809 | Saltwater Fly Fishing Redfish Adventures with John Hunt
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Dave Stewart
4.7 • 530 Ratings
🗓️ 4 September 2025
⏱️ 61 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
#809 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/809
Sponsor: https://www.wetflyswing.com/moccasin
Saltwater Fly Fishing is more than just chasing fish—it's about immersing yourself in incredible locations, learning new techniques, and building lifelong connections. Today's episode takes us deep into the marshes of Louisiana and beyond, exploring the magic of redfish, permit, and tarpon with a focus on both adventure and community.
Our guest, John Hunt of Moccasin Fly Club, has built one of the most unique travel-minded fly fishing communities in the world. From hosted trips and conservation efforts to unforgettable cultural experiences, John shares how the journey is just as important as the fish. By the end, you'll know when to chase bull reds, why the Double Haul Tournament is different, and how it can change the way you see travel.
Show Notes with John Hunt on Saltwater Fly Fishing
01:17 - John Hunt shares fishing reports from Colorado and New Mexico, plus how his lodges adapt to summer heat and the upcoming hunting season.
02:20 - Insight into the upcoming Double Haul Tournament in Xcalak, Mexico, blending saltwater fly fishing with community impact. Check it here.
06:37 - A weeklong experience with training days, three days of competitive fishing, prizes, and sponsor support for local guides.
08:03 - How Moccasin Fly Club lowers costs so anglers can chase permit and tarpon without a $10k+ price tag.
12:23 - John highlights his Louisiana program: three days of guided bull redfish fishing, affordable pricing, and an easy domestic travel plan. Check it out here.
14:58 - Redfish trips help anglers prepare for tarpon, permit, and other saltwater species by teaching heavy rod handling, sight casting, and fish fighting.
16:22 - John breaks down what anglers can expect: casting in wind, tailing fish, adrenaline pressure, and listening to guides.
18:18 - The Louisiana experience includes Cajun food, cultural exploration, and the history of communities shaped by hurricanes. Learn more here.
19:55 - Why 20–30 pound bull redfish return to the marsh after spawning and why late fall/winter is the best time to target them.
23:48 - How hosted trips turn strangers into lifelong fishing friends, with anglers often mixing boats to learn from each other.
26:00 - John walks through a sample Louisiana trip: airport pickup, group dinners, three days of fishing, and easy departure.
34:37 - John explains how Moccasin Fly Club fosters connections that extend beyond trips, building a travel-minded fishing community.
If you want to learn more. Click it here!
36:47 - John was talking about the Top 3 Tips for Redfish. Ask questions before casting, Don't rip line out too fast — it spooks fish more than a bad cast and Keep it light and fun — attitude impacts success as much as skill.
Wanted to Learn more about Fishing, Hunting, and Gear Trips. Check this out!
Watch the Moccasin Fly Club - Fishing, Hunting, and Gear Trips Around the World
50:30 - Why community is key — sharing spots, travel advice, and trust only works when anglers become friends through these trips.
56:56 - John explains how Moccasin supports both hosted and independent travel — helping anglers find guides, DIY fish, or build their own trips.
58:15 - The mission — Moccasin Fly Club lowers barriers to travel, offers affordable programs, and helps more people get on the water.
You can find the guest on Moccasin Fly Club Instagram and Moccasin Fly Club Website
Top 10 tips of Redfish Saltwater Fly Fishing Bullet Points for Blog Post:
Ask questions and communicate with your guide before casting.
Don't rip your line out immediately if you miss—let the fish react first.
Keep the mood light; attitude matters as much as accuracy.
Redfish trips are the best training ground for future saltwater adventures.
Timing is key—mid-October to January offers the best shots at bull reds.
Practice casting with 9- and 10-weight rods to prepare for big saltwater species.
Pay attention to local culture—food, music, and community add to the experience.
Mix up boat groups to learn from others and build friendships.
Be ready for multiple species: redfish, black drum, sheepshead, and even sharks.
Remember—it's fishing, not catching. Stay positive and enjoy the hang.
