A Practical Beginner's Guide to Finding and Catching Redfish

One of the parts of fishing I enjoy almost as much as catching fish is helping others discover the joys a rod & reel can open. A frequent question from new or want-to-be anglers is “What should I fish for?” Although the answer changes depending on where you fish, for potential inshore anglers the answer is easy: “Redfish.”

Redfish, part of the Drum family, are the perfect inshore target. They are stubborn, offer a pound-for-pound fight that gets your heart pumping, can be caught in a variety of ways, and make excellent table fare. Plus, with the right combination of skill and luck, you can someday hook into a trophy bull worth bragging rights.

Everything you are looking for in a target species.

• Understanding Redfish Behavior
• Essential Gear & Tackle
• On-the-Water Techniques
• Regulations You Need to Be Aware of
• FAQs About Red Drum Fishing

Understanding Redfish Behavior

The first thing you will notice about redfish or red drum is that they are not red, but copper or gold with a white belly. A key indicator that a redfish is on the end of your line is the large black spot on its tail, which you can often see just above the surface as it cruises the shallows.

Speaking of the shallows, that is a key area for redfish. In general, redfish inhabit the shallow lagoons, rivers, and brackish creeks of the Southern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Some have been known to venture as far north as Massachusetts, although they are far more common in the Carolinas and south.

Like many other species, redfish prefer structure. Areas such as oyster beds, grass flats, jetties, docks, and rocky areas offer both protection from large predators and likely food sources. Favorite meals include shrimp, crabs, mullet, and similar baitfish that also thrive around cover and in the shallows.

Redfish are not migratory, at least not in the same way as striped bass or shad, which travel hundreds of miles or more each year. Instead, they migrate far shorter distances, sometimes only a few miles, at specific points during their growth. Young reds, also known as puppies, spend most of their time in back bays, tidal inlets, and protected coastal areas. When they reach maturity at about 4 years of age, adults move offshore in search of more food but return to inlets, beaches, and surf zones to spawn. They are also predators, always searching for more to eat, and will move as needed to find their favorite food sources. This means most of their movement is driven by season but generally stays within a smaller geographic area than migratory gamefish.

Most of the year, they spend time in their preferred habitat: the shallows. In cold winters, a stretch of dark, shallow water will warm sooner than surrounding areas. In the spring, these same areas teem with young shrimp, crabs, and baitfish, making them a smorgasbord after a lean winter. Fall offers the same, but in reverse: plenty of food to fatten up before winter.

Summer brings a behavior change. During the hottest months, redfish will move to deeper water, such as harbor channels. Again, they will look for structure, so focus on docks or jetties that border deep water.

The tidal stage also affects where you find redfish. During flood or high tide, they move into areas inaccessible at other times, such as flooded grass flats, areas too shallow to enter at low tide, and farther up estuaries.  As the tide falls, they move to ambush points that let them catch smaller species swept out by moving water. Before the flats and backwaters get too shallow to occupy, groups of redfish will gather in tidal creeks, deeper pools, and nearby channels.

Essential Gear & Tackle

If you are already familiar with inshore fishing, then you are in luck; you probably already have most of the gear to tackle redfish. A 7-foot medium or medium-heavy rod with a fast action is ideal and lets you fish using several different methods. Paired with a 2500-4000 series reel, depending on the technique you use, this combination lets you target smaller reds (aka puppies) all the way up to trophy bulls.  

Piscifun offers some excellent options, including the Carbon R1 One-Piece rod paired with either the Piscifun Alloy S Inshore Spinning Reel or Piscifun AlinoX 400 Saltwater Baitcasting Reel. Either combination will provide the length necessary for long casts, the power needed to turn a running fish, and withstand the abuse caused by constent exposure to salt & sand.

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The line you use will depend on the size of the redfish you expect to encounter and the type of structure you will be fishing near. For example, if you are chasing small to average-size fish in open flats, you can use 10- 15 lb. braid with a 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader. If you expect to chase larger bulls or fish near sharp structure, upgrade to 20- 30 lb. braid with a 30- 40 lb. leader.

Because redfish vary in size and live in a variety of environments, a wide range of baits and lures can help you land one. You can also use their habits and behavior to help decide which option will work best in each situation. Let's look at some common rigs and when to use them effectively.

• Carolina Rig – excellent choice when fish are actively feeding, as they will often cruise the area seeking a meal rather than sitting in ambush.
• Topwaters – a noisy surface lure that imitates baitfish being pushed to the surface and can draw redfish into your areas and out of thick cover. These lures can be especially effective in murky water.
• Popping Corks – suspending a live bait or plastic under a floating cork, then popping it to create surface noise, is one of the most popular ways to catch redfish. It is also one of the most effective. It is especially effective in shallow flats or adjacent to grassy areas.

