Tough times with redfish, any tricks?

[gus12343]

try throwing a castnet to see what bait fish they are eatting and throw that freelined also be sure to return all game fish to the water

[Curmudgeon]

Oh man Tobin! I'm gonna rush out and get me somma them Gulp Nymphs!!

[TroutSupport]

Great... i can just see the next gulp product now... "Did you get a pack of snails or did you get the nymphs"

LOL
t

[Robalo]

Snails-can't remember name, but Reds like em a lot-they are like M&M Peanut Candy-crunchy and satisfying!!

Nymphs-yes they are in saltwater and not just at Dimitri's-many marsh insects, like mosquitos, are nymphs in their life cycles.

[Potlicker12]

Sorry I took the statement the wrong way 340.

They were definitely reds, they had the black dots on the tails and every once in awhile I was right next to em. The water was crystal clear. The thing about this spot though that prevented me from using anything with a slow weighted retrieve was the grass. Total water depth maybe 2-3 feet. These fish were cruising along the top of the grass beds and eating something along the top of the grass. Crabs were a thought but these guys flipping there tails up weren't on the bottom. They were on top of the grass bed.

[Bull Red]

I agree with the advice already given here. Mimic what they're feeding on.

Chickenboy makes a shrimp lure that's good for bouncing on the bottom. You might want to give those a try next time. He sells scent to rub on them too.

[shallowist]

Without any more info, I'm gonna say that the fish you saw were either overwhelmed with chasing VERY small shrimp or they weren't redfish. I don't mean that in a bad way, but usually if you have reds in groups, they are competitive over food and eat.

Haven't cleaned many lately but seen a few that were completely loaded with 1 inch shrimp. Every once in a while I will find them dining on tiny marine worms. That usually happens in the winter. When that happens it can be very frustrating too.

That probably doesn't help much but without seeing the fish and the reaction to your offers I can't contribute a lot.

[WestEndAngler]

I've been in a school of horse mullet before & then realized they were not reds... Some reds may be mixed in though.

Watching Tobin's Redfish DVD & listening to Soule' talk about what wakes each fish makes helped me a lot with identification on the water.

[Milkjug]

Nymphs? Do we even have insects that live in the salt water as larva and complete their lives out of it? Never heard of a hatch in the bays.

Are you sure these were reds? Many time large mullet will "tail", and you sure as heck ain't gonna get them to hit a lure. Mullet tails are more pointed and "squirrley". Reds will be more rounded and move slow and methodically. Just wondering cause there are way more mullet out there and I'll bet that 99% of the time when I hear a newer guy saying that "reds were tailing all around", that was the case.

Sometimes you just gotta change your game plan. I have a lot of luck blind casting over areas like cuts/drains, points, and guts. Nervous water is good sign too. With as hot as it is now, most tailing action is gonna be over by mid-morning.

[walkinwader]

Makes me think of Barry Manilow......FEELINGS

[coachlaw]

It's very hard to beat natural bait! Put a dead scrimp a few feet off their tail. They'll find it!

340 didn't mean any harm. You're reacting to a situation where there was no intent to offend.

[Tidalguide]

First off, thanks for not hotspotting.

Tailing fish are a funny thing, they are feeding but can be tough to catch. My go to's are an 1/8th johnson gold spoon. My 2nd is a smAll morning glory bass worm rigged weedless, 3rd is DOA shrimp in clear with gold flakes. Take some time to watch their pattern and lead them a good bit. You want a presentation that simulates them spooking a critter up off the bottom. I wait until they are with in a foot or so of my lure And then start retrieving.

Good luck and have fun, you found a special thing.

[Robalo]

28.57329 and 94.61884.

[WestEndAngler]

That why I was wondering if it was some kind of arthropod or something that hatches in back marshes this time of year

Damn good SAT word... Not sure if there was a recent crab or shrimp hatch. You have a lot going on back there right now.

just asking a question, no need to be an arrogant pro... next time I'll post up pictures of the spot I was fishing with GPS coordinates and landmarks in the background... that guy was treated with a little more respect

You'd in turn get some respect if you didn't post comments like this ^^^^

[castaway300]

just asking a question, no need to be an arrogant pro... next time I'll post up pictures of the spot I was fishing with GPS coordinates and landmarks in the background... that guy was treated with a little more respect

ignore it, they dont mean anything by it...i would ask you not to use words like "arthropod and nymph" them words are to big for me...lol....as far as the fishing i would suggest down sizing your lure...if i cant see what there feeding on i'll throw the smallest bait i can. i will give you another tip..."senko"
keep up the good reports.