How To Catch Redfish

 

EQUIPMENT

1. 7' MEDIUM ACTION ROD.

2. SPINNING REEL WITH 8-10 # TEST MONOFILAMENT.

3. 2 1/2 - 3 FT. OF 20# TEST MONOFILAMENT LEADER TIED DIRECTLY TO YOUR 8-10# TEST LINE USING A SURGEON'S OR UNI TO UNI KNOT. CLICK HERE FOR KNOTS PAGE

4. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD PAIR OF POLARIZED SUNGLASSES SO YOU CAN SEE THE REDFISH IN THE SHALLOWS.

AREAS TO FISH

1. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN SEARCHING FOR REDFISH IS TO BE VERY QUIET. WHEN GOING INTO AN AREA WHERE YOU THINK THERE ARE REDFISH, SHUT OFF YOUR MOTOR AT LEAST 100 YARDS FROM WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO FISH. IF YOU DON'T, YOU WILL JUST WASTE YOUR TIME. DON'T EVEN USE A TROLLING MOTOR ( THEY CAN HEAR THE HUM OF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR). LOOK AND SEE WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING AND ADJUST YOUR DRIFT. IF THE WIND CHANGES ON YOU, THEN USE YOUR PUSH-POLE. MAKE A PUSH-POLE OUT OF PVC IF YOU HAVE TO.

2. ALWAYS LOOK FOR GRASSY AREAS WITH WHITE SANDY POTHOLES.

3. WATER DEPTH SHOULD BE FROM 3-4 FT. DEEP.

4. LOOK NEAR THE MANGROVES AND UNDER DOCKS.

5. LOOK FOR WATER MOVEMENT. A REDFISH SCHOOL, WHEN MOVING, TENDS TO PUSH A LOT OF WATER.

6.WHEN LEAVING AN AREA, PUSH-POLE YOUR WAY OUT OR LET THE WIND BLOW YOU OUT. IF YOU START YOUR ENGINE, YOU WILL JUST SPOOK THE FISH AND THEY MAY NOT BE THERE THE NEXT TIME YOU GO BACK.

LIVE BAITS

1. LIVE SHRIMP : HOOK THE SHRIMP UNDER THE "HORN" WITH A 2/0 HOOK WITH A FLOATING CORK APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 - 3 FT. FROM YOUR HOOK. ADJUST ACCORDING TO THE DEPTH OF THE WATER.

2. WHITE BAIT (SCALED SARDINE ): USING A 2/0 HOOK, HOOK YOUR WHITE BAIT UNDER THE PECTORAL FIN USING A FLOATING CORK APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 - 3 FT. FROM YOUR HOOK .

3. PINFISH: USING A 2/0 HOOK ATTACHED TO 2 - 2 1/ 2 FEET OF 20 # TEST MONOFILAMENT LEADER, HOOK YOUR BAIT THRU THE NOSE OR THE THE BACK BEHIND THE DORSAL FIN.

4. CAST YOUR BAIT AND WAIT FOR THE BOBBER TO GO UNDER. DO NOT SET THE HOOK UNTIL YOU FEEL THE FISH PULLING THE LINE UNDER THE SURFACE. THEN GIVE IT A SLIGHT TWITCH. IF YOU YANK TOO HARD IT WILL JUST RIP THE HOOK RIGHT OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS.

ARTIFICIAL BAITS - HARD PLASTICS

1. SOME OF THESE LURES HAVE LITTLE PROPELLERS ON THE FRONT, THE BACK OR BOTH FRONT AND BACK. THESE PROPELLERS MAKE A NOISE THAT ATTRACTS THE FISH TO YOUR LURE. THEY THINK IT'S A WHITE BAIT THAT IS INJURED.

2. THE BEST TIME TO USE THESE HARD PLASTIC LURES IS IN THE EARLY MORNINGS OR LATE AFTERNOONS .

3 . TIE YOUR LURE ON A 2 1/2 -3 FT OF 20# TEST MONO LEADER USING THE IMPROVED CLINCH KNOT. THE IMPROVED CLINCH KNOT LETS THE LURE MOVE EASIER AND MORE REALISTIC WHEN TWITCHING IT.

4. CAST THE LURE AND WORK IT WITH A SLIGHT TWITCH. DO NOT SET THE HOOK UNTIL YOU FEEL THE FISH SWIMMING WITH YOUR LURE. THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL YOU SET THE HOOK. WITH THE BASS FISHERMEN ( NOTHING AGAINST BASS FISHERMEN). JUST GIVE IT A SLIGHT TWITCH. THE HOOKS ON THE LURE WILL DO THE REST. DO NOT SET THE HOOK LIKE YOU SEE ON TV.

5. IF THE FISH HITS THE LURE AND MISSES THE HOOKS, DON'T JUST WIND IT IN. LET IT SIT THERE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND MORE THAN LIKELY THE FISH WILL COME BACK AFTER IT.

SOFT PLASTICS

1. SOFT PLASTIC LURES ARE THE EASIEST LURES TO USE FOR REDFISH BECAUSE THEY RESEMBLE A SHRIMP GOING THRU THE GRASS.

2. USE A 1/8 OUNCE LEAD JIG HEAD ON A PLASTIC TAIL THAT IS 4-6 INCHES LONG.

3. THE BEST COLORS SEEM TO BE ROOT BEER, RED GOLD OR SILVER. BUT TRY OUT DIFFERENT OTHER COLORS IN YOUR AREA.

4.CAST YOUR LURE AND JUST TWITCH THE END OF YOUR ROD. WIND UP THE SLACK AND TWITCH IT AGAIN. DOING THIS MAKES THE LURE LOOK LIKE A SHRIMP SWIMMING IN THE GRASS. MORE THAN LIKELY THE FISH WILL HIT IT ON THE FALL.

5. PINFISH USING A 2/0 HOOK ATTACHED TO 2 - 2 1/ 2 FEET OF 20 # TEST MONOFILAMENT LEADER, HOOK YOUR BAIT THRU THE NOSE OR THE THE BACK BEHIND THE DORSAL FIN.

SPOONS

1. 1/4 OUNCE GOLD SPOONS ARE MY FAVORITE BAITS FOR REDFISH. IT RESEMBLES AN INJURED BAITFISH SWIMMING.

2. CAST THE SPOON AND RETRIEVE IT SO THAT IT IS JUST ABOVE THE GRASS.

3. WHEN THE FISH HITS AND YOU FEEL THE TUG, SET THE HOOK WITH A GOOD SNAP OF THE ROD.

4. IF YOU SEE THE FISH FOLLOWING THE SPOON BUT TURNS AWAY WHEN IT NEARS THE BOAT, THEN THE NEXT CAST, IF YOU SEE A FISH FOLLOWING IT, JUST STOP REELING AND LET THE SPOON FALL INTO THE GRASS. THE REDFISH WILL GO DOWN AND GET IT.