Kayak Fishing for Redfish in Florida (The Complete Guide)
The best way to catch redfish when you are kayak fishing is with a white or root beer 3 or 5 inch paddle tail shad lure and a 1/8 to 1/2 ounce jig head. Bounce your jig near any structure like under docks and bridges or oyster bars and work it slowly on the bottom.
Kayak fishing for redfish requires you to find the feeding fish and approach them with the proper natural bait or lure presentation. Once you find the redfish and get your offering in front of them; that's when the fun begins.
So you want to catch a redfish from a kayak do ya? Kayak fishing is an amazing way to fish because you are so much closer to the action. It is much more intimate than fishing from a boat.
Boat fishing is really fun but it does not come close to stalking, sighting, casting and catching reds from a kayak.
I am an inshore kayak fishing guide along the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the flats around Florida for over 40 years. I'll take kayak fishing over a bay boat fishing any day of the week. (Unless there is free beer on the bay boat.)
Hopefully the information below will help you catch more redfish from your kayak if you have a kayak. If you don't have a fishing kayak yet, maybe I can help you pick the right one for your specific needs. Watch the video on the inshore kayaks that I use at the bottom of the page.
Okay. Let's talk about some simple tips and techniques to help you with your kayak fishing for redfish in Florida.
Watch the video below and catch more redfish from a kayak.
The best way to catch redfish when you are kayak fishing is with a white or root beer 3 or 5 inch paddle tail shad lure and a 1/8 to 1/2 ounce jig head. Bounce your jig near any structure like under docks and bridges or oyster bars and work it slowly on the bottom.
Kayak fishing for redfish requires you to find the feeding fish and approach them with the proper natural bait or lure presentation. Once you find the redfish and get your offering in front of them; that's when the fun begins.
So you want to catch a redfish from a kayak do ya? Kayak fishing is an amazing way to fish because you are so much closer to the action. It is much more intimate than fishing from a boat.
Boat fishing is really fun but it does not come close to stalking, sighting, casting and catching reds from a kayak.
I am an inshore kayak fishing guide along the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the flats around Florida for over 40 years. I'll take kayak fishing over a bay boat fishing any day of the week. (Unless there is free beer on the bay boat.)
Hopefully the information below will help you catch more redfish from your kayak if you have a kayak. If you don't have a fishing kayak yet, maybe I can help you pick the right one for your specific needs. Watch the video on the inshore kayaks that I use at the bottom of the page.
Okay. Let's talk about some simple tips and techniques to help you with your kayak fishing for redfish in Florida.
Watch the video below and catch more redfish from a kayak.
Kayak Fishing for Redfish--Mud Flats
I love to stalk redfish on the mud flats. Seeing them run up with the tide change from dead low is a sight to behold. Reds are usually the first predators to move onto the mud flats when the tide changes. They get first dibs on the crab, shrimp, and whatever invertebrates and fish that they like to eat.
The key to catching mud flat reds is to beat them to their hunting grounds. Redfish are very spooky when they are in a foot or two of water so I like to let them come to me. Find a nice deeper cut between the mud flats that will funnel the fish right to you.
A cut between two mud flats or a mud flat and an oyster bar is even better. Reds love to flip oyster clumps over to eat the mud crabs and shrimp that are hiding underneath them. The reds will run into the super shallow water to eat as much as they can before their predators (dolphin and sharks) have enough water to follow them.
If you can anchor next to a cut like the ones mentioned above and have live shrimp with a split shot to cast the the reds as they run up the deeper water you will have a great fishing day. If you don't have any shrimp or haven't caught any of the fiddler crabs that will be in the area a scented jig will work almost as well.
I like a white scented imitation shrimp with a 1/8 oz. red jig head. Berkely Gulps work really well. A white, 3 inch soft plastic shad with a paddle tail and a 1/8 ounce red jig head will get some reds too. When fishing the jigs it is best to cast up current and bounce it on the bottom back to you and repeat.
If you look at a redfish you can tell that they don't spend a lot of time looking up. They have jaws with a definite overbite which tells you that they feed on the bottom. They also have small eyes relative to their body size which tells you that their primary sense is something else. I'll give you a hint. They have 4 nostrils.
