Known for their bright red bodies and exceptional fight, Redfish are one of my all-time favorite fish to target. Let’s dive in and learn how to target and catch these inshore predators.
How To Catch Redfish
Redfish are caught fishing inshore and nearshore structures with artificial lures, live baitfish and cut bait. Redfish are most active when the tide is moving, and baitfish are present. Red’s travel in schools, so once you find one, there is a good chance the next one is not far behind.
Fishing for Redfish On The Flats
One of the most popular methods anglers use when targeting Redfish is sight fishing the flats. “The flats” are an area of shallow water with a consistent bottom, whether grass, sand, or mud. As the water slowly moves out of the back bay and low tide is approaching, many Redfish become temporarily trapped or huddle in lagoons where they wait out their time foraging for their next meal. As the Redfish travel these shallow waters (ranging from 8″-18″ in depth), anglers often cast artificial lures or flies just past the school and slowly work their lure until it passes directly over the fish’s mouths. The moment the lure passes by a hungry redfish, it’s game over. As long as the school is not spooked during the landing, this method can be repeated over and over again. Since Redfish can be easily spooked when fishing the flats, it’s crucial to keep your distance by making long casts to the school. Also, when making your approach to the school of Redfish, it is essential to have your motor turned off. Trolling motors can be used, but polling is the best and stealthiest way to move about the flats.
Searching for Redfish With Artificial Lures
Another fishing technique often used when targeting Redfish is searching for Redfish by covering a lot of water with artificial lures. The process of working artificial lures involves slowly making your way around possible areas where Redfish may congregate, including oyster bars, grass flats, jetties, and mangroves. This technique often proves highly productive if you do not mind covering a large amount of water with your trolling motor. The “Search” technique is my preferred method for targeting Redfish since this fishing technique has you exploring uncharted waters. Once you locate the fish, you can temporarily anchor yourself using some form of a shallow water anchor cast repeatedly until the Redfish have moved or are no longer bitting.
Using The “Cast & Wait” Method for Redfish
The last fishing technique that I will mention is definitely the easiest and the most family-friendly. This technique is often called the “cast and wait” method. This method involves casting live or cut bait into your fishing spot or an area where you believe there are fish and waiting for the eventual passing-by Redfish to pick up your bait. Some of the best baits include cut Ladyfish, cut Ballyhoo, live Shrimp, live Sardines, live Pilchards, live Threadfins, and live Goggle Eyes. The “cast and wait” fishing technique is a passive form of fishing, making it an excellent option for kids or beginner anglers to enjoy a day out on the water.
I have always had the best luck using the “cast and wait” method when fishing shallow water oyster bars or mangroves on a falling high tide. This fishing technique’s benefit over the other two fishing techniques is having multiple rods out per angler. Having additional rods out will dramatically increase your chances of hooking up to fish. One thing that should be mentioned is that Redfish are known to travel in schools, so it would not be uncommon for all your rods to get hooked up at the same time.
Expert Tips On Catching Redfish
- Find the jumping mullets: One of the most effective fishing tips I have learned over the years is finding the jumping mullet in the backwater. When you find the mullet jumping, there is almost always a school of Redfish close by.
- Find the moving water: Redfish are opportunistic feeders, often using the moving waters to do the hard work of bringing the baitfish to them.
- Find deep pockets of water: Redfish often find deep pockets of water in the back bay to congregate. These pockets allow Redfish to stay stationary with minimal effort while also giving them a home to hunt baitfish that pass by.
- Fish the shallows: Redfish are often known to congregate in large numbers in the shallow waters of the back bay during low tide. If you can locate these schools on the flats, approach them slowly, staying as quiet as possible.
- Fishing the spawn: If you are interested in catching a trophy-sized Redfish, head out to deeper water during the spawn. Larger Redfish are known to migrate in the early fall to deeper waters to spawn. If you can locate a school of Redfish offshore, take advantage of casting on them as long as possible. Chances are if you hook up, it’s going to be a big fish.
- Chum them up: If you can fill up your live-well with baitfish, we highly recommend throwing a couple of handfuls of bait out as soon as you get to a new spot. Chumming the waters is a great way to get the fish excited in a new area and increase your chances of landing some big reds.
