Reds home in on noisy baits in Venice’s stained waters. Hefty bulls are dogged fighters that require sturdy tackle. (Photo by Drew Warden)
I posed this question to Capt. Mike Frenette as he leaned over the side of his boat to rinse fish slime off his hands in the warm, turbid Gulf waters southwest of Venice, La. It was our second day of fishing—my first with Frenette—and in the short time we’d been on the water, he’d already brought three big bull redfish to the boat. Meanwhile, I had yet to hook one, and I simply wanted to know if the fish gods were displeased with my offering.