Last Updated on August 13, 2026 by Capt. Bucky
The day started off like usual. Up early at 4:30am, pick up the boat from storage, hit the gas station, and drive to the ramp. On the water by 5:30-5:45am, and head to the bait spot. Sit on the flat slowly chumming until the bait shows up. Four or five throws later with the cast net, and I am loaded down with bait. Hardest part of the day done!
Head to the ramp and pick up my clients. Now the water temps have cooled off a bit and we had some higher tides first thing with a nice outgoing tide later in the morning. Still, I am very weary of getting on the flats first thing, because your bait can easily die. Too much fresh water from all the rain we had and also not enough dissolved oxygen in the water. Need to let that sun come up a bit and allow the grass to start photosynthesizing.
We head to a deep water oyster bar first spot. Post up, throw out a handful of chummers and the water instantly erupts with ladyfish. Told the guys, once we get through this ladyfish action the trout bite should pick up, and that’s exactly what happened. The trout bite turned on and we landed over 20 trout. At one point, I tied on a jig head with a D.O.A. curly tail in their 419 green back color and challenged them to a contest. Who could catch more, 3 guys with white bait or me with an artificial. After a dozen throws, my clients caught 4 trout. I landed 5 trout, an unexpected flounder, and snagged two pinfish. Gave the jig to one of my clients and his first cast he hangs it up and breaks it off.
We moved on from there and went to hit one of my flats. First spot there we catch a small redfish, but not much was happening. I throw a pinfish deep under the mangroves and instantly got my feelings hurt. Big redfish took me to the house. We bounced down that shoreline hitting some spots and landed about a dozen redfish with a few really nice reds in the 27 to 30-inch range. Now as we got towards the end of the flat, I noticed the water was starting to rush out of one of the back water creeks and I decided its time to move to where I ended my day that last Wednesday.
Last Wednesday, I had a very good day bouncing all over the place but at the last spot we started to get into some good reds, but by that time it was almost 12pm and the storms forced us to leave. Rain is one thing, but when you are surrounded by thunder and lightning it’s time to go. By the time we got back to the ramp, and I pulled the boat out of the water, the wind started ripping and the skies opened up. Fun thing that day was two of my clients hooked the same redfish at the same time.
Anyways, we drove to that same area and I got on the point that was starting to produce. Now the tide was higher and the water wasn’t moving as fast at that point. We missed a good red and caught two small guys, but not much. I said let’s bounce down towards the middle of the shoreline and see if these fish come out. Not much is happening when all of a sudden to my right I see a big redfish try to catch a chummed bait. He misses it and 10 other reds popped up. Game on! Threw out some chummers in front of the boat and the waters erupted. We were instantly tripled up on redfish. That happened 4 more times with multiple doubles mixed in. They got tired of taking fish pictures so I just started using my D-hooker tool and releasing fish boat side. Pulled a few larger ones out to take some pics, but they had had their fill. I believe we landed 30 plus redfish that last spot. We had another hour to fish, but my clients said they had enough. I don’t blame them. I got to catch half a dozen reds myself.
Now not everyday is like that, but this time of year and all throughout the fall you stand a greater chance on having days like we just did. If you are looking for some amazing action and cooler fall weather now is the time to get on the books.
Capt. Bucky Goldman
Bag’Em Fishing Charters
