Whether you are new or an experienced angler, it is best to understand more about the fish you target to catch before you go out and pick from the top artificial baits for redfish, ride your boat, and travel on for your fishing adventure.
So, before we present the top artificial bait for redfish that is available in the market today, let us first examine what a Redfish is and why it has become an interesting catch for anglers through the years.
The Redfish is also known by other names. Others call it the red drum or the puppy drum, or the spot tail bass. Others who are more familiar with the redfish often just call it “red”.
This game fish is usually found in the Atlantic Ocean.
The stretch between Massachusetts towards Florida, out towards the Gulf of Mexico serves as home to the Redfish. It is also the known species under the genus category Sciaenops.
The Red Drum and the Black Drum are two related species but are not completely the same especially when it comes to some features and behavior of these fishes. Nonetheless, there are many instances that these two related fishes can interbreed. So, when you are looking for a pure-bred redfish, you need to be very picky and examine the fish that you catch if it is redfish or a crossbreed between the red and the blackfish.
The dark red color of the red drum is exceptional and easily noticeable. But it is the black spot near its tail that makes it unique from other species of redfishes. The best catch of the red drum is when it is at three years of age and it weighs 6-8 pounds. This is their healthiest state and is often their speediest, making it their most challenging state that is best for game fishing.
Top Exceptional Features of the Redfish
The one large black spot near the redfish’s tail is also a tool for defense. Scientists have observed that predators often attack the tail of the redfish instead of its head because of this large spot. Nonetheless, there are instances that some redfish have multiple spots. However, as the redfish grows older, it loses some of its spots, or the spots fade. Hence, the spot in a redfish’s body is also a mark of its youth, the darker the spot, the younger and healthier the fish is.
Anglers who catch redfish often pick the ones that have bright dark spots to consider that they have caught the best redfish in the targeted location.
When looking for prey to feed on, the redfish uses its sense of sight and touch. It uses its downturned mouth as a form of locator as if vacuuming the ground. One is in midwaters, it uses the changes in light to locate possible prey. Once the light changes, it reacts to the motion and follows through the prey it wants to feed on.
Where Can Redfish be Found?
The different variety of redfishes are often more populated along the eastern and western shorelines in the Atlantic towards the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico.
Among the areas where redfishes are found include Louisiana, Virginia, Florida, and Georgia. Other locations also include Alabama, Texas, and the Carolinas.
Because of the nature and behavior of the redfish, it is considered one of the most priced game fishes within the Gulf of Mexico. While the younger redfish prefer grassy grounds, the mature ones from between 3 to 6 years of age prefer thriving within rocky outcrops and in areas where manmade structures could be found and are partially exposed to water. This includes oil rigs as well as bridge posts. These water columns are great hiding places for redfish.
Mature redfish between the ages of 3 to 5 years old grow up to 28 inches for males, while females stretch out up to 33 inches. As redfish increase in length, they also increase in weight.
Best Baits to Use to Catch Redfish
Among the best baits used by Anglers to catch redfish often depend on the season when you would be fishing.
During summer and fall, redfish often feed on crabs and shrimps. Mullets are also part of their diet during this season.
During spring and winter, adults feed on menhaden, sea robin, and mullet. Other parts of their meal include Atlantic croaker and mud minnows. Their choice of food depends on the availability of the species in the environment where they are thriving.
It is easy to find a good bait that the redfish would certainly respond to. They eat any species that will not eat them first. So, instead of thinking of the specific bait you could use to make sure you would be able to catch that goal redfish, you ought to find ways to find the best redfish lure you can use for your fishing game.
Here are the Top Redfish Lures that You Can Choose from
When engaging in fishing games and competitions where several anglers are working within the same location it is evident that your lure should be able to stand up from the others. Here are some of the top redfish lures that you may want to try:
ONE: Heddon Super Spook
This lure mimics the behavior and movement of actual fishes that the redfish are often attracted to. The sound that the lure makes also makes it quite more interesting for the redfish. Its design is also capable of handling the aggressive attach of the redfish without necessarily getting cut off from the line.
TWO: Rebel Jumpin Minnow
This lure fits well with the water current that redfish usually thrive in. It is capable of going through the zigzag flow of the current and mimics the swimming pattern of a baitfish through skiing across the surface which usually gets the attention of the redfish from midwater.
THREE: Subsurface Lures
When using this lure, remember to throw strong and hard into the water so that when it enters, it will mimic the feature of a diving baitfish. The lure slowly resurfaces which will immediately be noticeable for the redfish.
Anglers who use this type of lure for redfish find it more efficient during the winter towards late spring. This time of the year, reds are often slow and sluggish because of the cold temperature of the water. The low temperature in the water also makes the rattling sound of the lure much less noticeable by the redfish. The scenario is often different when the lure is used during the summer season when reds are often more alert and speedy and would be able to detect unnecessary sounds made by the lure which signals them that it is indeed a bait.
FOUR: Cotton Corden Jointed Lure
When fishing for redfish in shallow waters, it is best to use alternating twitches as a strategy to get the attention of the reds. The Cotton Corden Jointed Lure is capable of mimicking the motion of a hurt baitfish. The way it interacts with its water as it is thrown in and enters from a shallow surface makes it easier for the motion of the lure to seem like a hurt fish ready to be eaten.
As noted earlier, reds are sensitive to light changes when they are looking for food in shallow waters. The motion of this lure will certainly catch the attention of the Redfish and surely help in catching the targeted fish fast.
