How to catch a redfish (The Complete Guide)
The best way to catch a redfish is with a white or root beer colored Berkeley Gulp shrimp or a swimming mullet coupled with a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce red jig head. Cast up current and bounce it on the bottom back to your position slowly with the tide for the best results.
If you want to catch huge over slot sized redfish then you will want to use a large chunk of lady fish or mullet on the bottom under deep docks or in a deep channel adjacent to a mud flat or sand bar.
A red fish is actually a red drum and a part of the drum family with its larger cousin the black drum, croakers and the spotted sea trout. (not really a trout) They are one of the most sought after inshore sport fish in Florida.
You want to learn how to catch a redfish in Florida or wherever else you are fishing. Then this is the article that you will want to read.
They are renown for their dogged fighting style and their delicious fillets. Like they say, "Fillet and release into the grease." Read on to find out how to catch a redfish in Florida waters.
I am an INSHORE FISHING GUIDE on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the grass flats and mangroves all around Florida for over 40 years. The article below will teach you everything that I know about catching redfish.
Let's get started with my simple tips and techniques to help you learn how to catch more redfish.
Watch the video below and learn how to catch more redfish around oyster bars.
The best way to catch a redfish is with a white or root beer colored Berkeley Gulp shrimp or a swimming mullet coupled with a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce red jig head. Cast up current and bounce it on the bottom back to your position slowly with the tide for the best results.
If you want to catch huge over slot sized redfish then you will want to use a large chunk of lady fish or mullet on the bottom under deep docks or in a deep channel adjacent to a mud flat or sand bar.
A red fish is actually a red drum and a part of the drum family with its larger cousin the black drum, croakers and the spotted sea trout. (not really a trout) They are one of the most sought after inshore sport fish in Florida.
You want to learn how to catch a redfish in Florida or wherever else you are fishing. Then this is the article that you will want to read.
They are renown for their dogged fighting style and their delicious fillets. Like they say, "Fillet and release into the grease." Read on to find out how to catch a redfish in Florida waters.
I am an INSHORE FISHING GUIDE on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the grass flats and mangroves all around Florida for over 40 years. The article below will teach you everything that I know about catching redfish.
Let's get started with my simple tips and techniques to help you learn how to catch more redfish.
Watch the video below and learn how to catch more redfish around oyster bars.
Learn how to figure out where to fish for and catch red fish?
The red drum can be found just about everywhere that there is saltwater in Florida. These fish are caught from Jacksonville down to Miami and from the Panhandle to the Everglades. Redfish can be found in the inlets and in the surf; in the mangroves; in the mud flats and oyster bars; in the grass flats; and under docks and bridge pilings. They stay mostly inshore until they get about 4 years old (30 inches) and then they head to the inlets and near shore reefs to spawn.
How to catch redfish fishing in Florida--Inlets
Red fish can be caught in the inlets during the bait runs or when they are heading out to spawn. The great thing about these fish is that they are usually the really big ones. In the deeper inlets in Northern Florida and the Panhandle the fishermen like to anchor up and sink a half of a blue crab behind the boat in 30 feet of water or so. These redfish are almost always the over slot breeders so you can't eat them but they are fun.
Redfish love to hang out in the inlets from Maryland; down and around the coast of Florida; and all of the way over to Texas. Inlets are great places to find redfish because the tide will bring food right to them.
Look for drop offs in the inlets from 10 to 30 feet. The reds will sit in those dips and let the current bring bait from the shallows to the deeper parts right into their ravenous mouths.
The problems with fishing the inlets for redfish is the current. It can be extreme. This makes it hard to keep your bait on the bottom where the redfish will be foraging. Keep this in mind when fishing in the inlets.
Best Redfish Rod and Reels
In my opinion, the perfect all around rod and reel combo for over slot sized redfish is a 4500 series reel and a 7 foot medium/heavy strength, fast action rod. Fill the spool with 15 pound braided line and use a 20 pound leader.
For smaller redfish I like a 3500 series reel with a medium strength rod filled with 10 pound braid and a 20 pound leader.
I have used many different rods and reels over the last 40 years of fishing like Diawa, Shimano and Penn.
My favorite line of reels that are out now is the Penn Spinfisher series reels. They are smooth, tough; have great drag systems; and best of all a sealed body so sand and water don't get inside the reels.
They are perfect for surf fishing, wade fishing and kayak fishing. (Any fishing technique that makes it likely for water or sand to get in them)
You can expect to pay $150 plus for these reels. BUT they are worth it.