- Getting ballsy with your cast: When it comes to casting for Redfish, you need to be willing to make ballsy casts deep in the mangroves and oyster bar beds. Making these aggressive casts can and will result in the loss of lures into these structures. However, this will also drastically increase the amount of fish you hook. Redfish love to congregate in the deep roots of mangroves, where they can patiently wait for their next meal.
- Don’t forget your polarized glasses: If you are fishing in the backwater for Redfish, it is essential to bring a pair of polarized glasses. Polarized glasses significantly minimize glare on the water, increasing your ability to locate fish. Copper or amber lenses work best for inshore fishing applications.
When Can You Catch Redfish?
Redfish are caught year-round. However, fall is the most productive time of year to target them. I have always had the best luck fishing for Redfish at sunrise on a falling high tide. Redfish become increasingly active when tides are moving aggressively. Because of this, fishing on or near a full moon will drastically increase your chances of running into hungry Redfish. Reds tend to slow down briefly during the heat of the day but typically turn back on a couple of hours before sunset.
What Is The Best Month To Catch Redfish?
The best month to catch Redfish is September. As the waters start to cool, Redfish become increasingly active, causing them to increase their overall food consumption. It is important to note that even though the Redfish bite can increase during colder months, they will be approaching baits a little slower than if they were on the hunt for food in the summer months. Since they will be moving slower, it is crucial to slow down your lure presentation or switch to live or cut bait.
Where Do You Catch Redfish?
Redfish are caught near or on shallow water structures in depths ranging from less than one foot to upwards of 100 feet. Redfish can be found as north as Massachusetts and as south as Mexico.
Redfish congregate in areas with underwater structures, including oyster bars, grassy bottoms, mangroves, jetties, shorelines, and varying flats. Adult Redfish are often found offshore in the fall during spawning season. Though Redfish are known to travel out of the backwater during fall spawning season, they are rarely seen in waters exceeding 100 feet. Redfish are also known to congregate on the varying flats inshore, in water depths as low as 8 inches.
Here Are My Top 5 Spots To Target Redfish
- Mud Flats
- Mangroves
- Oyster Bars
- Jetties
- Grass Flats
Best Baits To Catch Redfish
- Shrimp
- Cut ladyfish
- Cut mullet
- Baitfish (varying species)
Redfish Size & Bag Limit
Redfish have different harvesting limits depending on your location. Typically, the northeast allows the harvesting of two fish per day with a max of 8 fish per vessel. The southern zone allows one fish per person and a maximum of 8 per vessel.
Best Fishing Tackle for Redfish
Best Fishing Rod for Redfish
When fishing for Redfish, using a medium-weight, fast-action fishing rod will be best. The optimal fishing rod length will depend on how you are targeting the Redfish. If you are fishing with artificial lures in hard-to-reach mangrove areas, a shorter rod from 6’6″ to 7′ is a great length for short to moderate casts. Shorter rods increase casting accuracy but limit overall casting distances. If you are frequently targeting Redfish from shore, using a longer rod will definitely come in handy to increase your overall casting distance.
Best Fishing Reel For Redfish
The best fishing reel size for targeting Redfish is a 3000 to 4000 size reel. If you are fishing predominantly in the backwater, a 3000 sized reel will be perfect for small to medium-sized Reds. If you are venturing out into the jetties or open waters, it will probably be best to use a 4000 size reel. Whichever size reel fits your fishing needs, it is important that your max drag is adequate to turn a larger fish. I recommend at least a 15lb max drag for inshore and nearshore fishing setups.
Best Fishing Line for Redfish
When it comes to line selection, I always recommend 20lb to 30lb test braid when fishing for Redfish. Fishing with braid allows you to dramatically increase your overall line capacity by roughly 4X while also increasing your casting distance by approximately 20%. Braid also increases your line sensitivity allowing you to set the hook as soon as a fish bites.
Best Leader for Redfish
The optimal leader size for targeting Redfish is a 20lb to 30lb fluorocarbon leader cut at roughly 36″ in length. If you are fishing the back bay away from docks and other sharp structures, a 20lb test will work great. When fishing nearshore or somewhere adjacent to sharp structures like docks or rocks, 30lb will be ideal. As it goes with many forms of fishing, as you go heavier with fishing tackle, including line, you will slowly decrease the overall amount of bites.
