Bullreds @Gilchrist 02/29 thanks RodDawg,Jonnhy,JollyRoger,

peterpan · Post by **peterpan** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:53 pm

First of all, thanks to RodDawg, Jonnhy a, JollyRoger, flying squid, and Preacher for all the advices that made this trip successful.
This is my first kayak/surf fishing trip for bigger fish on the coast. Saturday morning a friend of mine and I hit the sand (50 yards from the house we were staying at) and started to rig our tackle. By 9:00 am I got my inflatable yak and yakked the baits out about 200 yards. Firstly I thought if any bite would take place, I would hear my alarm screaming like crazy (penn 309, penn gti 330). About 10 minutes after my last trip on the yak (what a horrible trip, I have to buy a hard shell yak and join you guys, it took me 30 minutes to set the baits out) we heard the alarm, but it wasn’t taking much line (1 or 2 yards of line). 5 minutes after, we heard it again (another yard of line taken), and the slack on the line was huge. One hour after, we decided to check on the hooks, it took me 5 minutes reeling in to realize I had a fish on. At the end we end up with my first Bullred of 36 inches. Since the girls told us they wanted some seafood to eat caught by us, we decided to tag this one and keep it. The fish was about to die, after so long in the water and we didn’t realize it was there. LOL. After that we called it a day of fishing. It was foggy the whole day, from dusk to dawn, never seen a weather like that before.
Sunday morning I was tired of the yak and had sore muscles. My other friend proposed to take the baits out for us using his surf long board. It was awesome; he went so fast and in a straight path. At the time he was coming back from the second rod, I nailed another bullred. It wasn’t so noticeable it had a fish on! I am new into this! Is it supposed to be like that? Well, I gave the rod to him and after 15 minutes battling we had this one landed, it was released for another day of fight. Size about the same as the previous day, if not fatter at least. Maybe sharks are more aggressive in taking the line… It wasn’t that easy to detect a fish…
Another doubt, what is the best way to prepare this type of fish, I know I am not keeping another bullred, but we grilled the first one, also we had smoked it and the taste was a little bit funky. The meat texture is a little bit harder, it resembles lobster. Also the girls had marinated it with lots of garlic, salt, lime, and lemon pepper season. Is it supposed to be good, or is it the fish taste not good?
Well later I’ll post more pictures that my friend took, those I just took with my cellphone.
Tackle: penn 309 (20#. Test line, 200# leader, 16/0 circle hook, 6 oz spider sinker, 6.5 ft rod), penn gti330 (30#. Test line, 200# leader, 16/0 circle hook, 6 oz spider sinker, 12 ft rod).
Location: Gilchrist, 1 mile east of the rollover pass.
Bottom line: less than 3 hours of fishing, 2 bullreds, and lots of fun! Later I'll post more pics!
http://images31.fotki.com/v1097/photos/ ... 1204635827
http://images31.fotki.com/v1086/photos/ ... 1204635845
http://images33.fotki.com/v1136/photos/ ... 1204635884
http://images35.fotki.com/v1129/photos/ ... 1204636027
http://images36.fotki.com/v1155/photos/ ... 1204636249
http://images35.fotki.com/v1127/photos/ ... 1204636278
http://images34.fotki.com/v1121/photos/ ... 1204636335

socom · Post by **socom** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:18 pm

Good job on the Bull reds. They do have a lot less flavor than slot reds but if you grill them on the half shell like that they are good as long as you aren't shy with the seasonings. They are especially good like that if you blacken them.

As far as catching them from the surf goes I just set my drag to 5 or 6 pounds and hang the spider weight. Turn on the clicker and crack a cold Shiner Bock. As long as you are using circle hooks they should hook themselves. Just check for slack runs every so often.

CptSavAMullet · Post by **CptSavAMullet** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:37 pm

Nice Bull

harge57 · Post by **harge57** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:40 am

After eating the first bull red, I will not eat another one. Pretty funky.

sherwood · Post by **sherwood** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:04 pm

Even if your reel clicks slowly or just a little (and you know it's not seaweed or current), you can still grab and lift the rod alittle to test the pressure to see if there's a fish on.

peterpan · Post by **peterpan** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:26 pm

sherwood wrote:Even if your reel clicks slowly or just a little (and you know it's not seaweed or current), you can still grab and lift the rod alittle to test the pressure to see if there's a fish on.

Thank you, I think that will help me to detect the fish better. Good hint!

abz400 · Post by **abz400** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:35 pm

that was some big reds.

Reelworld · Post by **Reelworld** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:32 pm

Nice!

LOOKN4REDS · Post by **LOOKN4REDS** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:50 pm

Nice job on your first Bull Reds PP! Now you are probably hooked on this Bull Red "thang." Just wait 'till you start doing this with 10lb. test.

BTW, the slot reds are a delicacy. Don't be put off by those big girls. That's why they usualy get released. Enjoy the summer. LOOKN4REDS

peterpan · Post by **peterpan** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:57 pm

thanks lookn4reds. Actually now I have 4 reels. I guess I am addicted to it!