My second favorite non-sealed reels are the Diawa BG reels.
They are the reels that I use on my flats boat because I know that they are unlikely to get dunked in the water or to get beach sand in them.
You can expect to pay $100 plus for these reels. They are a great bargain in my opinion.
It is often easier to fish near the rocks or some sort of breakwater that creates an eddy in the current. This will help you control your bait or lure. Redfish like to cruise the rocks looking for food anyways.
How to catch redfish fishing in Florida--Surf and Beaches
The Panhandle gets a lot of big over slot reds in the surf. The surf casters line up when they are running the beaches in schools that can number in the hundreds of individual fish in each school. I have personally never caught a red in the surf but just a little bit North of me in the Cocoa Beach up to the Jacksonville area of Florida the redfish can be caught consistently in the surf.
A great way to catch redfish off of the beach is with a cut bait on the bottom. Redfish will find that cut bait if they are around. A large mullet head or piece of ladyfish is a great choice for this type of fishing.
When the redfish are feeding on mullet in the shallows a mullet like lure is hard to beat. Redfish will hit top water lures readily. They often miss because they have a natural over bite that makes it hard for them to get the lure in their mouths.
Lucky for you that they are persistent and will keep trying until they get it usually. The reds that are cruising the beaches will usually have a friend or two with them. So get ready for some double hook ups if you find them.
Visit another article that I wrote that is all about the best Mirrolures for catching redfish here.
Popping corks with a Berkeley Gulp swimming mullet is another great choice for beach fishing for redfish. This is best during very calm conditions. If there are waves, then use a gold spoon or a jig of some sort.
BUT if it is calm you can bust out the old popping cork and jig and catch redfish right in the trough during the higher parts of the tide.
Watch the video below to see the popping cork technique that I use to catch redfish.
How to catch redfish fishing in Florida--Mangroves
Mangroves are another hot spot for catching red fish. My favorite way is to pitch a mullet or lady fish head up under the mangrove branches at high tide and wait for the battle to ensue. You can often see them tailing in the mangrove roots for crabs, shrimp and other marine invertebrates. They are often extremely wary when they are in shallow waters so stealth is key for this type of fishing.
It is pretty hard to beat a Berkeley Gulp 3 inch shrimp when fishing for redfish with lures in the mangrove roots. You will want to pitch your lure as close to the mangroves roots as possible.
The redfish like to hug the roots and will swim in and out of them during the higher parts of the tide. They are looking for shrimp, crabs, snails and small fish to eat.
You will also catch flounder, snook and spotted sea trout using the same lures as they all like to hunt the roots of the Red Mangrove Tree during the higher parts of the tide.
Visit another article that I wrote about the best Berkley Gulp lures for redfish to learn more details about choosing the right colors and sizes of Gulps to use.
How to catch a redfish fishing in Florida--Mud Flats
The mud flats on the incoming tide is another one of my favorite places to stalk reds. I think the key to fishing this environment is to get to where you want to be before the reds show up. I like to find a mud flat set up with a cut or two between multiple flats with one main entry point.
This is the perfect spot to set up a redfish ambush. The reds are usually the first fish on the flats with the incoming tide. They try to get their feeding done before the water is deep enough for the sharks and bottle nose dolphins to get in and turn them into lunch.
They are often very spooky when they are in a foot of water so a stealthy bait presentation is a must. Also make sure to sit the drunk guy in the boat down so he doesn't bang anything and ruin the red fishing.
The video above shows you how to catch a redfish fishing Florida.
How to catch a redfish fishing in Florida--Oyster Bars
In my opinion, the best place by far to find red fish is around oyster bars. When I can find some sort of river or tidal creek with lots of oyster bars inside or around the mouth I get excited. Red fish and oyster bars go together like peanut butter and jelly. They love to root around the oyster clumps for oyster crabs. If you roll an oyster clump over 9 out of 10 times you will find a little oyster or mud crab. That's redfish caviar.
The perfect set up that I look for is a small creek with oyster bars on both sides and a deeper cut in between them. This is a great spot to set up and wait as the tide first starts to come in. In a similar way to mud flats the reds will usually show up first and move through in small schools.
All you have to do is follow them up the creek and back out again. Once the tide gets high enough they will often go into the spartina grass or whatever grass or reeds are along the creek banks to find crabs, shrimp and small fish. You will need to beef up your line or you will have a lot of trouble getting the fish untangled from the grass and reed roots.
Watch the video below and learn how to catch more redfish with top water lures.
WANT TO CATCH REDFISH? BOOK YOUR FISHING CHARTER TODAY!
