My Journey in Curation – How to Catch a Redfish

When beginning this project, I used Pinterest as a repository for the collection of resources. This made it easy for me collect resources on a ‘board’ for easy access and analysis. In total, I collected nine different sources of information - some content was better than others and there was also a lot of overlap between sources. I mined these nine sources for information that I thought would be beneficial for novice anglers going after Redfish for the first time.

First, I wanted to begin the curation process with an instructional Youtube video that I personally created. The video teaches learners how to adequately identify a Redfish. I figured that this is the most important step in learning how to catch a Redfish, so this seemed like a natural starting point. In this video I explain:

• ·         How to identify the copper-bronze or red body color on the top half of the fish
• ·         How to identify the white belly
• ·         How to identify the black spot on each side of the caudal fin
• ·         How to determine that the chin of the fish is lacking barbels
• ·         How to identify the downward facing mouth shape
• ·         How to identify the large scales

With this information and several photographs of Redfish, learners should be able to identify a Redfish with ease. It may be helpful for the learners to see a Redfish face-to-face, but I don’t personally think that this is necessary.

[Brewer, Samuel]. (2017, March 30^th). Redfish Identification Video [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCwHDR3y0Bw

Secondly, I discovered an article written by Mr. Ron Brooks titled, ‘How to Locate Redfish’. Mr. Brooks gave some outstanding tips for locating Redfish habitats and targeting this unique species. Mr. Brooks provided the wonderful information below:

• ·         How they feed more vigorously during tidal changes
• ·         How they position themselves along the edges of channels
• ·         How they tend to feed around structures like oyster beds, docks, and sandbars
• ·         How they ambush baitfish moving with the currents
• ·         How fishermen/fisherwoman should position themselves next to deeper water running along the tides
• ·         How they migrate through coastal inlets in the winter

Mr. Brooks shared some esoteric knowledge behind the behavior of these fish and I think that these tips will give any angler an advantage once they get out on the water. I think that these factors are all extremely important to know when going after Redfish – if you can understand where they are at and when they are feeding, then you are more than half way to catching one for yourself.

Brooks, Ron. (2017, March 25^th). How to Locate Redfish. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-locate-redfish-2929647

Next, I found an article written by Glen Kowalski titled, ‘Red Drum Fishing Tips and Techniques’. Mr. Kowalski provides some excellent information on the type of gear and tackle needed. Here is some of the golden information that Mr. Kowalski provides in his article:

• ·         The size of your tackle should be based on the size of the Redfish you are targeting.
• ·         Ultra light tackle is great for ‘puppy’ reds but heavy downriggers may be necessary for ‘bull reds’
• ·         A reel with 200 yards of 10 lb test is best for inshore fishing
• ·         Trolling should be done at low speeds and requires heavier tackle
• ·         Leaders are unnecessary since Redfish don’t have teeth
• ·         A popping cork setup can be quite effective in shallow water
• ·         If a leader is used, a ‘slip-lead’ will be most effective. A slip-lead is a leader with a small egg sinker attached above a swivel and then a hook attached to the bottom end of a piece of line.
• ·         A variety of live baits work well for catching Redfish – croakers, menhaden, mullet, pinfish, sardines, shrimp, and crab
• ·         Chumming can be an effective strategy for attracting Redfish
• ·         Casting the bait parallel to the structure that you are fishing will produce better results

It is important to make sure that your tools match the species that you are targeting, so I especially appreciated this bit of information. Mr. Kowalski did a wonderful job listing some of the most important factors to consider when targeting redfish. I think that it is important to mention that tackle size should also depend on the wind speed, current, and water depth, so I was slightly disappointed that he did not touch on this subject matter. I also think that it is important to choose bait that is commonly found in the area that you are fishing. I have always had great luck catching live bait with a cast net in the area that I am targeting - I feel like this is the best way to ensure that the bait will be natural pray within the target area.

Kowalski, Glen. (2016, September 22^nd). Red Drum Fishing Tips and Techniques. Retrieved from https://skyaboveus.com/fishing/Fishing-for-Redfish

The next piece of content actually comes from a bass fishing article, but the jigging technique that is portrayed is also wonderful for catching Redfish. The author created an amazing infographic to teach users how to properly jig for fish. This technique will help anglers catch more redfish and I have personally never seen these techniques explained so clearly and concisely. Mr. Brinks deserves some kind of an award for creating this compelling piece of content. Here is a picture of the infographic:

I think that it important to modify the jigging technique based on the environment that you are in. If you are fishing a rocky bottom or an oyster bar then it will probably be best to choose a light weight jig head and ensure that you bounce it over the rocks/oysters as you retrieve your line – this will help prevent many hang ups. I also think that the technique should also be modified based on water depth and currents.

Brinks, Tyler. (2015, October 5^th). Jig Fishing for Bass. Retrieved from https://www.fix.com/blog/jig-fishing-for-bass/

The final piece of content came from the ‘Line on Fishing’ website. They created an infographic that teaches users how to tie a traditional snell knot. This knot can be used for everything/anything and is incredibly strong and easy to learn. Learners can follow the step-by-step infographic guide provided by this web site to learn how to tie this knot in less than five minutes. Although there are many different types of knots, this one is my favorite and is the only knot anyone needs to know to catch a Redfish. This knot seems to allow the hook to carry the bait more naturally, which is another reason why it is my favorite.

Line on Fishing. (2013, June 11^th). Retrieved from http://www.lineonfishing.com/index.php/2013-06-11-15-37-39/snell-knots#Traditional_Snell_Knot

What do you all think about this curation process? I attempted to curate this content in a way that a novice angler could easily interpret and use. I came in with the assumption that the learner/user already has some basic fishing knowledge. Is it fair to make an assumption like this? Please give me some feedback and let me know how I can possibly improve this curation process. Thank you!