Reds will readily hit artificials such as plastic grubs and topwaters, but are more frequently caught using live or dead bait.
Let's talk about redfish fishing basics. Redfish, also known as the red drum, is a salt water fish. You can recognize it by the black spot on their tails. Redfish have blunt nose, a chin without barbels and a wide undercut mouth. They are a reddish copper and bronze color on their body in dark water , with lighter shades in clear waters. The underside and belly is pure white. They have from one to as many fifty spots at base of their tail and very rarely no spots at all.
Best Tackle For Redfish
Use light to medium spinning or casting tackle with fifteen to twenty pound test line is sufficient for most redfish applications. Reds will readily hit artificials such as plastic grubs and topwaters, but are more frequently caught using live or dead bait. Terminal tackle consists of a standard bottom fishing rig with sinker, swivel, leader and 5/0 hook.
Best Bait To Use For Redfish
Live bait, such as small blue crabs or half a larger blue crab work well on the bottom. Live shrimp or mud minnows work as well. If you can find a live mullet – and they have not arrived yet – that mullet won't last long on the bottom. Artificial baits like jigs and crankbaits work very well on these monsters. Just make sure the hooks on your lure are changed to a heavy duty treble, or you will end up with a missed fish and bent treble hooks.
Best Time To Catch Redfish
Many anglers prefer to fish a window of opportunity that includes the last 2 hours of the incoming current and the first 2 hours of the outgoing. If this coincides with dusk, the fishing is more likely to be good. For the most part, Redfish aren't very picky and can be caught year round.