If the sun is shining, Captain Ty Hibbs will be in a duck pond somewhere, casting for redfish that shine like stop signs.
Todd Masson
Ancient Greeks believed that Helios, the sun god and son of Hyperion and Theia, drove his fiery chariot across the sky each day. Today, we might laugh at our ancestors for elevating a blazing orb in the sky to divine status. How naive were they!
However, many anglers in South Louisiana share a devotion to the powerful Helios that rivals that of the early Greeks. These are the individuals who push their boats and engines to their limits, navigating to shallow, often overlooked mud puddles deep within the Louisiana marshlands, spots seeming too shallow to host any fish larger than a bluegill.
Yet, these backwaters — known as “duck ponds” — are precisely where robust redfish gather, driven by an insatiable hunger. They turn these ponds into all-you-can-eat buffets filled with crabs, shrimp, killifish, and finger mullet, overwhelming the local baitfish population by the dozens, if not hundreds.
### Sight Fishing for Louisiana’s Redfish
Matthew Isbell, recognized as Bama Beach Bum on YouTube, made a precise cast to entice a strike from a backwater Louisiana redfish.
Todd Masson
In these ponds, filtered by submerged vegetation, water clarity can vary significantly, from crystal clear to tannic, with redfish glowing like stop signs, but only in sunlight. On clear days, the fish are so easily visible that shallow-water anglers often forego blind casts; instead, they gently pole through the shallows or use a trolling motor in deeper waters, scanning for fish with polarized sunglasses. Baits dangle from rods, poised for action as soon as a fish is spotted.
Accurate casting is vital, with placement depending on the fish’s demeanor and angle. Typically, anglers aim to cast past the redfish, positioning the lure to be retrieved a few feet ahead. Sometimes, it’s most effective to drop the lure as soon as the fish notices it, while on other occasions, coaxing bites involves keeping the lure away from them. The bites are thrilling, with clear water offering a front-row seat to the action — from the fish charging the bait to the flaring gills and the sudden disappearance of the lure as a hungry redfish sucks it in along with the surrounding water.
The fights that follow are incredibly intense. When hooked in deeper waters, redfish will plunge for the bottom, trying to drag you, your rod, and your boat down with them. In shallower waters, they can’t employ that strategy, so they will strip line during their initial run and then circle the boat like athletes on a track. This is especially true for the larger fish, known locally as “overs,” which exceed the 27-inch size limit.
### Oversize Redfish in the Marsh
Louisiana’s coastline is sinking, yet it continues to present seemingly unlimited shallow areas for redfish to feast.
Todd Masson
Biologists suggest this size range is when redfish reach sexual maturity and feel the urge to migrate to the Gulf for spawning. However, many seem to remain in a state of prolonged adolescence, refusing to grow up fully. Occasionally, fish as large as 35 inches can be found in these areas.
Regardless of their size, these shallow, clear-water fish are among the most beautiful found anywhere. Their skin, like that of a chameleon, adapts to their surroundings. In deeper or murky waters, redfish appear silver, with dark-bronze or brown backs, but in the shallows, they exhibit vibrant orange hues, a rich coloration often extending across their otherwise white bellies.
This coloration offers them camouflage while hunting prey but makes them conspicuous when they become prey. They can be spotted easily, even by someone as blind as Ray Charles — but only when the sun is out. On overcast days, these fish are nearly invisible, prompting anglers to make numerous blind casts for success. While this method can still be enjoyable and productive, nothing compares to casting to a visible fish and watching it take the lure. This is why shallow-water redfish anglers are dedicated followers of a religion, with Helios as their deity.