Every angler has a different opinion on the best time of year to catch redfish. Some people prefer the summer months, while others swear by winter. There is no right answer, everyone’s experience will be different based on their fishing location and what they’re looking for in a day at sea. In this post, we’ll explore some tips for getting out there and catching those beautiful fish!
This article provides all the information you need about how to catch a snook fishing guide.
Where To Find Them?
Redfish are another of those fish that are not only very abundant in the waters off of Florida, but also extremely delicious.
Finding redfish can be easy – you’ll pretty much always find them around spoil islands or reefs on incoming tides and probably at night as well. What’s a little more difficult is getting them to bite your offering, as they can be quite finicky, especially those lower in the food chain such as those found on the upper portions of spoil islands and reefs (the smaller fish) as well as those around the hard bottom, etc.
When Is The Best Time To Catch Redfish?
For redfish anglers in the southern United States, summer is prime time.
Naturally, that’s when everyone wants to be fishing for reds – which can make getting on the water at any other time of year a challenge.
But there are plenty of great opportunities to fish for reds outside the traditional summer months. And contrary to popular belief, there are times when it can be even better than summertime.
Summer is the redfish’s breeding season – and they’re very territorial during this time. This means that fishing pressure increases like clockwork in sunny June and July, with everyone in the area wanting to get onto the fish early.
Going offshore for reds can be a great way to get away from crowds – but this season’s increased fishing pressure is tough to escape. If you’re looking to get on the water without all of the fishing pressure, redfish are available in many different months – just not during prime time. Farther north is no exception, but they’re spread out over a larger time frame. The peak of the season for reds in Florida and the Gulf is around mid-summer, whereas farther north it can be much more spread out.
As such, there’s no “best time” to go fishing for redfish – but rather several “best times.” If you’re not tied down by a traditional summer schedule, here are some months when you can have a great shot at catching redfish in most coastal areas.
January and February: Redfish are a long-lived species that spawn every two years, with an extended rest period between spawns. But they’re very opportunistic – if food is available to them during this rest period, they’ll spawn more often.
How To Catch Redfish
Rod
Redfish are great fish to catch. They are the most active out of all fish, by them splashing around in the water. Often times when you are fishing for redfishes, you’ll want to use a pole that is specifically made for catching them. The poles will have shorter handles and stronger lines than usual. The Redfish will most likely be in very deep water, so the lines on most poles won’t be long enough to go where they are. You’ll need to use extra-length or heavy-duty fishing rods with heavyweights that can help you catch redfishes at deeper depths. When choosing a rod and reel combo for redfish, you should go with a 6’6″ rod with a 20 to 80lb test line.
Reel
When choosing a fishing reel for redfish you should look at three factors. These are the type of fish you’re wanting to catch, the size of your team, and what kind of layout is going on.
Redfish like any other fish, come in many different sizes. There are some that can weigh up to eight pounds or more that you will want to target when fishing for redfish. These larger ones are called bulls, and they are very solid fish. They move around constantly and pull down large tides with ease. A beginner fisherman probably doesn’t want to take on a fish of this size. Therefore, when choosing a fishing reel for redfish you want one that is strong and not very expensive.
This means looking at products from brands like Shimano. They make fishing products in many different price ranges, but they produce good equipment if you’re looking for a budget-friendly reel. Also, consider a bait caster. Baitcasters are great for beginners because they can cast out a mile and let the fish leader all the way back to shore, making it easier for them to reel in their catch.
Baitcasting reels come in many sizes as well. If you’re going after smaller redfish then consider a cheap, light model. These are easier to use and will give you more control over your fish, letting you catch them easily.
When choosing redfish reels remember that they come in different sizes as well. For example, there are small models that hold about 15 yards of line on average. This is for kids that just want to go out and catch a few fish for fun. There are also big models that can hold up to 100 yards or more of the line along with hundreds of yards of leader material. These reels work best if you’re going after large redfish because they typically require at least 50 pounds of force to reel in.
Line
Choosing the right fishing line for redfish can be difficult. These fish are feisty, aggressive, and very strong with incredible endurance. They are capable of withstanding weeks of pain from a hook set only to end up throwing the hook in your hands when you finally get them close enough to net. For this reason, a fishing line needs to be of substantial strength and durability. The bigger the redfish, the more difficult it becomes to battle on your end. A stronger fishing line will usually help you out with that.
The main thing you need to know about choosing redfish fishing lines is that they are not cheap. In many cases, they are quite expensive. The most popular brands of fishing line for redfish are Sufix, NanoFil, and Tuf-Line. However, the prices they charge are almost absurd – around $18-$25 per 100 yards. That’s close to twice or even three times what you would pay for the same amount of braid. Nowadays, you can find braided fishing lines for half the cost, and braid is known to be superior in strength and durability. That means it should be a no-brainer. Then why do people insist on using mono instead of braid?
Bait
The best way to find out what kind of bait is going to work best for you is by trying it out. This can be done by throwing different types of bait into the water and seeing which one the fish are most likely to go after. Even if you don’t think that there is a lot of activity in certain spots, like when fishing with worms, try to test it out and see if you can find anything.
When we were trying to catch redfish we would often use the kind of shrimp that was covered in a thick mixture of garlic and soy sauce. We usually like to get down near the bayous where they could be hiding under some trees or bushes waiting for their next meal to come wandering by. This bait would be the best because of the scent that was used to coat it, and also because these fish had likely never seen something like this before.
The most important thing is just to try different baits and find out what works on your own. Just make sure you aren’t overloading on one type of bait, and make sure to use different techniques. Sometimes the fish go after what they know, and sometimes they like something new and fresh. Experimenting is a great way to discover your fishing potential.
Conclusion
There are plenty of resources available on fishing for redfish, and we hope that this article has helped you get started with the basics. Whether it’s in the spring or wintertime, be sure to bring your patience when going out on a boat! We’re here to help you make decisions about what rod and reel combo is best suited for your needs as well as how much bait will cost at local bait shops near you. If there’s anything else we can do to assist you while navigating through all these tips- please don’t hesitate to contact us.