Month: October 2014

The “Margarita” Slam

This time of year is a great opportunity to catch what I call a “Margarita Slam”.  This is a brackish water mega-slam consisting of:

  • Redfish
  • Trout
  • Flounder
  • Striper
  • Largemouth

Its a cool accomplishment, and very possible in two of our rivers that are fed by fresh water, the Ashley and the Cooper.  Twice this fall I have been a largemouth short when fishing in the Cooper river, but today I set out to achieve the slam!

I started out the day far upriver in the fresh water.  I had a largemouth take on a jighead but didn’t have a good hookset.  I could tell it was a largemouth because it jumped.  So, I threw a bone Spook Jr in there and got him to come up and take it!   1/5 of slam complete

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Next, I had a very subtle take and hooked a flounder that was not even sammich size.  I tagged and released it and forgot to get a pic.  He was 12.5″ and all I have to show is the tagging report.  It was caught on the TroutEye jighead.  A414 is a Flounder. 2/5 of slam complete

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Well, redfish and trout are pretty plentiful and eating actively this time of year.  No issues bagging them.  Had about 6 trout today.  Nothing big but a few keepers in the mix.  This one was 15″ and caught on the TroutEye jighead.  3/5 of slam complete

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Three redfish today, including one kept for dinner.  Biggest today was 24.75″ (see tagging report).  Also caught on TroutEye jighead.  4/5 of slam complete.

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And….The grand finale.  I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to pull this off.  Hit a few of my striper spots and it was very slow.  Keeping to one of my favorite sayings “A spot ain’t worth much, till it’s time to be there”, I waited for a tide change and lo and behold, I found a few striking bait.  I tossed the bone Spook Jr in the general area, and started walking the dog.  About 6 feet later SPLASH!  Striper on!  There is NOTHING like a striper strike on topwater.  And to complete the Margarita slam.  She went 24.5″.  Took a fin-clip for DNR and set her back.  She had a twin fish following her all the way to the boat too.  So fun and gratifying!

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And that is how you complete a Margarita Slam!  By the way, why do we call it that?  A Margarita is both Salty and Sweet!

Trout-Eye Jig Successes

Yesterday Ralph and a guest fisherman fished the Charleston Executive Association fishing tournament.  Approximately 40 boats participated.  Ralph’s boat ended the day with 1st place Trout, 2nd & 3rd Redfish, and 1st and 3rd Flounder to take Outstanding Boat for the Tourney.  All fish were caught on the Trout-Eye jig heads!   I’m awaiting pictures from the event and will post when they come in.

In other news, I took my good friend Scott out fishing the other day.  He is not a very experienced saltwater fisherman, but is improving with every trip.  We ended the day with 18 redfish, 12 trout and 3 flounder.  Every fish was caught on the Trout-Eye jigs.

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Lastly,  a member of Summerville Saltwater Anglers fishing club, Vince, recently set the new club record for Striper on the new jig at 27.5″.  That’s a really fine riverine striper!

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