What a Battle!

  Since the heavy rains last week, fishing has been poor on the Bayou.  Fresh water has come barreling down through the rivers and creeks to make our normally salty or brackish water unusually fresh.  This has pushed our salt-loving fish out to deeper waters and left us with things like bass, shellcrackers and perch. While those will do in a pinch, I am spoiled by the flavor of saltwater fish.  Freshwater fish just do not taste right.  

  Today, all that changed and our fish came back.  After a few tide changes, we are back in business!  The fish are biting and the Bay is filled with little mullet to use as bait.  Early this afternoon, my friend, Darlene, came to visit and, as usual, we wound up on the pier. While she piddled around catching small croakers, I decided to go after the big fish.  A six inch long mullet was chosen as a bait and I tossed the line out far from the pier.  First bite and I had a 17 inch long speckled trout.  Nice!  This was going to be a good day!  I baited the hook with another six inch long mullet and tossed the line again.  It wasn't long before the line started zipping out.  I set the hook and immediately could tell that this was a huge fish.  "Here", I told Darlene, "Catch this fish."  She argued a bit but I shoved the pole at her.  "Yeah, right!  You want me to reel in your catfish." she said before even taking the pole.  At that point the line started singing as it was being pulled out.  The drag on the reel was not even slowing down this fish.  "Hold the pole up!" I told her.  "Get the fish on the top of the water!"  By experience, I knew that if she let that fish stay deep, she would never be able to land it.  

  It was a good thirty minute battle between my friend and the huge fish.  I knew she had a gigantic red drum but I did not know just how big it really was.  Just as I thought she was going to give out and grow too tired to reel any longer, the fish came to the top.  "Its a redfish!!!" she yelled as her strength was renewed.  "Yup." I agreed while I was photographing her battle.  Then came time to land the fish.  Scooping that thing in the net was a problem and it was a greater ordeal to get him up on the pier but we did.  Now to measure.....44 inches!!!!!  That was one big bull red!  I heard a thump and looked over to see Darlene flat on her back!  Side by side, Darlene and the fish laid on the pier.  Both were exhausted!  She had her fish and the big grin on her face proved that she had won the battle.