How to catch a redfish fishing in Florida-- Grass Flats
Red fish love to hunt for food in the grass flats of Florida. In my opinion, the key to fishing the grass flats for reds is very long casts. I like to use a thin diameter braided line (usually 8-10 pound strength) so I can make longer casts.
That extra 20 feet of distance might be the difference in spooking the school and getting nothing or hooking into a dozen reds. It's worth dealing with the wind knots and other problems that comes with using braided lines.
A nice long drift over the grass flats in 4 to 6 feet of water can be quite productive if the red fish are around and feeding. They are not picky when it comes to eating.
Just about anything that smells good and is close enough for them to eat will entice them to hit. Scented soft plastics, live bait and dead bait all work very well for catching redfish on the grass flats.
One of my favorite search baits for redfish and just about every other fish that swims if the DOA CAL 3 inch shad with a paddle tail. This lure when coupled with a red 1/8 ounce jig head will catch tons or redfish when they are around.
Read the article that I wrote about the best DOA lures for redfish for in depth details on techniques and color choices when using this lure here.
How to catch a redfish fishing in Florida--Docks and Bridges
Docks and bridge pilings another great place to find red fish. The red fish like to root around the pilings for crabs and shrimp. They also will dig down in the mud to feed on small invertebrates hidden in the muck.
Red fish do hit top water baits but they are designed to look down and root around with their tails nearly vertical in the water column. This means that a bait near the bottom will catch better than one on top of the water for reds.
I love to fish with jigs around deep water dock and bridge pilings for redfish. Those older pilings will be totally encrusted with sponges, oysters, barnacles and all sorts of marine plants.
This creates a great habitat for crabs, shrimp and small fish to live in. Guess who likes to eat crabs, shrimp and small fish. That's right. Mr. Redfish likes to eat them.
Read the article that I wrote about the best baits and lures for redfish to learn more details about how to catch more redfish.
Watch the video below to catch more redfish with lures.
Best baits and fishing lures to catch a red fish in Florida:
I have caught hundreds of red fish using just a fresh dead shrimp and a split shot set up. In my opinion, that is the best way to catch redfish in just about any situation inshore that does not have too much current.
Redfish are a smell first kind of fish. If it smells right they will eat it. A chunk of mullet, pin fish or lady fish will also work well depending upon what part of Florida you are fishing. If any of those baits are available you can target reds with dead bait.
The best live bait, in my opinion, is shrimp under a popping cork in shallow water. That is a can't miss combo if the reds are around. They will also devour pin fish, finger mullet and just about any white baits presented in the same way or free lined. If the water is deeper, those baits will work with a sinker on the bottom.
I probably sound like a broken record if you have read any other how to catch articles of mine. BUT I will say it again. The best all around search bait is a soft plastic shad with a paddle tail on an 1/8 oz. jig head. If you can find scented ones they work even better but are not necessary.
A white 3 inch shad with a 1/8 ounce red jig head is my go to bait. I'll go bigger if they are feeding on big mullet. The same colors with a shrimp imitation work well too for reds.
Read this article that I wrote and learn more about getting the right tackle to maximize your redfishing fun.
Gold spoons work really well for redfish. The shine and the low frequency vibrations attract reds from quite a distance. I like to use the weed less Johnson gold and silver spoons.
Spinner baits are another good lure for red fish for the same reasons. The low frequency vibrations of the blades help the reds find your lures in murky water. Spinner baits with gold blades work better than silver blades for redfish.
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Spinner baits are another good lure for red fish for the same reasons. The low frequency vibrations of the blades help the reds find your lures in murky water. Spinner baits with gold blades work better than silver blades for redfish.
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Another great redfish lure is a finger mullet imitation. MirroLure Top Dog and Suspending Mullet and Zara Spooks are the two brands that I use the most but they are all basically the same. I like a walk-the-dog type of top water plug the best. It's all about the size of the lure and how you work it. The best lure in the world won't catch fish if you don't present it properly.
How to choose the best fishing gear for redfish:
If you are going to be fishing for redfish all day you will definitely need to protect your eyes and skin from the sun's harmful rays. Polarized sunglasses are a must for spotted redfish fishing.
A high end pair of sunglasses will run about $250 and a lower end pair will run you about $25 with glass lenses. You can find them with plastic lenses for about $5 at Walmart.
I have a pair of $250 polarized sunglasses and they definitely perform better and are more well made than the cheaper ones. The frames are very sturdy and the lenses are scratch resistant and made of glass.
