Can redfish live in freshwater?
Yes, redfish can live in freshwater lakes and ponds without any access to saltwater. Redfish are in a family of fish called osmoregulators that can live in both freshwater and saltwater. This group of fish includes tarpon, black drum, croakers and snook too.
Redfish will run up the many freshwater rivers in Florida to find warm water in the winter or to just find food. These river redfish will eat crawdads, bluegills, tilapia and many other freshwater species of fish.
Some of the more Florida freshwater rivers like the St. Johns, Myakka and the Caloosahatchee Rivers have redfish living in them more than 20 miles from the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean.
There are many freshwater lakes and ponds in the southern states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi that have been stocked with redfish to keep anglers happy. These redfish can live just fine in freshwater but they cannot reproduce in freshwater.
The author of this article is a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN. He has been stalking redfish fishing the grass flats, oyster bars and mangroves all over Florida for more than 40 years.
In the article below, we will talk about the amazing life cycle of a redfish and their abilities to live in all types of marine environments.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below to learn more about catching redfish in the rivers of Florida.
Yes, redfish can live in freshwater lakes and ponds without any access to saltwater. Redfish are in a family of fish called osmoregulators that can live in both freshwater and saltwater. This group of fish includes tarpon, black drum, croakers and snook too.
Redfish will run up the many freshwater rivers in Florida to find warm water in the winter or to just find food. These river redfish will eat crawdads, bluegills, tilapia and many other freshwater species of fish.
Some of the more Florida freshwater rivers like the St. Johns, Myakka and the Caloosahatchee Rivers have redfish living in them more than 20 miles from the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean.
There are many freshwater lakes and ponds in the southern states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi that have been stocked with redfish to keep anglers happy. These redfish can live just fine in freshwater but they cannot reproduce in freshwater.
The author of this article is a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN. He has been stalking redfish fishing the grass flats, oyster bars and mangroves all over Florida for more than 40 years.
In the article below, we will talk about the amazing life cycle of a redfish and their abilities to live in all types of marine environments.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below to learn more about catching redfish in the rivers of Florida.
Can redfish live in freshwater permanently?
Many redfish tournament anglers have caught their winning redfish right after catching a nice largemouth bass. Some of those big redfish are up in the zero salinity waters feeding on bluegill and shellcrackers just like the bass and mudfish.
Redfish cannot sustain their populations in landlocked lakes and ponds because they cannot spawn effectively. Redfish start to spawn in the Fall when the daylight hours begin to shorten and the water temperatures begin to get cooler.
The redfish will then congregate in huge schools to spawn in very salty deep channels and passes. They need the high salinity waters because they need their fertilized eggs to float and disperse with the tides and currents.
Landlocked freshwater redfish still try to spawn but their eggs do not float in freshwater. Their fertilized eggs just end up sinking to the bottom and dying in the silt or mud of the lakes and ponds where they live.
These freshwater redfish populations have to be replenished every few years unless fishermen practice catch and release fishing.
I created a FREE online redfishing course that you can find right on this website. It covers the best lures, baits, tackle, tips and techniques to help you catch more redfish. You can find that fishing course by clicking right here.
Redfish are one of the most sought after fish by inshore fishermen from Texas to Florida and from Florida to Boston. These sturdy fish can survive in all of those estuaries, rivers and marshes in all of those different latitudes.
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Conclusion:
Redfish can live well in freshwater but they cannot reproduce effectively unless they have access to saltwater. Landlocked redfish will compete with largemouth bass for who gets to be the top predator in freshwater marshes, lakes and ponds.
Redfish are one of the most sought after game fish for inshore anglers. They are hard fighting and very good to eat. I am sure that it is a welcome surprise to pitch your spinnerbait in hopes of catching a bass but hooking up instead with a monster redfish.
Redfish accounts for many millions of dollars to the states where they are abundant. Anglers from all over the world come to places like Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida to get a chance at a monster redfish.
Redfish are one of my favorite fish to catch along with snook, tarpon and speckled trout. Hopefully this article will help you find more redfish the next time you are fishing for red drum.
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