Best Fishing Hook Size for Redfish
The Best hook size for targeting Redfish is a 1/0 circle hook. If you start to run into some larger Redfish exceeding 20″ or so, you can increase your hook size to a 2/0. I recommend only using circle hooks to limit the chances of hurting any fish during the landing or dehooking process. Circle hooks do a great job of hooking the fish close to their lips, significantly decreasing the overall damage inflicted on the fish.
Best Jig Heads for Redfish
When it comes to targeting Redfish with soft plastic lures, choosing the right jighead is about selecting the right weight, color, and jighead type. I recommend using a ¼ ounce jig head in waters shallower than 5 feet in depth. This size will give you enough weight to cast while also giving your soft plastic a natural bouncing presentation on the retrieval. Regarding color, I have found red or chartreuse colors to work best. My favorite jig head brand is Bass Assassin. Bass Assassin Jig heads are heavily ribbed on the end of the hook, which increases the chance of your lure staying on the hook after a strike.
Best lures to use for Redfish?
- Jerk Baits
- Spoons
- Suspended Twitch Baits
- Topwater
- Redfish magic
Let’s take a deeper look at how to catch Redfish by learning more about the species as a whole.
What Are Redfish
Redfish are strong, saltwater fish often prized by many anglers due to their high stamina levels and long dramatic runs when hooked. Reds are often characterized by having reddish-bronze backs and white bellies. Redfish also have an eye-shaped spot on their tails, making it hard for predators to distinguish their heads from their tails. This spot gives Redfish a fighting chance to allude predators. Redfish are known by many names including, red drum, puppy drum, channel bass, spot-tail bass, and my favorite being pond pumpkin. Redfish, unlike other fish species in the drum family, do not have chin barbels. The typical Redfish caught by anglers is between 4 and 9 pounds. The largest Redfish ever landed weighed in at 92lbs. Redfish are called different names by anglers as they grow. The smaller Redfish are nicknamed “rat reds,” whereas the larger reds are often called “bull reds.”
Are Redfish Good To Eat?
Redfish are great to eat, especially the smaller fish. The meat of Redfish is mild and flaky, known to absorb any flavors added to the fish when cooked. Larger Redfish are known to have tougher meat, comparable to the texture of chicken.
Are Redfish High In Mercury?
According to the EPA, Redfish have low to moderate levels of mercury, making for an excellent fish for consumption. Redfish’s mercury PPM (parts per million) level comes in at .222, about half the commonly consumed Snook mercury level. It is best to exercise caution by regularly tracking your overall fish consumption when it comes to consuming fish.
Are Redfish Related To Black Drum?
Redfish and Black Drums are closely related. Both fish are in the Sciaenops family and share many of the same features including, body shape, diet, and location they inhabit. Sometimes Redfish and Black Drum have similar color appearances, in which case, the best way to tell the difference is to check the bottom of the chin for barbels. Barbels are small whisker-like appendixes that are located on the bottom of the fish’s mouth. If the fish has barbels, it’s a Black Drum. If it doesn’t, it’s a Redfish.
Are Redfish Toxic?
Redfish meat is not toxic, but the large spines on their dorsal fins contain toxins that can cause irritation and swelling if your skin is punctured or pricked.
Do Redfish Have scales?
Redfish have large scales that start from their gill plate and end at the start of their tails. When attempting to fillet Redfish, the scales can present a considerable challenge. Scales on large mature Redfish can reach over 1.5 inches in diameter.
Do Redfish Have Teeth?
Redfish have smaller canine-like teeth on their upper lip and sandpaper-like teeth on their bottom lip. It is best not to lip Redfish when handling them on the boat unless you want to test your luck on having them lock down sharp and abrasive teeth on your finger.
What Do Redfish Eat?
Redfish are opportunistic feeders, often feeding on whatever is available in their habitat for consumption. As temperatures change, redfish eating patterns change as well. As a general rule, as the water temperatures start to cool, Redfish will target slower-moving prey.
Natural Redfish diet:
- Shrimp
- Ladyfish
- Crabs
- Mullet
- Pinfish
- Menhaden
- Lizardfish
- Croaker