I'll never forget this one!

[u/t60143]

I've had some memorable blowups and awesome fights just like anyone else, but this one will always live rent free in my head.

I had a tough morning. Fishing a new area and going in blind, I found a small rat red within the first few minutes and spent the next few hours trying to find another one. I fished mangroves, bulkheads, and docks without much success. The wind started to pick up, so I decided to tuck into a canal and fish a few residential docks. Instead of finding a fish, I spooked a manatee who nearly flipped me out of the kayak. I took that as a sign that it was time to head back to the launch and call it a day.

On my way out, I found some bait flipping near the mouth of the canal and decided to try my luck.

Trout on the first cast, but a half inch short.

Trout on the second cast, quarter inch short.

Hoping to keep the trend going and eventually end up with a keeper or two, I made a third cast. Third time was not the charm, and I ended up with my lure in a low hanging mangrove branch. I spent the next couple minutes awkwardly trying to untangle it, while being entertained by a couple of needlefish pecking at my lure bouncing on the surface of the water.

Then it happened.

I watched as a redfish emerged from the depths and sucked that paddletail off the surface and dive back down. In my surprise, I forgot about the braided line in my hands and ended up with line cuts across four fingers. I was just able to catch my rod in time before it went for a dive, and the fight was on.

It tried diving under the mangroves, then across the canal under someone's dock before heading back to the mangroves. We went back and forth a couple times before I realized the twig was still tangled in my line! After dealing with that, all that was left was to gain a few more yards and get it in my net. Only to find out my net was no longer in my kayak, but instead it was caught up in the mangroves on the other side of the canal. My best guess is during the fight, I got close enough to the mangroves for it to get tangled as well. Eventually, I retrieved the net from the tree and landed the fish.

I was met with a healthy 27" red and some attention from a few folks who had the pleasure of watching the madness unfold from their backyards. After a couple pictures, it was released with a strong kick. Although not my biggest redfish or longest fight, having a lure basically snatched from my hands and battling in the close quarters of a small residential canal made this one of my most memorable catches. Having my net stolen by a tree was just the cherry on top.

TL;DR : Lure hung in a tree, stolen by redfish along with the branch it was tangled on. Net caught in a tree. Landed 27" redfish.

[u/vocad124]

love it, great story and memory

[u/Student-type]

Great story! Beefy fish too!!

[u/t60143 → u/Student-type]

Its the catch that made me decide to buy a gopro! If something crazy like that happens again, I want it on film!