Moccasin Fly Club Saltwater Fly Fishing
Conclusion with John Hunt on Saltwater Fly Fishing
Saltwater fly fishing offers so much more than just a shot at the "bucket list" species. As John Hunt shared, trips like the Louisiana bull redfish adventure provide one of the best entry points for anglers new to the salt. From casting nine-weights at 20+ pounds saltwater redfish to building confidence for bigger species like tarpon and permit, these experiences are both affordable and action-packed. Add in Cajun food, cultural richness, and the community vibe created on hosted trips, and it's clear why anglers return year after year.
Whether your goal is chasing bull reds in the Louisiana marsh or preparing for international adventures like the Double Haul Tournament in Mexico, John's insights remind us that saltwater fly fishing is about growth, connection, and the joy of the journey.
Have you fished for Saltwater Redfish before, or is it still on your list? Share your experience in the comments — we'd love to hear your story.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/809
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Today's guest is not just mapping out fly fishing trips. He's creating something much deeper. |
| 0:06.4 | A place where redfish blow up in the shallow marshes permit tail in turquoise waters and a week on the water turns in a lifetime of new friendships. |
| 0:15.0 | The mission is simple, catch fish for sure, but also build something bigger. Community impact and real deal adventures on every trip. |
| 0:23.5 | By the end of this episode, you'll know when to chase bull reds on the flats, |
| 0:27.1 | how a simple idea became the double haul and why your next trip might just be about more than fit. |
| 0:33.6 | By the end of this one, you'll know how to chase bull reds on the flats, how a simple idea became the double haul experience, and why your next trip might be more than catching fish. |
| 0:45.1 | This is the webfly swing podcast where I show you the best places to travel to for fly fishing, how to find the best resources and tools to prepare for that big trip and what you can do to give back to the fish species we all love. John Hunt is founder of one of the most unique travel-minded fly fishing communities out there, a crew that blends hosted trips, conservation, and down-to-earth vibes under the name Maccasin Fly Club. Whether you're thinking about your first salt order trip or just want a better way to travel and fish with some good people |
| 1:11.0 | this one's for you here we go let's get into it john hunt from mackasonfly club dot com how you doing john |
| 1:18.5 | good man living the dream here in colorado yeah we've had you on now a few times we've talked about |
| 1:24.2 | your program we're going to dig into another big topic today we're going to get into saltwater is huge. We have a lot of people that are interested in saltwater. But I want to get an update like right now as we speak. We're kind of in August. You know, what's going on in summertime now? Do you want to give us an update of are you out traveling all over the place or is this break time for you? No. So yeah, we just, I mean, The summer season is going to go until about August 15th. Just got back last night. |
| 1:47.4 | We were over at Hook and Hunt at our lodge in Silk, Colorado, and had three days of floating over there. Streamer bite was awesome. And the fishing all over that side, the western slope of Colorado, so the frying pan, the roaring fork. The lower Colorado's getting a little hot |
| 2:01.9 | towards the end of the day. So one of the days we were on the water at like five in the morning and |
| 2:06.2 | float until 11, taking people up in the evening up to like reservoirs and kind of like higher |
| 2:11.5 | alpine stuff. That's been going great. Our place down in New Mexico, Rod and Rifle has been |
| 2:16.7 | booming right now because it's kind of like that other side of the bell curve, so to down in New Mexico, rod and rifle has been booming right now because it's kind of |
| 2:18.8 | like that other side of the bell curve, so to speak. New Mexico hot is a kind of different type of |
| 2:23.8 | hot. It's kind of like Texas and Arizona hot, so some people aren't trying to be when it's 110 |
| 2:28.4 | degrees. But things have been rocking there. A lot of big fish have been getting put in the net in |
| 2:33.2 | New Mexico, which is awesome. And for us, our next big step is in there. A lot of big fish have been getting put in the net in New Mexico, which is awesome. And for |
| 2:35.5 | us, our next big step is in August, we head down to Ischalak, Mexico to start working with the local |
| 2:42.7 | community heads and the live down there for our big permit and tariff in tournament that'll happen |
| 2:48.0 | September of 2026 called the double hall. |
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