Redfish are used to making a living in murky water. That is why their olfactory system is their primary sense for detecting their prey. You can use this to your advantage and fish with baits that stink.
I wrote another article about how to catch a redfish that covers the subject in great detail. You can read that article by clicking here.
I believe that they are very sensitive to low frequency vibrations too. This is why a gold spoon or a bass style spinner bait with gold blades will catch redfish too. Make sure to cast these lures up current and work them back as slowly as possible for the best results.
Watch the video below and learn more about Redfishing with Lures.
Kayak Fishing for Redfish--Oyster Bars
Oyster bars and redfish go together like beer and bowling. Redfish are oyster bar specialists. They are covered in very tough scales and a hard face and head. They will jam their faces right into an oyster club to eat the little shrimp and crabs hiding between the oysters.
You have to be pretty tough to do that. If you tried that we would have to take you to the hospital to have your face sewn back on.
You should fish oyster bars exactly the same way that you fish the mud flats. Search for a deeper cut between the oyster bars and focus your efforts there. You are trying to find a place that will funnel fish right to you if possible.
If that scenario is not possible try to find a creek mouth with oyster bars on one side. Cast your baits up to the oyster bar and work them back towards you with the current. Try to bounce your baits on the bottom.
Keep your rod tip high to avoid getting hooked on the bottom. Once you find the reds, stay on them until they move out. You might be able to follow them but it is probably better to stay and wait for the next school to come rolling through.
The number one live bait for this scenario is a shrimp under a split shot. AND the number one lure for this scenario is going to be a Berkely Gulp shrimp. I like to use white or a natural color combination with a red 1/8 ounce jig head.
The video below shows you how to catch redfish in Winter.
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Kayak Fishing for Redfish--Grass Flats
Redfish love rooting around in the grass flats for shrimp and crabs. On the low tides you can often see them tailing as they dig something out of the grass to eat. When you fish the grass flats you will have to figure out what they are feeding on.
I wrote another article all about getting the correct tackle for redfishing. You can read it by clicking here. Learn more about getting the right tackle to maximize your redfish fishing fun.
If there are lots of finger mullet in the area it is a good bet that they are eating those. You should cast net some and free line them to where you think the reds are hanging out. They will also take a live shrimp offering under a popping cork when they are hunting the shallow grass flats.
Pin fish is another redfish favorite but you have to use a cork or they will just swim straight down and bury themselves in the grass. They will be hard for the reds to find if you let this happen.
The bait that works best for me in this environment is a white soft plastic shad with a paddle tail and a red 1/8 oz. jig head. Work it just fast enough to stay above the grass for best results. A white Gulp scented shrimp imitation with a red 1/8 ounce jig head will also work very well here too.
If the water is 2 feet or less a top water walk-the-dog type of lure will work well if they are feeding on finger mullet. Redfish are not designed to strike things on the surface of the water so they will probably miss the lure a few times. That is why a slow retrieve works best for top water reds.
I like the Zara Super Spook in a white or natural color combination or a Mirro Lure Top Dog in those same colors. Those brands cast well are are built well.
Watch the video below and catch more redfish with top water lures.
Kayak Fishing for Redfish--Mangroves
Redfish like to hunt the roots of the Red Mangrove on the higher tides. They will catch small crabs, shrimp and fish that are hiding among the roots. Mangrove fishing is tricky because they are always covered in oyster that will cut your lines and snag your baits and lures.
My favorite technique for fishing mangroves is to toss a chunk of lady fish, mullet or a pin fish up to the mangrove roots and wait. The redfish and snook will cruise the roots with the incoming and outgoing tides. If they are around they will pass by you sooner. Hopefully sooner. Just anchor up, open an ice cold adult beverage and wait.
The Berkely Gulp 3 inch shrimp with a 1/8 ounce jig head is another great way to catch redfish around the mangroves. They like to patrol the mangrove roots with the tide. The key is to get your jig into the roots or just to them for the best results.
