As good as Louisiana’s fishing is, it can still be tough for bank-bound anglers to have success.
However, that isn’t true this month, when redfish frequently stack up in Shell Beach along the road.
Campo’s marina owner Robert Campo said if two things happen this month, the famous “Redfish Jubilee” will occur. Anglers can’t wait.
“In order to have a jubilee, you have to have a couple things come together at one time: We have to have temperatures around the freezing mark, and the tide has to be rock-bottom low,” Campo said.
Big puzzle piece
The low water is a big piece of the puzzle because of what it does to the fish, Campo said.
“Those fish fall out of the Hopedale marsh with the water, and they lay in that bayou where it’s deep where the water is warmer,” he said.
Campo said the fish group up in certain areas in Shell Beach along the road.
“They concentrate from Joe’s canal, down to where Bayou La Loutre meets Bayou Yscloskey,” he said.
Campo recommends chucking a Carolina rig with dead shrimp at the fish to start with.
However, when the redfish pile up in ridiculous numbers, which frequently happens, they’ll bite just about anything.
“Usually when they’re in there, they’ll bite anything,” he said. “I’ve seen somebody take an airhead wrapper and tie the paper to the line above the hook.”
Plenty tackle needed
Carolina rigs have a lot of components to them, and Campo said to bring plenty of spare parts for them.
“Bring plenty of tackle because you’re going to lose some,” he said. “There’s all kind of garbage down there.”
Campo said all the reds you’ll catch doing this are keepers, unless the temperatures climb.
“They’re mostly all slot reds; they look like they’re made out of a mold,” he said. “As soon as it warms up a little bit, that’s when you start seeing all the rat reds.”
Water clarity is a non-issue when the redfish are that stacked up, according to Campo.
“The water could be like chocolate milk in that bayou, and it doesn’t matter,” he said. “As soon as the bait hits the bottom, it’s a redfish on the line.”
If you’re fortunate enough to have a boat, Campo said there are places all around Shell Beach that stack up with redfish — if you know what to look for.
“Pretty much wherever you have a place that has a deep bayou with a deep turn, I would venture to say that those reds and drum would be in those bayous,” he said. “It’s so cold, that’s where they’re going to warm up. That thermal layer is going to be down in that deeper water. The warmer water is going to be at the bottom at that time, and that’s where they’re going to be.”
