Redfish are a great catch for both beginner and experienced anglers. Not only do they taste great when you’re fishing for dinner, but they are also worthy opponents that put up story-worthy battles and often reach record-breaking sizes. Knowing how to catch redfish is important if you want to hook one of these fish.
Are Redfish Hard To Catch?
Redfish are notorious for going after nearly any type of bait. Whether you prefer to fish with artificial lures or natural bait, you have a good chance of catching red drum if you know where to look for them. However, this fish species is feisty and puts up a decent fight, so it is a good target for anglers who enjoy battling for their spoils.
Redfish are distinctive because of the black spot near their tails. They often inhabit shallow waters where you can see their backs while swimming, so red drum are easy to spot and identify.
They respond to both natural and artificial bait. One important thing to know about how to catch redfish is they are bottom feeders. You may need to use weights on your line to cast it where the fish search for food.
Once you hook a fish, the battle is on. On average, adult redfish weighs 50 pounds. The current Texas record red drum weighed more than 59 pounds. The potential bragging rights and record-breaking size are enough to make redfish a target for many fishermen.
What Is the Best Time of Day To Catch Redfish?
One of the biggest draws of red drum is their year-round availability. You can find red drum every season, but the temperature dictates where they swim and what time of day is most promising for fishing.
When the weather is cool, you can usually find the fish in shallow waters. On warmer days, redfish tend to move into deeper water to escape the summer heat, so you may have better luck if you fish in the early morning or late evening.
Red drum are readily available to catch during the winter and spring months. Because of the cooler temperatures, they are usually found in extremely shallow water.
However, the best season for catching the red drum is fall. This is because the spawning season lasts from mid-August to mid-October, and adult redfish move inshore to bays and rivers for reproduction. The cooler temperatures mean they don’t dive deep and are more easily found when spawning.
What Should You Look For When Fishing for Redfish?
Red drum prefer to inhabit shallow water less than four feet deep, which is important to know when you’re learning how to catch redfish. They tend to live in spots with a lot of underwater vegetation.
Until they reach three years of age, red drum live in shallow rivers and bays. Once they mature, they move out into the Gulf of Mexico, where they live the rest of their lives except for visits to the rivers and bays during spawning season.
Although sexually mature redfish live in the Gulf of Mexico, they still stick to shallower spots. They prefer areas with soft mud and submerged vegetation. Breaks in the shoreline also attract red drum.
If you want to know how to catch red drum, look for them near natural and non-natural features in shallow water. Redfish thrive in oyster reefs, coves, piers, and jetties, so fishing near these areas usually yields good results in the winter, spring, and summer. During spawning season in the fall, look for the fish near the mouths of rivers or close to the bay shore.
What Is the Best Bait for Redfish?
You can catch red drum with both natural and artificial bait. Natural bait is slightly more effective than artificial lures.
Young redfish feed on worms, small crabs, and shrimp. Older red drum prey on smaller fish but continue to consume shrimp, worms, and crabs in larger varieties. They often look for food in clumps of underwater vegetation, and you may see their tails stick up out of the water while they hunt.
Knowing how to catch redfish includes knowing the best type of live bait. Choose the creatures that red drum consume as part of their natural diet. Good options include:
- Atlantic croaker
- Shrimp
- Blue crabs
- Finger mullet
Live bait is most effective because the creatures wiggle on the hook as they try to swim away. If you use an artificial lure instead, you may have more luck by skipping the bait along the bottom of the ocean or river bed to mimic movement. Fish-shaped plugs and copper, silver, and gold spoons are some of the most effective lures for learning how to catch redfish.
Are There Any Rules for Catching Redfish?
Now that you know how to catch redfish, you must prepare to fish legally. Whether fishing from the shore, a boat, or a pier, you must have a Texas fishing license to cast a line legally. Every angler with a valid license can keep three redfish daily, but you must have a special permit to keep a large red drum. If fishing from a boat, you also need a Texas boating license.
You may obtain a state fishing license from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Each permit is valid for one year and allows you to keep three fish per day that measure between 20 and 28 inches. This limit applies whether fishing is a hobby you enjoy daily or one you participate in a few times a year. The only people who do not need a fishing license are those under the age of 17 and those who were born before January 1, 1931.
If you want to keep larger fish as hobby trophies, you must have a Red Drum Tag, which comes with a type of license called a Saltwater Fishing Endorsement. This tag permits you to keep one redfish larger than 28 inches long annually.
Where Can You Learn How To Catch Redfish in Texas?
Redfish are commonly found in many states, but Texas is one of the best spots to find large red drum. If you want to find a boat to prepare for a fishing expedition, Boat Stop Marina is ready to help. Contact us today to see how we can help you learn how to catch redfish.