Do you love fishing for redfish? Or maybe you’re just getting started doing it? Either way, chances are that you want to know what types of bait you want to use for catching these fish. Below are the different seasons and what type of bait you should use depending on the season.
It’s important to note that baitfish are migratory. They’ll move depending on the temperature. Most of them like warm water. They spend the colder months down in the south and they go there to big schools.
During the spring, the best baitfish to use are mullet, pilchards, greenies or pogies. Although redfish also eat shellfish and crabs, they’ll eat the prey that’s easiest.
If you’re not able to get some live bait, you also can use dead bait too. Use a 7/0 hook and put some mullet fillet on it.
When summer comes, baitfish are there for the summer. The water’s warmed and the redfish are going to move into bays, rivers, and creeks.
During summer, it’s a great idea to use live shrimp or small crabs. If you’re fishing in inlets, pogies and shrimp are the baitfish of choice.
During the fall is when redfish turn amorous and they start spawning. If you’re familiar with where they’re spawning, you’re going to catch the biggest fish possible. Keep in mind that these fish can be 30 pounds and higher. Most states don’t let you keep the fish that are this big. So you have to catch them and release them.
These fish prefer blue crab. Live crabs around 3” around will be best. If you can’t find smaller live crabs, quarter or half a big crab. Remove its shell and cut the legs off so that there’s some exposed crab.
Make sure that you’re using big tackle so that you can bring the fish to your boat fast. Even though the fight may be fun, the fish will fight to death. So you want to get it to your boat quickly, revive the fish and then release them.
Based on where you’re located, there can be some big obstacles to catch redfish. But if you’re using the right bait and looking in the right place, it’s possible.
First, leave the fish in the deep water alone. When you drag them up to the water’s surface, it will kill them due to the difference in pressure. The fish’s swim bladders will expand and cause them internal injuries.
Shallow water, inshore fish are catchable where they’re found. If the water’s cold, they’re going to be in a creek’s deeper hole. When the sun’s coming up and the shallower water is warmed, such as mud flats, these fish will go there. Use small crabs and shrimp for fishing.
These are the bait that you should use based on the time of year you’re fishing for redfish. When you know what type of baitfish you should use for fishing, you have a better chance of success.