Posted: 3/6/2008 5:05:46 PM EDT
| I like to fish inshore and I always wanted to know that is the best bait for red fish I cant seem to catch any. I always catch trout, whiting, and some time a flounder or two but never any red fish, What should I use? |
I live in Punta Gorda FL Ive caught reds with CUT bait like Shad Live shrimp Live green back minnows etc! I allways catch them Right IN the Mangroves I use a 40LB test Leader and Toss the bait in and under the limbs |
Ive Tried spoons and never got a red fish yet! Lots others |
+1 on that you have to be totally comfortable casting very close to the mangroves shrimp under a popping cork is the way to go. or a spoon...but you GOTTA have the red tab on |
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Everyone here has posted truth. Cut Bait / Chum. Stink up the area. Mullet , Ladyfish , a commercial or store bought chum. That will get their feed on. Fresh cut chum works best. Then fish a small piece freelined in the chum area. Ladyfish works great because it really stinks and is easy to catch. It depends on the season and the tide. When you stink em up they will then hit all of the above mentioned baits. Look for them tailing with the mullet when the flats are flooded.Rootbeer tails and motor-oil colors work well when the water is cloudy and stirred up from mullet grubbing around. In clearer water try lighter colors. Reds don't mind sunlight , but high-noon brightness will slow the bite down. As for taking Bull-Reds cut baits and deeper water usually can find them. I have not had much success hunting Bulls. If you're cathing Trout and Flounder you will get Reds , just gotta get to know the fish. I like the bottom turn of a low tide and find them in pockets on the outside of oyster beds or deep depressions in the grass. Or on higher tides schooling with the mullet. Occasionally I get them while Trout fishing , but loners not schooled up. I'm in CO now , but fish from a kayak from Clrwtr to Gulf Harbors/New Port Richie. If you're using a motor boat be as stealthy as possible , they can detect the pressure from the hull as well as the sound. If wading just move quietly. occasionally cast back into your walking track because you stir up critters from the bottom that attract fish sometimes. Have Fun. Reds are hearty fighters and tasty too. I'm glad they and the trout are back after the red tides. JC |
The trout are thick around the Skyway right now. |
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I usually fish Reds in winter (marshes North of Grand Isle, LA and Lake Salvador). I use live Cockaho(sp?) minnows on a redfish rig or just on a treble hook with a horizontal float. I've used fresh shrimp and done OK but only when I couldn't get minnows. Around here people swear by the Deadly Dudley but I've always stuck w/ live bait. |
| Fresh cut mullet is hard to bet around here in Jaxs, crab is allways good but the lil fish clean it out so fast. Good live finger mullets will catch most of your striking fish(Trout, Flounders,Reds). Damn I need to get out in the boat soon. Where in Fla are U? Tuna |
| Fresh shrimp is the absolute best. Then minnows or livies if the water is hot and it's midday. Artificial is more fun and challenging. But catching them on the fly is really thriling and not too many people has done it. I'll never forget my first fly caught red! |
| Here in NW Florida trolling stretch 25s blue back with silver or white belly's this time of year in the bay will get your back broke on some monster bulls. Spring time live shrimp around rocks or piers works the best. I like to sight fish around docks with a grub head and a fresh shrimp laced on. Oh what fun. |
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If I'm back in the marsh, looking for reds, I'll have three rods setup.
Rod #1 has a gold 1/4 oz. Nemire spoon Rod #2 has a Bone/Chartreuse Mirrolure She Pup Topwater bait Rod #3 has a 1/8 oz jighead with a salt/pepper/chartreuse tail Deadly Dudley plastic minnow. I have also caught reds on crank baits, spinner baits, and just about anything you'd use for bass fishing. One last thing...seeing a redfish destroy a topwater lure is simply awesome. When I'm surf fishing, I'll use live finger mullet, pinfish, shrimp, or a cracked crab with good results. Hax |
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You use for bait whatever they are eating at the moment. If the mullet are running - Mullet. If the shrimp are running - shrimp. When the crab spawn - crab.
Although I have to say that im not sure there is ever a time when they are off Shrimp. You know the styrofoam cone shaped floaters they sell at Wall Mart? The ones with the stick that slides down and locks it onto your line? Well if you look at the tops you'll see that its shaped like cup. Well you take one of those and place it 12" to 18" above a horn hooked live shrimp. Cast it out and give it a few pops. Soon you will see the shrimp jumping all around your floater. Why? cause there is a Redfish trying to inhale it. One of my favorite ways to fish off a kayak. |
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Quoted:
You use for bait whatever they are eating at the moment. If the mullet are running - Mullet. If the shrimp are running - shrimp. When the crab spawn - crab. Although I have to say that im not sure there is ever a time when they are off Shrimp. You know the styrofoam cone shaped floaters they sell at Wall Mart? The ones with the stick that slides down and locks it onto your line? Well if you look at the tops you'll see that its shaped like cup. Well you take one of those and place it 12" to 18" above a horn hooked live shrimp. Cast it out and give it a few pops. Soon you will see the shrimp jumping all around your floater. Why? cause there is a Redfish trying to inhale it. One of my favorite ways to fish off a kayak. Live bait/Gulp = fishing with training wheels. 
Just kidding, The popping cork technique is deadly, especially if there are specks around. Hax |
Cut mullet, Shrimp, dead shrimp, My bubby swear's cut whiting is the best. Gulp shrimp work real good. live mullet is also good. I fish in a place the Red's wont bite anything but dead shrimp or Gulp's.I heard some people using squid, I heard it's good to. Hell try them all something has to work.
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Quoted:
I like to fish inshore and I always wanted to know that is the best bait for red fish I cant seem to catch any. I always catch trout, whiting, and some time a flounder or two but never any red fish, What should I use? Just caught a piss pot full of reds and trouts. We used shrimp, croakers, mullets and some gulp on a jig. All of them caught them well, if there were reds around. That could be your problem... TXL |