Species / Redfish

Drum

Redfish Fishing

Red drum roam marshes, flats, and surf from the Chesapeake to Texas. Tailing reds on shallow flats are a top sight-fishing target.

Best Months: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

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Plan by Month

Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Redfish

Month

10 picks for October.

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Rod & Reel

Redfish Setup

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

The US

Where to Catch Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Alabama

Mobile Bay

A broad estuary where redfish, speckled trout, and fall flounder runs draw anglers to the piers, causeway, and marshes.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Charlotte Harbor

A huge estuary including Boca Grande Pass, the epicenter of Florida tarpon fishing.

Tarpon · Snook · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Destin Passes

East Pass, between Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf. Redfish, seatrout, and sheepshead.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Mosquito Lagoon

A shallow, clear lagoon famous for sight-fishing to tailing and schooling redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Pensacola Bay

A Panhandle bay system with bull redfish runs, speckled trout, and fall flounder.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Rivers & Streams · Florida

St. Johns River

Florida's longest river. Bass from Lake Monroe to Welaka, reds and occasional snook near the mouth.

Largemouth Bass · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Tampa Bay

The biggest bay system in the state. Speckled trout, redfish, and jack crevalle.

Speckled Trout · Redfish · Jack Crevalle

Saltwater & Coast · Florida

Ten Thousand Islands

A maze of mangrove islands from Everglades City to Chokoloskee with snook, juvenile tarpon, and reds.

Snook · Tarpon · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Georgia

Golden Isles

Marshes and sounds around St. Simons and Jekyll Island with redfish, trout, and summer tarpon.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Louisiana

Grand Isle

Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island, a speckled trout destination with surf and marsh fishing.

Speckled Trout · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Louisiana

Lake Pontchartrain

A brackish lake by New Orleans with speckled trout around the bridges and trestles.

Speckled Trout · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Louisiana

Venice

The end of the road at the mouth of the Mississippi, with marsh redfish and access to offshore fishing.

Redfish · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · Maryland

Chesapeake Bay

Striped bass from the bridges to the flats, plus speckled trout and red drum to the south.

Striped Bass · Red Drum · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · Mississippi

Mississippi Sound

The waters off Gulfport and Biloxi with barrier islands, marsh, and speckled trout.

Speckled Trout · Redfish · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · North Carolina

Cape Lookout

A fall false albacore destination off Harkers Island with surf and inlet fishing.

False Albacore · Spanish Mackerel · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · North Carolina

Outer Banks

Surf and pier fishing for red drum and bluefish; offshore Gulf Stream trips from Hatteras.

Red Drum · Bluefish · Spanish Mackerel

Saltwater & Coast · North Carolina

Pamlico Sound

A massive sound behind the Outer Banks, famous for big bull redfish in late summer.

Redfish · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · South Carolina

Charleston Harbor

Marsh, creeks, and jetties around Charleston with flood tide tailing redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Baffin Bay

A remote bay with rocks and grass that produces some of the largest speckled trout on the coast.

Speckled Trout · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Bolivar Flats

Marsh flats at the mouth of Galveston Bay. Wade for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Galveston Bay

Wade and drift for speckled trout and redfish in the marsh.

Speckled Trout · Redfish · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Lower Laguna Madre

A shallow, clear lagoon behind South Padre Island with sight-fishing for reds and trout.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Snook

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Matagorda Bay

A large bay system with shell reefs, wade fishing, and redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · Texas

Port Aransas

An island town with jetties, flats, and passes for inshore and nearshore fishing.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Tarpon

Saltwater & Coast · Virginia

Virginia Beach

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and nearby inlets with stripers, flounder, and sheepshead.

Striped Bass · Flounder · Redfish

Recommended

Gear for Redfish

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.

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Fly Rods

Orvis Clearwater 9 ft 8 wt Fly Rod

An 8 weight handles bass bugs, redfish flats, and wind. The most versatile warmwater and inshore size.

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Fly Reels

Redington Behemoth Fly Reel

A strong, sealed drag at a modest price, made in sizes from trout to saltwater.

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Sunglasses

Costa Polarized Fishing Sunglasses

Polarized lenses cut glare so you can see fish, structure, and flats.

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Reels

Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel

A smooth, durable reel in sizes for trout through inshore saltwater.

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Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

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Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Line

Seaguar Red Label Fluorocarbon

Low-visibility fluorocarbon for leaders and clear water.

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Topwater

Heddon Zara Spook

The walk-the-dog topwater that works in fresh and salt.

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Terminal Tackle

Gamakatsu Circle Hooks

Circle hooks set themselves in the corner of the mouth and make release easy.

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Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

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Redfish Fishing by State