How deep do you fish for redfish?
You can catch redfish from just about any water depth from 6 inches in the back country shallows to more than 100 feet deep when you are fishing the offshore reefs, wrecks and oil rigs.
Redfish are a very adaptive fish species and will move inshore and offshore based upon water temperatures, food resources and to spawn.
The key to catching redfish is to figure out what water depth they are in and present them with the proper baits and lures with the proper fishing tackle and gear. Redfish a.k.a. red drum a.k.a. reds are one of the most sought after fish from the Northeast Coast of the United States around Florida and all the way over to Texas.
The author of this article is a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida. He has been 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 different ways to catch redfish regardless of the water depths that they are in.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below to learn more about how deep do you fish for redfish.
You can catch redfish from just about any water depth from 6 inches in the back country shallows to more than 100 feet deep when you are fishing the offshore reefs, wrecks and oil rigs.
Redfish are a very adaptive fish species and will move inshore and offshore based upon water temperatures, food resources and to spawn.
The key to catching redfish is to figure out what water depth they are in and present them with the proper baits and lures with the proper fishing tackle and gear. Redfish a.k.a. red drum a.k.a. reds are one of the most sought after fish from the Northeast Coast of the United States around Florida and all the way over to Texas.
The author of this article is a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida. He has been 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 different ways to catch redfish regardless of the water depths that they are in.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below to learn more about how deep do you fish for redfish.
How deep do you fish for redfish inshore?
You can catch redfish in many different inshore water depths. You might find them in a pot hole on a mud flat or grass flat that is only 6 inches deep. OR you might find them in a deep channel or inlet that is 30 or 40 feet deep.
In other words redfish can be found at many various water depths when they are inshore. The real question is how do you catch redfish when they are at these various different water depths.
Redfish are one of the first species of fish to hit the flats from the dead low tide to the incoming tide. They will flood onto the mud flats and grass flats in such shallow water that they will belly slide with half of their body is out of the water.
They are looking to get first dibs on the shrimp, crabs, snails and small fish before their competitors can get at those prey items. You can find a ton of redfish in very shallow water depths for sure.
The best natural bait for catching redfish is the shrimp. A live or fresh dead shrimp is the best way to catch redfish in shallow water. When you are fishing some tidal creek mouth or a channel between two oyster bars a shrimp with a split shot or small weight is by far the best way to catch redfish.
You can also use mud minnows, pin fish, finger mullet, crabs and cut bait like mullet chunks to catch your limit of redfish wherever you are fishing for them.
I created another article that you can find right on this website that covers in great detail how to catch a redfish. You can access that information by clicking right here.
What are the best baits, lures and tackle for redfish in shallow water depths?
The best artificial lures for catching redfish in super shallow water is a fake shrimp under a popping cork. This is the go to for many professional redfish tournament fishermen all over the United States.
The reason that so many professionals use this rig in lures only tournaments is because they work so well. All that you have to do is set your fake shrimp under the popping cork so that it is just above the bottom by 6 to 12 inches.
That is the strike zone for the redfish. The low frequency vibrations of the popping cork will attract the redfish and the fake shrimp will entice them to bite.
The right tackle is a 2500 to a 4000 series reel with 10 to 15 pound braided line for this type of fishing. You will want to use the heavier reels if you are fishing around docks or structure that you may need to wrestle those bigger fish out.
If you are out on the flats, or targeting smaller redfish, then you can get away with those lighter reels and lighter lines. It just depends on whether you are fishing in areas where the redfish don't have any structure to cut you off on.
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Another great lure to catch redfish in water that is 3 feet or less deep is a top water walk-the-dog type of lure. These are great for covering a lot of water because you can cast them a mile.
The best part of fishing with a top water lure for redfish is the strike. There is nothing more exciting in fishing that seeing your lure get smashed by a monster redfish in shallow water.
The main downside to catching redfish with top water lures is that they often miss the lure because their mouths have pronounced under bites. That is okay because it is worth missing a few to catch that trophy fish on a top water lure.
Watch the video below to learn more about catching shallow water redfish on top water lures.
How deep do you fish for redfish offshore?
Catching redfish in deeper water is a whole different game because redfish do not spend any time feeding in the middle and upper parts of the water column. This means that you need to fish for them near the bottom and near structure that is near the bottom.
