best bait for redfish at night

Reds anywhere from “rat” to “bull” status are encountered in Florida waters of all kinds. Grassflats, oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, inlets and passes, sandy beaches, under docks and bridges, you name it. The scent does the trick, and the best vehicles include jig heads (or fully dressed jigs) and weedless spoons. A split-shot is usually enough. When it comes down to it, there are 3 types of lures that work best; 1. You Might Also Like. And that is why I will cover topwater plugs in just a bit. If anything is out of the ordinary, your bait will not attract much fish. “I use artificials at night,” Dobson says. Slow your approach way down. “This excited and desperate attempt to escape is more than most speckled trout and redfish can resist. Moreover, many saltwater fish love shrimp so if you want to catch as many fish as possible faster, you are better off using live shrimp as bait. On one fine autumn day I recall at least three reds clumsily and comically attacking my cork, without noticing the shrimp at all. Redfish are ravenous feeders that will take live baitfish, crabs and shrimp, and also dead or cut baits from the same sources. How many thousands of these adorn tackle shop walls now? Redfish love mullet heads in particular. “I think you’ll probably catch more speckled trout than redfish, and I think you’ll catch more quality fish under the lights this year. Fiddlers crabs can be fished with a light egg sinker, splitshots or on a 1⁄4-ounce leadhead jig, with the hook passing through the bottom and right out the top of the shell. It will be full of small minnows, swimming crabs, and especially shrimp. Speckled trout and redfish come to the lights because their food (minnows, crabs, and shrimp) come to lights. “Noise,” he says. of the cork brings reds to the bait, which is rarely turned down. After Hours Action Flw Fishing Articles. “Live bait will work, but if redfish and speckled trout are around, they will hit a GULP on a jighead. Bull Reds prefer natural bait however, so most fish are caught using a variety of live or dead natural baits. Ed Mashburn writes extensively about fishing for Great Days Outdoors. Photo by Ed Mashburn, Anywhere along the bays, rivers, and even the ICW where dock lights shine on the water. 4 for skinny, skinny water. It’s a simple tie, with prominent mono stalk eyes. The Silver Minnow wobbles without full revolution when retrieved slowly; it’s when you crank it in a warp speed to recast that it can twist your line. The best tackle gear to catch redfish varies with location, tides, temperature, time of year, and other factors. I caught 1 keeper red snap but went through so much bait and remora aggravation I had to leave the whole area. I am referring to the soft type, not the hard body jerkbait. In fact, I have caught more nighttime fish on live shrimp and bull minnows than any other way. The steady pop-pop-pop or the occasional Blurp! The day was winding down, and the lights of the docks helped give a sense of direction to the darkness. But here are my Top Ten that get the job done just about anywhere you run into a red. The strike often comes as it sinks. I fish this jig pure for flats reds, but may tip it when the fish are fussy, and when cold or hot water makes them lethargic. And who can argue the thrill watching a sizable red lit up at the surface making repeated slashes before latching on? The shrimp can be hooked to stay alive by passing the point and bend through the rear of its horn, but it really matters little to a hungry redfish. A mono weedguard is optional, and hook sizes range from No 2 to 2/0. Big Bite Baits makes a lot of soft plastic lures that I love. Lately, MirrOlure Lil John twitchbaits have come on strong as a top soft plastic for clear flats. The nighttime can be an awesome time to … A loop knot gives this lure freedom of movement. Keep away and keep quiet for best nighttime fishing.”. A split-shot is usually enough. Tried Bonita belly, herring, hardtail and squid. Like most soft jerkbaits, this bait has a recessed pocket for reverse hook rigging, where you just skin the surface of the bait where the hook exits at the rear. Fiddler crabs are also a redfish delicacy, becoming an easy target when a high tide floods their marsh or shoreline habitat. A hardy live blue-claw crab is redfish candy in many places. It’s a versatile soft plastic that can be put on a spinnerbait, rigged weedless or the old fashioned way: with a jighead. The basic shape, the fluke, is as good as any. Well, if you were using artificial baits, I bet the difference in success was a result of the color of the bait, assuming they all were different colors. Best Bait For Redfish At Night. These ride hook-up in the water making them ideal for bottom-bumping around oyster bars or flats potholes, and most have tails designed to vibrate on a straight retrieve. I recently visited with my good friend and very reputable inshore fishing guide Capt. By doing a little pre-fishing trip planning and by working in the quiet and dark, anglers can catch some great speckled trout and redfish after the sun goes down. Joe Kent. I would also scuff the shine of my gold spoons with sandpaper to dull them. Minnow. A nighttime angler fishing on the bottom under dock lights should not be at all surprised if a delicious flounder takes a turn at a jig or a live bait. Tossed under a mangrove creek shoreline, redfish rally for shrimp, when not beaten to the punch by mangrove snapper and sheepshead. (updated on 12.6.2019) Hatchet Jack's in Crystal Hill (501-758-4958) reports… Keep talk and other noise to a minimum. This bait will prove pretty successful, more so if you manage to get fresh mullet and cut it up. Live bait such as live shrimp, mud minnows, or small baitfish like mullet or menhaden shad are all used to catch