I have found that a cast that is 2 ft. or more away from the roots usually doesn't catch and fish. They stay pretty tight to the roots when they are foraging for food. I think they are worried about getting eaten by a dolphin or a shark. They probably think that they taste amazingly good just like we do.
Kayak Fishing for Redfish--Docks
Redfish like to cruise the docks in search of shrimp, crabs and small fish. Once I paddle up to a good looking dock I will cast to a section of it a few times and then move down to cover another section and so on. If you fish a dock methodically like this you can feel certain that if there were fish there they got to see your bait.
Cover each dock this way and you will catch redfish if they are there. Make sure to fish the whole dock and not just the deep end. I have caught reds in a foot of water before. They will often sit in the shade in very shallow water herding fish up against the bank. It is a pretty neat thing to see. It's like a miniature version of the killer whales beaching themselves catching sea lion pups.
Fishing for reds around the docks can be challenging if you are not very good at casting. You have to get your lure at or under the docks to be the most effective.
I like to use a white Gulp shrimp with a 1/8 ounce jig head or a white DOA CAL with a 1/8 ounce jig head when fishing the docks for redfish. Just position yourself to where you can cast up current and work your lure back to you with the current. Just about every predatory fish faces into the current to find prey.
The best presentation for the gulp is to bounce it slowly on the bottom with a pause every 10 feet or so. Many times the movement of the lure right after the pause is what triggers a bite.
You can do the same with the DOA CAL but often a slow swim with an occasional bounce will work better. I think that the paddle tail sends out delicious sounding low frequency vibrations. That is why I like to keep that lure moving the whole time.
Check out the video below to see one of the kayaks that I use on my kayak fishing charters.
Best gear for catching redfish kayak fishing:
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 redfish fishing. A high end very expensive pair of sunglasses will run about $250 and a lower end cheaper 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 the expensive ones. They were $250 and they definitely cut the glare and allow you to see further into the water column than the cheaper ones. They are also better built.
The problem is that I am afraid to wear them most of the time. I got them for my birthday but I tend to break stuff.
Whatever price range you decide to go with you must wear polarized sunglasses or you can not sight fish for redfish on the flats or around the oyster bars. The polarized lenses eliminate the glare on the surface of the water so that you can see under the surface.
It is a wonderful thing to see a big bull red sunning itself up on a mud flat. Then you approach stealthily and present your bait to the fish. Next thing you know FISH ON!!! That is an awesome experience.
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.
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.
Best water temperatures for kayak fishing for redfish:
What is the best temperature range for catching redfish? What is the water temperature where you are fishing?You have to know these kinds of things if you want to catch a whole bunch of redfish. Water temperature is a very big deal.
Redfish are cold blooded just like an alligator or a snake. This means that they cannot regulate their body temperatures by themselves. They have to use the surrounding water to keep from getting too hot or too cold.
The problem with the thermometers on a boat or a fishing kayak is that it only tells you the water temperature at the surface. What is the temperature 10 feet down?
The video below will teach you about the optimal water temperatures for catching redfish.
Bonus Video-- How to catch reds with live mullet
Conclusion:
Kayak fishing for redfish is a blast. Redfish will go up in some of the skinniest water that you can believe. I love stalking these fish up in tidal creeks and oyster bar mud flats. The beginning of the incoming tide is a great time to sight fish for redfish from your kayak.
Redfish are one of the most popular fish from the Carolinas to Texas. We have tons of them right here in Florida and that makes me happy. You can find redfish in our waters from the Florida Keys all the way up to the Florida Panhandle.
The great thing about redfish is that they are not picky like some fish species are. If they are around, they will usually eat whatever bait that you get near them. They are great to eat and fun to fight. What a great combination.
If you are ever down in the Treasure Coast of Florida book a kayak fishing charter with me. Redfish are one of the big four that we target most often. We catch redfish, tarpon, snook and spotted sea trout most of the time.
I hope that this article helps you catch more redfish. Let's get some lines wet Florida.
About the author: The author insists that everyone refer to him by his Latin scientific name of Redfish Catchimus Maximus. BUT we all ignore him and just call him Mike, the co-owner of FYAO Saltwater Media Group, Inc.
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