FIVE: Spoon Feeding the Redfish
Spoon feeds often come in either gold or silver. These hues make it easier to be noticed by the redfish especially as it gets the reflection of the light as it enters the water. This is especially true if you opt to make your redfish adventure as you journey through the Gulf Coast. Experienced anglers comment on the efficiency of weedless spoons especially as the flashes of light they create is simply irresistible for the redfish.
SIX: Using a Soft Plastic Shrimp
Artificial as it is, to the redfish, a soft plastic shrimp seems to be as good as it gets. The lifelike mimicry that this lure adapts to could be better improved through the style and strategy used by the Angler as it is thrown and as it enters the water.
This lure also creates clicking noise that the redfish often relates to their natural food choice. The most realistic soft plastic shrimps used by anglers usually range between 3 to 4 inches in length.
Depending on the location where you are fishing for redfish, the color of the soft plastic shrimp lure that you get should also match with the native shrimps thriving in the area- otherwise, the clever redfish would notice that it is a bait.
SEVEN: Using the Swimbait Strategy
Lures that appear to be life egret mullets that are made up of soft plastic have first been introduced and have already evolved within the Texas Coast.
This lure is relatively simple to use. Usually measured at 5 and a half inches in length, this lure resembles the exact range of measure of a real mullet. To add to the illusion of reality, the vibration at the tail section of this lure makes it kick out a lot which is often similar to the motion of fishes thriving within shallow waters.
EIGHT: Using Jerkbaits to Catch Redfish
Twitch baits or jerk baits are known for their motion and the reaction that they create in the water that immediately gets the attention of the redfish. Usually measuring at 3 and one-fourth of an inch, twitch baits are made up of soft plastic flats. This is designed to catch the attention of those redfish that are not too hungry and are not quite interested in food.
This bait continues to twitch as it goes down deeper into the water, often creating that ripple reaction that easily gets the attention of redfish even when they are not in the mood to eat. Due to its lightweight, this bait is best used in shallow waters.
Nine: Using a Saltwater Jerk Shad
This specifically customized lure focuses more on making everything lifelike. From the soft make of the lure to the smell to the overall appearance, Saltwater Jerk Shads are often used to motivate the redfish to hold on to the lure until they are reeled in.
IF you want to attract fish from deeper sections of the water, this supple lure might just work for you. Just add an unweighted hook into the setup to push the bait further down into the water surface.
Ten: Using the Spin Cycle Strategy
If you want a relaxed manner of fishing, the kind where you just sit and wait for the redfish to willingly attach to your fishing rod, then you would need all the patience, the luxury of time, and the use of the spin cycle strategy.
Spinnerbaits often perform well within murky waters. Redfish thriving in lakes is the most common species that respond to this type of strategy. Anglers in the Gulf Coast find this approach effective especially that redfish species found in this area are reactive to the thump and spinning behavior of some of their targeted prey.
The process of luring the redfish through the spin cycle strategy includes the combination of the thumping action of the spinner, the flash that comes from the blade, and the vibration that comes from the tail, all come together to create that sensation in the matter that immediately gets the interest and attention of the redfish.
Tips in Catching the Redfish
The strategies you use to catch a Redfish will most likely depend on where you are planning to do your fishing. If you are out in the bay to catch your redfish, expect that the water runs between 2 to 3 feet offshore. This means that the tides would be very strong. Taking care of how you maneuver your vessel along these lines would also determine how the redfish would respond to you coming into their territory. Carefully treading through these shallow waters will help in minimizing the risks.
Bull redfish are known to appear along the jetties during late fall and early into the summer season. During the spawning season, which runs between fall and early winter, female redfish often populate the area. This means that you are likely going to catch bulkier and heavier redfish but not necessarily faster in speed. If you are looking for a much better source of excitement, then go ahead and search for the male redfish in the area.
Because the water is shallow, it is possible that you would spot a redfish right from your vessel. They are usually more aggressive, faster in motion, and a little bit more agile compared to their female counterparts in the area. During the spawning season, professional anglers find that it is best to use live baits to attract redfish fast.
According to experience, anglers found it harder to keep the redfish biting into the bait after it has been lured in. This is the reason why when looking for the best redfish lures, it is critical to pick one that will motivate the redfish to keep on biting. On the other hand, when considering the usage of artificial lures, make sure to pick ones that are realistic and are soft enough to mimic live lures. This will help to keep the redfish biting into the bait until it is reeled in.
When you are treading the grass flats to search for redfish, remember that local knowledge of the area is important. This means that your first try in the area may not be as successful as you may want it to be. Nevertheless, this does not mean that your visit is a failure. When you go out into grass flats, try all that you can to make sure that you learn more about the local area and understand the behavior of the group of redfish thriving in the area. This will help give you the expected results of successfully catching the redfish goal on your next visit.
Key Takeaways
Fishing for redfish in different locations during different seasons calls for different fishing strategies. At the same time, it also requires finding the best redfish lure that you can use to get the attention of your target.
The behavior of different groups of redfish certainly differs depending on where you are planning to take your journey to accomplish your fishing journey.
Keeping in mind that redfish is a species of clever water dwellers that come from both deep and shallow waters gives anglers the idea of what strategies to use and what specific redfish lures to use to get the attention and keep it biting into the bait until they are reeled up.
If you want to be a game fisher, or take your fishing adventure into a much better course of the relaxed yet victory-defined adventure, you ought to develop a deeper willingness on learning more about your target fish, understanding the environment better, and become more adaptive to the living condition of the fish you want to catch such as the redfish.
