The Joys of Redfish Fishing

By: Rose Ariadne

An interesting thing can be said about redfish fishing - you never run out of surprises. This is perhaps because the redfish is one of the most versatile fish in the world. While it is typically considered a saltwater fish, it can also inhabit brackish and even fresh water. There is no real specified depth at which redfish fishing is most productive, either. In fact, sometimes redfish are found in just a few inches of water, whereas other times, redfish fishing involves casting a line as deep as 150 feet to the ocean floor.

What it boils down to is this: redfish fishing is an extremely popular saltwater sport, but before you can pursue the venture, you have to first find these elusive fish. Many anglers refer to these babies as shallow water fish, but the definition of "shallow" is purely subjective. One way to assure a good redfish fishing trip is to target extremely shallow waters, looking for inshore reds. This can be accomplished in several manners. You can still find reds in flats that have practically gone dry because they will live in literally inches of water. If the bottom is hard enough, you can actually wade in and cast a line, but more commonly, you'll find soft bottoms that won't support your weight.

In these areas, you obviously can't run a motor, so your typical fishing boat is out of the question. Instead, opt to float a canoe or kayak, which you can paddle. This provides two great options - you can stick around the dry flats and fish from the canoe as your primary vessel, or you can use it as a means of transportation to reach your larger boat further out where the water level remains more normal.

On the Gulf Coast, you'll find that redfish fishing is a hugely popular pastime, and the boat of preference for such an excursion tends to be a bay-boat. However, as you round the curve toward the east and south, you'll find a different story that is actually starting to spread up to the north and out to the west. Now, redfish fishing anglers are opting for Florida flats-boats in order to better seek out the ultra-shallow redfish. The preference seems to be for those running about 16 feet long and weighing around 500 pounds. These are typically powered by a 60-horsepower outboard engine and sit so low to the water they can practically float on a half-inch of water. These boats are expensive, but if you are into redfish fishing in the extreme shallows, there is no better vessel to use.

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