Thinking of catching redfish in your next fishing journey but have no idea which will be the best bait for redfish?
Redfish are also known as red drums. It is famous among anglers, plus you can easily find red drums in the warm water, such as in the Gulf of Mexico or Eastern Seaboard. Though redfish are tricky to catch, you can still catch as many as you want by using the right bait.
The good thing is redfish can eat almost everything (except the ones who eat them) such as crab, shrimp, snails, and so on.
Now, you might be concerned about the suitable bait for redfish? If so, don’t worry; we’ll answer all of your questions and tell you about the right bait to catch the red drum.
Best Bait for Redfish: Overview
The question “what bait to use for redfish?” might be ringing the bell to your mind. After all, choosing the wrong bait can become the reason for a failed fishing trip.
However, it’s not something you should worry about because we’ll give you an easy solution. Below we’ll share which type of bait and lure is suitable for a specific environment.
What Bait Should You Use to Catch Redfish?
Keep one thing in your mind that if you believe that you can use any bait or lure from the list below, then you are barking up at the wrong tree.
No doubt all baits or lures we’ll consider in this article are excellent choices to catch redfishes. Yet you’ve to understand that they’ll not work effectively every time and they work fantastic only in a specific situation.
You should consider so many things while choosing a bait or lure, such as fishing location, water type, etc. Below we’ll discuss which lure or bait is suitable for the different circumstances.
The Best Lures and Baits for Catching Redfish
Shrimp
Shrimp is one of the best bait that you can use to catch redfishes. It’s an effective method, especially if you’re fishing in the summer or autumn season.
You can use real dead shrimp after purchasing. Plastic shrimp is also a good alternative, which you can easily buy at a low price from any online store.
Crab
Crab is the second pick on our list because of its effectiveness. If we talk about the favorite meals of red drums, then the crab is the bee knees menu for red drums. You can easily attract redfish through crab, especially in the Autumn or summer season.
You can buy a dead crab or some plastic crabs from amazon and then use one of them for fishing.
Note:
Remember to cut the leg while using dead crab and then attach it to the hook. Use a small part of the dead crab for smaller redfish.
Weedless Spoon
Weedless spoon, as the name said it comes in a spoon shape. It’s a ready-to-go choice; you have to pack it in your bag, and you are ready to catch redfish anywhere around the world in shallow water.
You have to attach the hook to the weedless spoon, and the bait is ready. One thing to remember is there are many types of weedless spoons, and Johnson Style Weedless spoons are most suitable for redfish.
Skimmer Jig
Skimmer jig is the fourth addition to our list. These types of lures are famous for their versatility and effectiveness. You can use it in almost all sorts of water.
It comes in different colors, and each color is suitable for a different fishing location as black skimmer jigs are the perfect choice for muddy water.
Soft-Plastic Jig
Soft plastic jigs, as the name says, are lures made from soft plastic. These are famous for catching fish because of their smooth texture. Most of the time, fishes don’t hold the traps for a long time because of the hard shells.
After all, something manufactured with thick plastic will never feel like food. Hence, to catch the redfish easily, use the bright color soft-plastic jig for lighter water and dark color for stained water.
Soft Plastic Swimbait
Soft plastic swimbaits work best in deep water. They come in different sizes; short one are good for flat water and longer ones for deep water.
Most soft plastic swimbait is constructed so that these lures vibrate whenever a redfish holds them. In short, these swimbaits are a ready-to-go package that you can use excellently in the depth of water to catch redfish.
Soft Plastic Jerkbait
Soft plastic jerk bait also has a smooth texture on the body, like the jig and swimbait. It is an incredibly effective way to catch many types of fish, especially red drums.
The good thing is you can use it in almost all types of water, whether it is open water or not. Moreover, it works best in shallow water.
Plastic Shrimp
Shrimp comes in the category of the favorite food of redfish. And favorite food is always a good bait to attract fishes which is why shrimp is the best redfish bait. You can use a real dead shrimp or a plastic shrimp, whichever suits you.
Still, plastic ones are cheaper than the real ones, and the plus point of plastic shrimp is you can reuse them.
Flies
Here comes the last option or bait, an incredibly efficient and easy way to fool the redfish. It is challenging to choose one type of fly among hundreds, so choose wisely according to the water type.
In case you’re confused about selecting flies type, you can choose these flies. They are suitable for almost every situation.
- Electric chicken
- Kwan
- Crafty Shrimp
- Kinky Muddler
How Long Does a Redfish Live For?
Do you know that our world has 32000 fish species, and each type of fish is different from others? Not only their personality but their lifespan is also distinctive.
Redfish is one of the famous fish you can easily catch around the Gulf of Mexico or Eastern Seaboard. Their life span is long compared to other species; they live more than 40 years only if someone doesn’t eat them.
The Best Time of Day to Fish for Redfish
Though you can go fishing whenever you want, however, there’s a time when you have more chances to catch red drums—the best time of day to catch redfish in the morning starts after sunrise and afternoon.
How to Choose a Lure for Redfish?
Keep one thing in your mind: though many types of lures you can use for redfish. The important thing is you’ve to choose the right bait according to the environment and conditions. So, find out about the water type and depth and then select the lure or bait for redfish.
Redfish Fishing Tips – What You Need to Know Before Going Out On Your Next Trip
- You can easily find a redfish in shallow water in the morning.
- In the daytime, red drums go back into the deep water because of the sun.
- Redfish live under the rock because of the hot weather.
- You can find redfish in both places, whether it is shallow or deep water at night.
- Full moon night or weather after the storm is good to catch redfishes.
- The end of summer and the beginning of the fall season is perfect for catching redfish.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is needed to catch redfish?
The first thing you need to catch redfish is a rod, fishing line, and then choose one or three to four different bait among these types: shrimp, crab, soft plastic jigs, swimbait, jerk bait, flies, and weedless spoon. Also, use the correct knot to attach lure or bait to hook.
What do redfish like to eat?
The funny fact about redfish is they can eat anything (except the aquatic life species that eats them). Still, just like any other animals, they also like some food that is crab, shrimp, croaker, pinfish, and mullet.
If you’re fishing in a wild area, it is easy to catch any favorite meal for redfish. Otherwise, you can use the plastic lure or bait.
Where is the best redfish fishing?
These are some places that are a perfect choice for redfish fishing.
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Port O’Connor Texas
- Pine Island, Florida
- Galveston, Texas
- Port Mansfield, Texas
What size hook is best for redfish?
If you’re using short small lures or baits, then use the size 1/0, 2/0. And for longer baitfish, use a 3/0 to 5/0 size hook.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, now you understand which redfish baits and lures are suitable for a specific environment. Just make sure that you choose the right one according to the fishing location, season, and water depth; otherwise, no lure or bait will work.Comment below and let us know, according to you, which is the best bait for redfish?
