The weather is hot, but the fishing is hotter. The bull reds have been patrolling the shorelines in shallow coves along the Gulf, feasting on the migrating shrimp and the fishing has been great.

During the summer there are two options: If you want big boys, you head to the fringes of the Gulf of Mexico and look for massive bull reds, if you want numbers, you stay inside and fish the gin clear water in grassy duck ponds for slot reds. Personally, the slot reds are my favorite. They are plentiful, pop out clear as day when they come floating up, and have a beautiful copper coloration. They are aggressive, forgiving, and put up a hell of a fight in this ultra shallow environment. Today we stayed inside. I set my client up with a gold spoon, a marsh staple, and he pulled red after red out of the thick vegetation and even managed a couple black drum. A great day out in the marsh!

Down here in South Louisiana the Reds have been crawling with their backs out first thing in the morning, gorging themselves on juvenile shrimp along the grass lines. Lots of over-slots and and the occasional bull.