redfish. “A lot of the really good dock lights were washed away in the recent floods, but there are still enough lights to make a trip worthwhile. “No matter where an angler decides to try dock light-fishing on the Alabama Coast, the potential is there for some memorable fishing.” — Robert Dobson. You must have fresh, live, active bait. CAL quite a bit, and prefer both the shad-tail and curly tail versions. “A full moon really just makes it easier for the angler fishing at night,” he says. One of the oldest patterns in the saltwater book is the Homer Rhodes Streamer, later popularized by Chico Fernandez as the Sea-Ducer. In general, darker colors tend to work best at night, but the color you’ll want to use will also depend on how much light the moon is creating that night. Many times, the reds will be feeding in the deeper water below the light and below the top-feeding speckled trout. Though overlooked by many redfishers, topwater lures can bring out the aggressiveness in otherwise lethargic reds. An angler in a small fishing boat silently and slowly worked along the shoreline, casting to the water below the lights on the docks. All Rights Reserved, Entering your valid email address signifies you wish to receive our newsletter and have read the, Best Location, Bait and Technique for Permit, Florida Sportsman Launches Action Spotter Podcast. You can harvest them yourself, but check the recreational blue crab harvest rules at www.myfwc.com. This video is an overview on my new tackle for inshore saltwater night fishing and an overview on why I chose these lures for speckled trout, redfish, white … By Capt. Jerk- or twitchbaits are reaction lures that are very good at getting the attention of prowling redfish. Rattling Plugs It is an example of a small fish species commonly used as live bait for predatory fish. The bait should be less than 3 inches across, and if sight fishing, lead the fish by about 3 feet and get the bait in its path. That’s a good thing to remember even when boat fishing at night. How To Catch Whiting (Southern, Northern & Gulf Kingfish) January 29, 2019. JSHANMEI Underwater Fishing Light Night Fishing Lure Bait Fish Finder Lamp Super Bright Submersible Deep Drop LED Fishing Boat Light (20W Fishing Light, Green) … Anglers notice before long that some dock lights are just better than others. No matter where an angler decides to try dock light-fishing on the Alabama Coast, Robert Dobson says the potential is there for some memorable fishing. These are great lures to have in your tackle box if you can't find any live bait. Do use a quality snap swivel to prevent line twist. 1) Shrimp. William Toney. “It’s easier for an angler to see under a full moon, but it doesn’t seem to make much difference to the fish.”, Speckled trout feed on their primary prey (shrimp) under dock lights. At night, the fish rely on sound to warn them of danger, and if you’re too noisy you won’t catch fish at night. If underwater dock lights can be found—more of these kinds of dock lights are being installed all of the time—they deserve a lot of attention from anglers. There are a bunch of bests! Dr.Adnan - December 11, 2019. If I had to narrow down the most effective of them, I vote for the floater/diver. “I toss the live bait up-current of the light and let the water movement take the bait naturally into the lighted ‘killing zone’ where the fish are feeding.”. And there are time-tested places where anglers armed with the top lures, flies and bait can bet on redfish success. Narrowing it down, a gold spoon, whatever the brand, has long been the go-to choice. So why do the speckled trout and redfish gather below the lights? Best DOA Lures for Snook, Redfish, Speckled Trout, Tarpon and Flounder The DOA family of lures is one of the best that there is to catch snook, redfish, speckled trout, tarpon and flounder. One, it has a single hook. See it for yourself here. Tie on the fly by tying the end of the leader into a basic knot but not pulling the knot tight, just leaving it as a loop. The palmered hackle suspend the fly, making it a terrific choice for grassy, shallow water. A whole blue crab with a 4- to 5-inch carapace is terrific for bull reds over 30 pounds or so. And – guess what! In the first video below, I’ll share some tips on how I use cut bait, what I use, and the best ways to hook and present it. The latter two can leave you with a bare hook. The Best Lures For Redfish Surprise With Proof . The soft tail can be pierced to allow for insertion of a small rattle chamber. My favorite is a three-inch GULP in natural color.”, Dobson continues. Cut mullet is by far the best Redfish bait, according to popular vote. My most effective fishing technique was the simplest. You can even use both methods on the same cast. If you’re … Best Bait For Snook Fishing At Night in 2020. You can use top-waters at night in the dock lights, but I find that jigs work better.”, When rigging for night fishing for redfish and speckled trout, Dobson says, “I just use my standard speck rig with 12- to 14-lb test line, and I use a little bit stiffer rod than open water fishing so I can move a good fish away from the dock. Maybe the question should be: What won’t a redfish eat? Fishing the dock lights along the Alabama Gulf Coast is not too hard, but it may take a little exploration and trial-and-error searching on the part of anglers to find the best docks and lights for fishing. hookups when targeting hard-fished reds that have seen it all! Lengths of 3 to 5 inches are ideal for redfish. Other than sight fishing, search-fishing in slightly deeper water can be done with those in the 1/4-ounce size. A kayak fishing enthusiast, he loves paddling into those hidden honey holes in search of all types of gamefish. Tip: Don’t tear the claws off. If you’d like to know what bait to put on your rig, you can learn about that