Redfish are the life of tailgating party

PUNTA RASSA, Fla. (MCT) - Drifting across the turtle-grass flats of Pine Island Sound just before sunset Friday, captain Rick De Paiva scanned the horizon expectantly.

"It's going to happen anytime," De Paiva assured his friend, captain Paul Hobby, and me. "As soon as the tide gets low enough, the tails will start popping up."

De Paiva was referring to the tails of red drum, which are known to school here in large numbers beginning in the fall. The fish swim up into the shallows from adjacent channels on lower tide stages to feed on abundant small shrimp and crabs that cling to the lush meadows of seagrass. When the water is low...