on the episode, if you are going to use lighter tackle, make sure you are using a reel with enough line. I have had a bull get me to the mono backing on a size 2500 reel before (125 yards of line out). They pull extremely hard and when they go on a run there isn’t much you can do except hang on.
Also, if you do plan on taking your standard walleye/pike rods/reels, make sure you clean them off very good at the end of each day and do a deep clean on the reel at the end of the trip. Saltwater is really hard on tackle. Either that, or invest in inshore equipment.

My old boss would travel to LA with his buddy to kayak fish reds. They stay at a fish camp on stilts, it looked like a blast.

ajw wrote:

Bucket list trip for sure.

I gotta say it though… 8 minutes of content, 20 minutes of ads. I understand you gotta keep the lights on but I’ve really noticed it being to the point of annoying the last couple seasons.

What are you talking about?

I rough timed it at over 20 minutes of content.

No more ads than most any show.

Better than baseball. 3 hours long with 18 min average of moving play.

ajw wrote:

Bucket list trip for sure.

I gotta say it though… 8 minutes of content, 20 minutes of ads. I understand you gotta keep the lights on but I’ve really noticed it being to the point of annoying the last couple seasons.

The amount of fishing time in our shows has not changed since the first TV show we have ever produced. The Intro is actually about :30 seconds shorter this year so technically this season has more fishing footage than any other year.

Our show is required to be 28:30 including commercials by the network. 6:06 of which are ads. Your numbers of 8 minutes of content and 20 minutes of ads aren’t even close. 22:24 of content and 6:06 of commercials is what every single show has minus the intro – which is actually shorter than in years past.

Just skip the commercials if you don’t want to watch them.

Ben Brettingen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
#1848963
Are Red fish table fare?

Reds are fantastic table fare. Fillet them and leave the skin/scales on, and throw it on the grill. Redfish on the Half Shell! We’ll end up keeping quite a few reds, but very rarely the big ones like we were catching for the show. Perfect size eater red is about 18″-24″. In LA you’re allowed 5 Reds, 16″-27″, no more than 1 over 27″.

I’ll keep Speckled trout to fry, and Redfish to grill, and don’t get me started on Sheepies. Probably one of the better fish to eat in my opinion, just a little tougher to clean.

Sheepies?

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Sheepies?

Well, that’s discouraging. The fish has better teeth than I do.

S.R.

I did not see Pat on the boat LOL, was he the camera man?

bigcrappie wrote:

I did not see Pat on the boat LOL, was he the camera man?

You got it! They let me catch one though!

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Pat McSharry wrote:

ajw wrote:

Bucket list trip for sure.

I gotta say it though… 8 minutes of content, 20 minutes of ads. I understand you gotta keep the lights on but I’ve really noticed it being to the point of annoying the last couple seasons.

The amount of fishing time in our shows has not changed since the first TV show we have ever produced. The Intro is actually about :30 seconds shorter this year so technically this season has more fishing footage than any other year.

Our show is required to be 28:30 including commercials by the network. 6:06 of which are ads. Your numbers of 8 minutes of content and 20 minutes of ads aren’t even close. 22:24 of content and 6:06 of commercials is what every single show has minus the intro – which is actually shorter than in years pas

Yeah!!! What I said.

I want to get in on this. I’m lobbying my buddies for another vacation. Just got back from Green Bay yesterday though.

Thanks Ben, reservations made based on your recommendation.

Great show guys. Looks like a blast!

Next year I’d love to see IDO do a trip to the Tampa area for Tarpon in April. I’m not sure if that is too late for the IDO filming season. The nice thing about April is if the Tarpon are slow, you have kingfish, spanish mackerel and snook that will cooperate.