- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Ride the Bull Kayak Tournament - Advice Requested
Posted on 8/2/21 at 11:37 am
Posted on 8/2/21 at 11:37 am
A buddy and I registered for the Ride the Bull tournament at the end of Aug on a whim. I do not normally fish for bull reds, rather sight fishing for smaller slot reds. I was hoping for some advice on rigging up my gear. Currently reels are rigged with 15-20 lb braid and then normal inshore tackle (spoons, vudu shrimp, popping cork, etc). Other than setting one up to fish dead or life bait rather than a jig; should I change up the line or is 20lb enough?
Any other advice on fishing for bull reds would be appreciated if you care to share it.
Excited for the festivities on the 27/28 in Grand Isle.
Any other advice on fishing for bull reds would be appreciated if you care to share it.
Excited for the festivities on the 27/28 in Grand Isle.
8
Posted on 8/2/21 at 11:52 am to Fratastic423
I'm fishing it for the first time as well. I'm going with some heavier gear bc the pass is gonna be crowded with a few hundred other kayaks and getting tangled up with them and losing a big bull is a real concern.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 11:57 am to Fratastic423
You should be good with the gear you have. Make sure you have a good anchor.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 12:01 pm to Fratastic423
Good anchor. If it’s anything like it used to be it’ll be super crowded. It’s basically just a game of chance.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 12:41 pm to Fratastic423
I would go with heavier line. With that many yaks fishing in the area, the faster you can land the fish, the better. You don’t want to have to be patient and wait for the fish to wear itself out and risk getting tangled up with someone else’s line, especially if someone else near you gets hooked up at the same time.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 1:55 pm to Fratastic423
I finished 2nd in this tourney several years ago. Expect a crowded shite show at the start. Caught my fish within 10 minutes of paddling out that morning and called it a day. I used a whole blue crab with a few cracks in the shell and fished it on bottom where the channel runs through on the far side of the bridge.
Rig heavy so you can get the fish in as soon as possible, it's crowded and you don't want to bill dance it through everyone else's lines.
Good luck, I think I walked away with a thousand and a new kayak that I sold in the parking lot for another 1200.
Rig heavy so you can get the fish in as soon as possible, it's crowded and you don't want to bill dance it through everyone else's lines.
Good luck, I think I walked away with a thousand and a new kayak that I sold in the parking lot for another 1200.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 1:57 pm to Fratastic423
I used to follow this tournament from a casual distance. One time I remember something like 200 boats entered. And maybe like 30 fish were caught all day? What's up with that? There's lot of places I can think of that would have better fishing than that? Or maybe that was an anomaly???
Posted on 8/2/21 at 2:04 pm to Fratastic423
Go to Professional and get you some of those Shimano Tallca II Cam reels with some Jerry Brown backing on them and you'll be ready for the Ride the Bull Kayak Tournament. You won't have to worry about lines being tangled with that set up.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 2:17 pm to Fratastic423
It's a fun tourney. We've fished it for 5-6 yrs now. 3rd in 2018. HEAVY ANCHOR!! More than you think you need is key. When the current is rolling in the pass it'll move you around and the last thing you want is to be moving around, it's crowded. I use a Penn Battle 4000 w/ 65lb braid and a 6 oz egg weight, basically carolina rigged crack or whole crab on the bottom. I put 2 lines out at once and hope for the best.
DO NOT UNHOOK your fish until the weigh in boat has it. You don't want that think slipping out on the handoff a splash... he's gone.
If you fish cut mullet you'll have a blast with cats and sharks all day, not thanks.
If you can rig some shade on your yak, then do so! It's makes a big difference if you're sitting in the August sun all dang day.
Make sure EVERYTHING you own it tied to your yak. I've seen so many flip and lose rods/reels, phones, pliers, you name it.
DO NOT UNHOOK your fish until the weigh in boat has it. You don't want that think slipping out on the handoff a splash... he's gone.
If you fish cut mullet you'll have a blast with cats and sharks all day, not thanks.
If you can rig some shade on your yak, then do so! It's makes a big difference if you're sitting in the August sun all dang day.
Make sure EVERYTHING you own it tied to your yak. I've seen so many flip and lose rods/reels, phones, pliers, you name it.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 3:13 pm to No Colors
quote:There’s 3x as many boats entered in more recent years. Last RTB (2019) there was only like 7 fish weighed in. Its a crap shoot because everyone launches at the same place and the tourney boundaries encompass a fairly small area. If the bulls ain’t in Caminada Pass that morning, its not like you can move around much to go find them.
One time I remember something like 200 boats entered. And maybe like 30 fish were caught all day? What's up with that?
Posted on 8/2/21 at 3:25 pm to No Colors
May have been the year I fished. The tide started pulling out early after some near record high tide. I launched in the parking lot 
After the first flurry of catches, there were VERY few fish caught. It sucked. I never got a bite and really could not keep a bait still. It was ripping.
After the first flurry of catches, there were VERY few fish caught. It sucked. I never got a bite and really could not keep a bait still. It was ripping.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 5:28 pm to AlxTgr
I fished one year in the rain. The swells were so big you’d lose sight of kayaks right next to you. I haven’t gone back.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 8:30 pm to jimbeam
This insight is great. We are going to use it as an excuse to get a couple of trips in out of grand isle. Booked a couple of nights at the Cajun Holiday, figured it should be a good time.
I'll probably use this as an excuse to add another reel to the arsenal.
I'll probably use this as an excuse to add another reel to the arsenal.
Posted on 8/3/21 at 8:24 am to Fratastic423
If you can I'd definitely look at a larger reel and heavier rod, something like a 6000 series spinning reel would be best, even if it's a cheap combo. If using lighter equipment/line you could be fighting a fish for an hour and tangled up in everyone. Mine is spooled with 50lb braid and a 50lb leader.
Have fun, it's usually hot as hell so bring plenty water. RTB is nothing like a normal kayak tournament, it's more like a fish lottery than any sort of test of fishing skills.
Have fun, it's usually hot as hell so bring plenty water. RTB is nothing like a normal kayak tournament, it's more like a fish lottery than any sort of test of fishing skills.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News