Whatever price range you decide to go with you must wear polarized sunglasses or you can not sight fish for redfish on the flats. The polarized lenses eliminate the glare on the surface of the water so that you can see under the surface.
The best color lenses for inshore and dirtier water scenarios are amber, rose and copper. If you are fishing super clean and clear water or you are fishing offshore a blue or a gray lens is best.
There is something amazing about spotting school of redfish as they come onto a mud flat with the incoming tide. Then you cast your bait to them and FISH ON! That is an amazing feeling that I hope all redfish fishermen get to experience at some point.
You will also want to stock up on UV performance fishing shirts to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays. These shirts have built in sunscreen and are moisture wicking which means they evaporate your perspiration more efficiently keeping you cool on those hot days on the water.
How to choose the best water temperature for redfish fishing:
What is the best water temperature range to catch a redfish? You have to know these things to catch a ton of redfish. All fish are water temperature dependent and all fish have certain comfort zones.
Redfish are cold blooded just like a lizard or a snake. This means that they cannot regulate their own body temperatures. They have to use the surrounding waters to do that. If they get too hot or too cold they will die.
The problem with the thermometers on a boat or a fishing kayak are that they only tell you the temperature of the water at the surface. What is the water temperature 10 feet down?
Finding the right temperature range for a redfish is imperative to figuring out where they will be. You can get a cheap thermometer at Walmart and tie it to a long string. Then you can lower it down in the water column to see what the temperature is in different depths.
This set up is perfect for kayaks and johnboats that don't have any electronics on board. It will only cost you a few dollars but will help you catch tons of redfish.
The video below will teach you the optimal water temperatures for catching reds.
How to use smell to fish for and catch more redfish.
I believe that many fishermen forget just how well a redfish can smell. They have 4 nostrils for crying out loud. Of course they use their highly evolved olfactory system to find food. Just look how small their eyes are compared to their body size.
Imagine that their is a delicious shrimp hiding in the mud at the bottom of some dark and murky tidal creek somewhere. The redfish cannot use its lateral line to feel/hear the shrimp because it is not moving. The redfish cannot see the shrimp because it is buried in the mud. BUT all of a sudden it swoops down and slurps the shrimp right down its throat.
How did that redfish find that shrimp? It smelled it of course. Stinky works. You can even dead stick for redfish with stinky lures. Just cast them and let them sit. There are days when fish are too lazy to chase bait and just want to slurp one up that isn't moving.
The more of a fish's senses that you can incorporate into your presentation will only increase your odds of catching more fish. It certainly won't decrease your odds.
Why do you think Berkely Gulps work so well for redfish fishing?
Because they smell to high heaven. Those baits are putting out so many scent molecules that every fish in the creek will know your gulp is there. I dead stick with GULPS against mangroves when I am feeling lazy. I will just cast the GULP shrimp or swimming mullet against the mangroves and wait for a red to pick it up.
Let's say that your go to redfish lure is a feather jig. That is a great choice but if you add a piece of shrimp or an odor attractant you will catch more fish.
My point in all of this is use smell to your advantage to catch more fish. There is a product called Pro Cure that comes in lots of delicious smells. I recommend the shrimp and the mullet odors.
I am not sponsored by Pro Cure, DOA, MirroLure or Berkely Gulps. I just know that those products work so I am telling you about them.
Watch the video below to catch more redfish.
Bonus Video-- Fishing for Redfish with Live Mullet
Conclusion:
Redfish are one of the most popular fish in the southern parts of the United States to catch. They are great fighters and are fun to catch. They are also not very picky when it comes to food so they are easy to catch if they are around. This article was all about how to catch a redfish when you are fishing in Florida or anywhere else where redfish live.
If you are one of those fishermen that is having a problem finding and catching redfish, then keep trying. Get a Berkely Gulp shrimp or a DOA CAL 3 inch shad and fish structure in your area during the early morning hours or the two hours right before sunset. If you consistently do that, then you will eventually start catching reds. I guarantee it.
If you are ever down in the Treasure Coast of Florida book a Flats Boat Charter with me. Our main fish species that we target are redfish, snook, tarpon and spotted sea trout. You can catch redfish in my area all year long.
I hope that this article helps you catch more redfish or at the very least have more fun trying. Let's get some lines wet, Florida.
About the author: The author of this article insists that we all call him The Ravenous Redfish Slayer of the Universe. BUT we all just ignore him and refer to him as Mike, the co-owner of FYAO Saltwater Media Group, Inc.
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Bonus Video: Catch and Release Ethics and Techniques