When selecting bait, is it always best to go with local options, what fish are already feeding on? Most of the time, this means locally caught crabs and shrimp, either live or cut. In winter, you will want bigger offerings to entice reds trying to get the most bang for their buck every time they hunt. Look for mullet, menhaden, or similar local baitfish. Redfish aren't fussy eaters, but in colder weather they slow down, and their goal becomes eating large enough meals to make the energy spent catching them worth it.

For artificials, focus on yellows, greens, whites, and other bright colors. Because redfish hunt by both sight and smell, don't forget to include scents to improve your odds.

On-the-Water Techniques

Finding the fish and tricking them into taking your bait or lure is part of the overall experience. It adds to the excitement and makes it even more satisfying when you finally hook one. Redfish are easy to spot in shallow water, as their spotted tails often stick out of the water and cut through the surface like a shark’s fin. Even in deeper water, they are likely to leave a “V-shaped " wake on the surface as they cruise looking for bait. But redfish are also skittish. These two features will help you develop the right tactics.

For some species, you blindly cast as you search for fish. This tactic is not recommended for redfish because they tend to spook. Instead, anglers prefer to sight fish – look for fish or visible signs of fish and then cast to them. This is especially popular when fishing clear water. To be successful, cast where the fish will be, not where it is. This means instead of casting directly to the fish, aim a few feet in front of it, let your bait or lure sit for a few seconds, and then give it a slight twitch. Follow this with a stop-and-go action mixed with hopping and twitching, with slight pauses. While this may appear counterintuitive for a species that spooks easily, it has the exact opposite effect. These actions mimic the natural movements of baitfish trying to escape a predator, so they grab the redfish’s attention and pressure it to eat before the meal is lost.

Regulations You Need to Be Aware of

As with any species, redfish have been threatened by overharvesting, habitat loss, and even pollution. For these reasons, most states with fishable populations have strict regulations in place to protect the fishery.

Harvesting redfish in Federal waters is strictly prohibited in both the Atlantic and Gulf regions. Any fish caught while fishing in Federal waters must be immediately released unharmed.

Most states have implemented slot limits for redfish. Unlike minimum sizes for other species, slot limits set both a minimum and maximum. Younger fish are generally below the minimum size, while large bulls are above the maximum size, and both must be returned to the water.

Some states, such as Florida, have different regulations depending on where you are fishing. Each region or area has a different combination of season, size, and creel limits based on local population, breeding history, and fishing pressure. Make sure you know which area you will be fishing in and where its boundaries are.

Another widespread restriction addresses the use of hooks and live or cut bait. Several states prohibit using more than one hook per line when using bait, and others require circle hooks. These regulations are especially popular in areas with slot limits, as they allow for more successful catch-and-release.

FAQs About Red Drum Fishing

1. Where is the best place to fish for redfish?

As stated earlier, redfish inhabit much of the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico. Almost any estuary, harbor, or flat can hold at least some redfish. Oyster beds, grass flats, and structure increase your odds. But there is one area that is the paradise of redfish fishing, one place that is far better than any other location- Florida.

Whether you're in Naples, Tampa Bay, Destin, Jupiter, Mosquito Lagoon, or any of the thousands of coastal towns & cities throughout the Sunshine State, the number of redfish is out of this world. Grass and mud flats, marshes, lagoons, estuaries, and shallow harbors are the perfect habitat for redfish. The year-round availability of baitfish such as mullet, crabs, and young shrimp draws fish from far and wide.

2. Why are popping corks so effective for redfish?

Popping corks are a near-perfect offering for redfish because they let you place bait in front of fish from far away, tempt them with both food and sound, and are easy for anglers of any experience level to master. Casting a popping cork from a distance lets you stand back and avoid spooking the fish. Having live or cut bait appeals to the redfish’s predatory nature and works whether they are lying in ambush or actively cruising. The wriggling bait is visible, and the popping cork creates noise, so you appeal to both senses the redfish uses to hunt. Finally, it takes only a few uses to master the technique. The hardest part is learning what depth to set the cork at so the bait is at the correct level, which will vary as the tide and your location change.

3. How does redfish taste, and how is it prepared?

One benefit of catching redfish is being able to keep some for table fare. But does it really taste good? Many anglers consider redfish to be one of the top fish to harvest for this purpose. The flesh is mild and sweet rather than having the strong fishy taste of other species. The texture is firm and flaky, with no slime or mushiness. Plus, it can be prepared in almost any recipe that calls for fish. Because of its mild flavor, it usually takes on the taste of whatever seasoning you use, making it perfect for those who may not like fish.