Redfish can be caught with a range of tackle, depending on the place you are fishing for them and what size fish you are pursuing. You can use anything from ultra-light equipment for “puppy” drum in estuaries and at river mouths to massive traditional reels for trolling baits with a heavy downrigger for huge “bull” drum.
Inshore Redfish
Redfish caught inshore are typically smaller than those caught offshore, and usually are caught in shallower water as well. Tackle can be scaled down accordingly.
An ultra-light, light, or medium-light rod is typically adequate for redfish caught inshore, the two exceptions being in the fall around passes where you will desire to scale-up your tackle to manage the bull reds; and trolling usually requires heavier gear, unless performed at very gradual speeds (more of a managed drift than trolling).
A reel with spooled with 200 yards of 10 lb test is best for inshore fishing. A proper drag is always important, as is top quality line. Inspect your line prior to fishing to make sure the line is not frayed or brittle, or you will lose fish.
Redfish rigs do not need to be complicated. The easiest setup is the freeline setup. Just tie a hook onto the line, and you are done. Nothing fancy, and it will catch a ton of fish. A variant of this setup is the leadered freeline. Instead of tying the hook straight to the mainline, you connect a leader to the line either using a swivel or an Albright or blood knot.
A word about leaders. Redfish do not have sharp teeth, and therefore may not chew you off. They do stay near structure, however, and a leader may additionally help forestall break-offs. Another cause for a leader is that many toothy fish, like bluefish and Spanish mackerel, inhabit the same waters as reds and can also bite you off. If you appear to be getting a lot of bite-offs, think about including a leader in the 20 to 25 lb range. Fluorocarbon works best, even though a well known mono leader will additionally work.
Another popular setup is the popping cork setup. A popping cork is positioned 18-36 inches above the hook. This suspends the bait up in the water column, and the sounds and vibrations from the cork attract the redfish. This is especially good at night time or in murky water and other low-visibility conditions.
The last setup we will talk about is the ‘slip-lead’ setup. In this setup, an egg sinker is connected above a swivel and a leader with a hook is tied to the different end of the swivel. The length of your lead will depend on what depth you are fishing and how quickly the current is, deeper water and quicker currents suggest larger leads. Larger leads should not be used in shallow waters as the splash might also startle fish and cause them to scatter or flee.
A 3/0 to 6/0 circle hook will work nicely for most inshore redfish.
Nearshore Redfish or Bull Reds
Redfish caught offshore, or bull reds caught in a pass at some stage in the spawn, require heavier tackle. Medium-heavy or heavy rods are ideal, with a big reel spooled with at least 250 yds of 30-lb line. Big reds can be caught on lighter tackle however this will frequently lead to the fish dying in the course of or right after the fight. Better to use heavier tackle and release the large ones alive.
The same setups used for inshore redfish can be used for bulls or offshore reds, however a large hook (5/0-8/0) ought to be used. Base your hook size on the size bait you will be using.
Trolling Tackle for Redfish
Trolling tackle for redfish should consist of at minimum, medium-light rods and a reel spooled with at least 250 yds of 20-lb test. Trolling puts a ton of stress on a rod and reel, especially if you use deep-diving type plugs.
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