The only exclusion to this rule is when they are hunting around the oil rigs that span the entire water column from the ocean floor up to the surface of the water. Redfish might feed on the shrimp, crabs and small fish that use the oil rig legs for food and protection.
You need baits and lures that will get to the bottom of the water column where the redfish will most likely be when they are in deep water. Let's look at the best baits and lures for redfish when they are in deeper water.
What are the best baits, lures and tackle for redfish in deep water?
Jigs are the best artificial lures for catching redfish when they are down deep in the water column. They will hit naked jigs but they will more readily hit the jig if it has some natural scent on it.
You can tip the jig with a piece of shrimp, a small fish or a chunk of fish or use something like procure or a scented soft plastic lure. The key is to add the olfactory system of the redfish to the equation.
The best natural baits for catching deep water redfish is pin fish, grunts and other fish like thread fin herring and scaled sardines. You can send your offering down with some sort of dropper rig set up or knocker rig set up for best results.
It is important to beef up your tackle when you are fishing for deep water redfish because sharks and goliathe grouper are ready, willing and able to take your redfish from you before you can get it in the boat and in the cooler.
You will want to have a 5500 or 6500 series reel loaded with a 50 or 60 pound braided line so you can really crank the line in as fast as you can even with a live and fighting fish on the end of your line.
I wrote another article on this website that covers in great detail the best baits and lures for catching redfish. You can see that article by clicking right here.
Conclusion:
You can catch redfish in many different water depths. They are abundant in the shallows inshore but they can also be found offshore in waters up to 100 feet deep.
Targeting redfish in the shallows is what most fishermen are used to but they are often in deep offshore areas in large numbers during certain times of the year. You need to have different tackle and baits and lures to target them in these deep and shallow water scenarios but it is worth the change in tactics when you catch your personal best fish.
I hope that you enjoyed this article and it helps you catch a lot more redfish.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to receive a how to fishing article emailed to you every week, then you should sign up and get on our email list now.
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How deep do you fish for redfish offshore?
Catching redfish in deeper water is a whole different game because redfish do not spend any time feeding in the middle and upper parts of the water column. This means that you need to fish for them near the bottom and near structure that is near the bottom.
The only exclusion to this rule is when they are hunting around the oil rigs that span the entire water column from the ocean floor up to the surface of the water. Redfish might feed on the shrimp, crabs and small fish that use the oil rig legs for food and protection.
You need baits and lures that will get to the bottom of the water column where the redfish will most likely be when they are in deep water. Let's look at the best baits and lures for redfish when they are in deeper water.
What are the best baits, lures and tackle for redfish in deep water?
Jigs are the best artificial lures for catching redfish when they are down deep in the water column. They will hit naked jigs but they will more readily hit the jig if it has some natural scent on it.
You can tip the jig with a piece of shrimp, a small fish or a chunk of fish or use something like procure or a scented soft plastic lure. The key is to add the olfactory system of the redfish to the equation.
The best natural baits for catching deep water redfish is pin fish, grunts and other fish like thread fin herring and scaled sardines. You can send your offering down with some sort of dropper rig set up or knocker rig set up for best results.
It is important to beef up your tackle when you are fishing for deep water redfish because sharks and goliathe grouper are ready, willing and able to take your redfish from you before you can get it in the boat and in the cooler.
You will want to have a 5500 or 6500 series reel loaded with a 50 or 60 pound braided line so you can really crank the line in as fast as you can even with a live and fighting fish on the end of your line.
I wrote another article on this website that covers in great detail the best baits and lures for catching redfish. You can see that article by clicking right here.
Conclusion:
You can catch redfish in many different water depths. They are abundant in the shallows inshore but they can also be found offshore in waters up to 100 feet deep.
Targeting redfish in the shallows is what most fishermen are used to but they are often in deep offshore areas in large numbers during certain times of the year. You need to have different tackle and baits and lures to target them in these deep and shallow water scenarios but it is worth the change in tactics when you catch your personal best fish.
I hope that you enjoyed this article and it helps you catch a lot more redfish.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to receive a how to fishing article emailed to you every week, then you should sign up and get on our email list now.
You will get a new article sent to you every week. Sign up below.