Koliba-Shimek lead FLW Redfish Series Western

Over-slot frustrations frequent at Grand Isle event

GRAND ISLE, La. – Louisiana is known for big redfish. But the problem for the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Western anglers today was that they were too big. Many teams crossing the stage this afternoon lamented the same tale, “Too big, too big and too big again.”

Much to the anglers’ frustrations, they have to release all redfish over 27 inches; even if it breaks the regulation mark by fin, it must go back.

One team that did not have any problems with “overs,” as they are commonly referred to, was the team of Kurt Koliba of Port Lavaca, Texas, and Michael Shimek of Bay City, Texas. The team took the lead with a pair of legal reds weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce.

If the names of Koliba and Shimek sound familiar, it’s because they placed second at the first FLW Redfish Series Western at Port Aransas, Texas.

Driven by that near miss at the first event, Koliba put in a six-day practice period at Venice. He also took a page out of the Florida anglers’ notebook when scouting the area.

“Michael and I have been doing this a long time, and we are starting to realize those Florida guys are onto something with that sight-fishing,” Koliba noted. “We are used to blind-casting for fish and then culling through them. But this is a size game, not necessarily a numbers game. It’s more efficient to get up there in the ponds where you can actually see the size fish you are fishing for.”

Shimek agreed with the strategy.

“Those Florida guys just got a heck of a head start with sight-fishing because that’s the way they fish there,” Shimek said. “The rest of us are kind of catching up on the learning curve.”

Koliba and Shimek made a 75-minute run to the Venice area this morning and caught their two best fish by 9 a.m.

“When the tide is out in the morning, we can see them better,” said Koliba, who also noted they caught their fish on 1/2-ounce spoons. “I don’t think bait choice is critical. You could probably throw a chicken bone at them and they would eat it.

Chapman and McGatlin grab second

Speaking of Florida-style redfishing, captains Chris Chapman and Dan McGatlin, both from Central Florida, hold down second with 16 pounds, 8 ounces.

The team made a 35-mile run to Venice and sight-fished shallow ponds.

“The water was pretty clean until about 1 o’clock, then the tide started coming in and the dirty water flushed in,” Chapman said. “With the full moon, we’ve been having some pretty strong tides – it’s probably fluctuating close to 2 feet in those ponds right now.”

The team reported catching about 20 reds on Exude jigs and one on an in-line spinner.

Louisiana and Texas anglers in top five

In third place is the team of Matthew Morel and Peter Young, both of New Orleans, with 15 pounds, 12 ounces.

The teams of Trent Brady of Larose, La., and Eddie Callias of Galliano, La., and Greg Hartsell of Pearland, Texas, and Mark Trevino of Friendswood, Texas, are tied for fourth with 15 pounds, 11 ounces.

Day two of Redfish Series Western Division action begins at 6 a.m. Saturday at Pirate’s Cove Marina in Grand Isle.