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.
🏆 World record: 94 lb IGFA all-tackle, Avon, North Carolina, USA (1984). IGFA all-tackle world record red drum, also called redfish, 94 pounds 2 ounces caught from the surf at Avon, North Carolina in 1984. Records can change, so check igfa.org for the current figure. All records →
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.
Ways to catch Redfish (Red Drum)
Catch to table: Redfish (Red Drum)
Also called redfish, this is a Gulf and Atlantic favorite made famous by blackened redfish. Keep slot-size fish, as large bull reds are best released to spawn.
Taste: Firm, mild, slightly sweet white flesh that holds together well. Smaller slot-size fish eat far better than large bulls.
Cleaning: Scale or fillet and skin, then trim the reddish bloodline; the thick fillets can be cut into portions or left whole on the half shell.
How to cook it
- • Blacken in a screaming-hot cast-iron skillet with Cajun spice.
- • Grill on the half shell, scales down, brushed with butter.
- • Bake fillets with lemon and herbs.
Tip: Release oversized bull reds; keep slot fish, ice them, and trim the bloodline for the mildest taste.
Ikejime this fish for firmer, cleaner-tasting fillets and longer shelf life.
Where to catch Redfish (Red Drum)
Book a Redfish (Red Drum) charter
Guides and charter boats that target Redfish (Red Drum), by destination:
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.
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