Five Bassmaster Elite Series wins and two Angler of the Year titles do not just happen. A lot has to go right, and Brandon Palaniuk certainly appreciates celestial alignment; however, he’d rather not leave his fate to fortune’s fickle whims.
His mantra: Control the controllables.
Every competitive event brings influencing elements that defy management. But whether it’s meticulous tackle prep, prudent fuel economy, or frequent leader checks, Palaniuk doesn’t want opportunities to slip through doors he could have closed.
This week, Palaniuk pairs with accomplished redfish pro Chris Cenci, who shares this belief — a mutual mental strength they’ll, no doubt, apply during the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter.
In terms of his redfish controllables, Palaniuk gives a nod of respect to the copper scaled brutes that pull with greater vigor than even the baddest of freshwater bass.
“You’re dealing with a bigger fish, on average, than you do on the bass side of things, and they fight a lot harder,” Palaniuk said. “The bigger redfish get, the harder they fight because they can keep their heads down and dig.
“They have hard mouths, so you have to have sharp hooks. Your line has to be in good shape and your tackle has to be all taken care of. Those are the controllables that you can do.”
The Variables
By way of factors beyond their control, tournament anglers will find natural forces setting the table for a redfish banquet. Starting with the meteorological makeup, competition days are forecast to bring what Cenci termed “Chamber of Commerce” weather — light winds, warm days and lots of sunshine.
As for water movement, practice saw two tide days, which brought swift falling water. Conversely, tournament days will bring two tides, so the swings will be less dramatic.
“In practice, we had to get in and get out of a lot of places; during the tournament, we’re not going to be on a time crunch,” Cenci explained. “We’re going to be able to stay in the areas where the fish live and fish them a little slower.”
This, Cenci said, bodes well for that controllables mindset.
“The (slower water movement) will enable us to methodically pick apart our area,” he said. “We fished very fast while prefishing, because we wanted to cover a lot of ground. Now, we’re gonna go back to where we found these fish and we’re gonna pick ‘em apart because we’ll have the time to do it.
“That is controlling the controllables. We’re going to be able to pace ourselves better.”
Crossover Concepts
Making his second Redfish Cup appearance (also 2022), Palaniuk said he’s been able to seamlessly apply his efficiency-forward mindset to redfish pursuits because of the inherent common ground.
“I think when you compare redfish to tidal bass fisheries, the way bass move in and out and the way they use drains and drops and grass lines is very similar,” Palaniuk said. “Also, they eat a lot of the same baits.
“There are some differences, like in how shallow redfish will stay, but there are a lot of similarities, which is what makes it so fun for me.”
Another foundational decision for bass and redfish anglers is site selection. Here, Palaniuk knows that macro level prudence can overcome micro details.
“You can put yourself in the right areas,” he said. “You can’t control if a 4-pounder bites your bait or if a 6-pounder bites it; but you can decide how much time you spend in those areas and then throw the right baits to get those bites.
“They’re predatory fish, so when they’re feeding on that bait, whether the water is coming in or going out, they’re going to position themselves for the best opportunity for the bait to come by. Anywhere you have a funnel, or a pinch point, or an edge that those redfish can cruise up and down, that’s where they’re gonna be.”
The Game Plan
Cenci said he and Palaniuk have dialed in an area about 5-6 miles wide that holds a diversity of redfish-friendly habitat features. In Cenci’s experience, success often is found at the intersection of patience and mobility.
“We moved a lot in practice; I put well over 120 miles on the boat in three days,” Cenci said. “There were a lot of smaller fish, but we’re obviously looking for that upper-slot fish, which is 27 inches.
“There’s going to be a lot of fish caught, but they’re going to be in that 2- to 4-pound class. It’s going to be the team that catches that one good fish of 6-plus pounds a day — or maybe two.”
Essential to that goal will be acute tidal awareness. Daily ebb and flow governs the inshore saltwater world with non-negotiable authority. As Palaniuk points out, no angler can control the tide, but they certainly can control how they leverage its undeniable impact on redfish behavior.
“That’s why you hear how an incoming or outgoing tide is so important, because you have that water movement to concentrate the fish,” Palaniuk said. “If have a dead low slack tide, or a high slack tide, it seems like everything’s in peace; but then when the water starts to flow, then it’s time to feed.”
Here again, you control the situation by controlling your response to the impartial force.
“You have to pay attention to the tide swings, know when the tide is going to move in the right places and make sure that you’re in those areas that have the potential for those bigger fish.”
The Wrap
Cenci, who owns Slayer Inc. Lures, said he plans on giving the redfish a highly visual target with his 4-inch Sinister Swim Tail XL in the shimmering Bloody Mary color. He’s hoping that this, along with a selection of baitfish and shrimp imitators will allow him and Palaniuk to capitalize on their target area.
Asked what concerns him, Cenci said: “Maybe the slight chance of another tournament team, or a recreational angler showing up on our spot.”
Pondering the thought of such encroachment, Cenci and Palaniuk agree that if they perform their tasks with flawless execution, they’ll overcome the unforeseen by controlling the controllables.
