Jeff Steckler and Will Davis, both of Rockport, weighed a two-redfish limit that totaled 16.17 pounds to win the final regular-season event for the Texas Division of the IFA Redfish Tour presented by Cabela’s on June 7 at Aransas Pass.
Facing high winds, the anglers crossed the choppy waters of Corpus Christi Bay to reach the protected waters of Laguna Madre.
“It blew 20-30 miles per hour pretty much all day,” Steckler said. “Because of the wind, there were large amounts of people in the area. That’s one of the areas that stays somewhat clean.”
Although the high winds concentrated the competitors and weekend anglers, the windy conditions played into the team’s game plan.
“It made for a tough trip down to the lagoon, but it actually helps our program because it turns the water a bit off color,” said Steckler. “When it’s calm, the fish are spooky and tough to catch out of the boat.”
The anglers fished scented plastics on quarter-ounce jigheads in the big grass flats of the lagoon and had their limit by early morning.
On the kayak side, James Sanchez, of Corpus Christi, measured a combined limit of 42 inches to win the final regular-season event.
The winds affected the bite today,” Sanchez said. “My pre-fishing efforts paid off though. I was pretty surprised I was able to do so well considering the conditions.”
Matthew Moccia, of Manchaca, measured a 21.75-inch redfish and a 17.25-inch speckled sea trout for combined total of 39 inches and second place.
To catch his fish, Moccia targeted grass beds along wind-blown shores with scented plastics.
