How to catch Redfish (Red Drum)
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also known as redfish, red, channel bass, spottail.
Redfish are the workhorse inshore gamefish of the US South and Gulf, famous for tailing on shallow flats and their signature tail spot.
Where to find them
Grass flats, oyster bars, marsh, and surf
Season
Year-round; big 'bull' reds school in fall
Best baits & lures for Redfish (Red Drum)
Sight-cast to tailing fish on the flood tide, or work spoons and soft plastics along oyster bars and marsh edges.
Timing matters as much as tackle. Baitful reads the tide stage, pressure trend, solunar windows and weather at your spot and scores the bite, so you fish Redfish (Red Drum) when conditions line up.
Where to catch Redfish (Red Drum)
Catching Redfish (Red Drum): FAQ
What's the best bait for Redfish (Red Drum)?
Proven options include live shrimp, cut mullet, crab, gold spoons. Sight-cast to tailing fish on the flood tide, or work spoons and soft plastics along oyster bars and marsh edges.
When is the best time to catch Redfish (Red Drum)?
Year-round; big 'bull' reds school in fall. Day to day, moving water and low-light periods around dawn and dusk usually fish best.
Where do you find Redfish (Red Drum)?
Look for Grass flats, oyster bars, marsh, and surf. Anglers target them at spots like the Outer Banks, Charleston, Tampa Bay.
Time your next Redfish (Red Drum) trip
Free live conditions, Bite Score, and what's biting now.
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