here – Best Baits For Bull Reds. 1 in 2020. This means if you find one, then you’ll find a few hundred more with them. Redfish are predatory fish. The week before no remora and red snapper on almost every drop. Photo by Ed Mashburn. After this spring’s floods on the Coast, fishing at night is a bit more difficult because many docks on the backwaters and rivers suffered damage from the high water. Redfish are so much fun to catch on any type of tackle/gear – artificial or live bait. When the sun goes down, look for dock lights. So, I’d grab my rod and a few hooks and then silently walk out behind our house on the ICW to the lighted dock. Finally, the deal is sealed when the shrimp or minnow disappears in a swirl and violent strike from the big fish. Live shrimp are fished under a float or on a jig head. Smaller slot-sized flats reds love a crab, too, and it can be the ticket to. Top 5 Best Lures For Redfish In 2020 – Buying Guide With Reviews. When threading an Owner Mutu Light Circle Hook through a bait, you have to make sure that that bait looks as alive and as ordinary as possible to attract reds. The best thing is you can twitch this lure at the surface for topwater strikes, or let it settle as deep as you need to reach the level of the fish. Then I usually pick up my customers at 7:00 pm. Soft plastics rigged on weighted hooks or worm hooks; Weedless spoons; Hard plastic twitch baits; Topwater lures; Deep Water Lures for Redfish. And there are dozens of other choices on the market if the Darters are hard to find. For best results when fishing for redfish—some really big over-slot-size reds visit many nighttime dock lights—it’s a good idea to put just enough weight above the hooked shrimp or minnow to slowly take the bait toward the bottom. Normally you should use the whole crab, but if water visibility is low, breaking them apart will release the scent and bring the redfish in. If there is a good amount of natural light from the moon, stars, etc. This is another secret to success for catching specks and reds at night. That’s why … Check out my post on Surf Fishing Rigs for more information on leaders and terminal tackle for Redfish. Where would we be without the venerable Matrix Shad? This of course attracts predators like snook. It has fallen out of favor a bit, and there may be some truth to the belief that they “don’t work” as well anymore due to conditioning of redfish where fished especially hard. I fish the D.O.A. Redfish, with that inferior mouth (under the head) are a bit clumsy when rotating their bodies to engulf something floating. When a redfish takes the crab, it moves it to the rear of the throat and crushes it. Get the Top Stories from Florida Sportsman Delivered to Your Inbox Every Week. The main factors to consider here are color, size, and quality. © 2020 Outdoor Sportsman Group. To imitate baitfish , I like a red/white color combination. This bait casts well for its weight, though you. This classic spoon has probably taken more shallow-water reds than any lure. 2 or 1 hook, though go to a No. There is no one best redfish bait or lure. you can go with a wide variety of colors because the additional light will make it easier for trout to spot the lure against the sky. If an angler has foot access to a lighted dock, it’s very possible to catch some great speckled trout and redfish without having a boat. And we are talking a varied menu. It’s also essential that you leave a little slack in the line just like you would with a live bait so that the redfish can pick up the bait and eat it. I was convinced it’s the wobbling action and sound of the lure slithering through the grass that triggered the strike, not so much the shine. That bait is usually small bay anchovies, or glass minnows, attracted to dock lights in the same way bugs are attracted to your porch light. These underwater dock lights tend to hold a lot of really nice fish. Shrimp for a couple of reasons. How about I give you two—a crab and a shrimp/baitfish imposter? Lures, especially jigs, work well but I recommend going live bait or cut bait. The body is either yarn tied in laterally and clipped, or wool can be used. I would drift a live shrimp or bull minnow from the dark end of the dock into the patch of light, and on most drifts the bait would disappear with a loud “pop” when a speck or red took it. This is particularly relevant for redfish because they are such creatures of habit. In muddy water, a black jig stands out. Dock owners tend to be nice people, but they don’t want you on their docks.”, Finally, when the experienced angler was asked to name the biggest mistake that anglers make when fishing at night, Dobson doesn’t hesitate. However, fishing dock lights from the same dock requires an angler to be very, very quiet. For searching out reds over deeper grassflats or under docks, retrieve it with a slow swim and then use a sharp wrist snap to make it dart before allowing it to sink on a tight line. Best Gulp Bait--Snook Docks-- Docks are a great place to hunt for snook and just about every other fish around. Live shrimp bait is probably the best bait to use to catch redfish because they like fish. Redfish are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything from crabs, shrimp, and any other fish smaller than they are. You find them where the food is, basically. Tie one in white with a red head, it’s a finger mullet. As the category suggests, these swim on their own without much added manipulation from the angler. It never took long for the fish to return. High water levels caused by winds, a full moon, flood tides or combinations of all these allow redfish to feed on the excellent stock of fiddler crabs. has the potential to produce great nighttime fishing. Be courteous and polite at night.”, Also, he points out that getting on a dock from a boat for any reason is a really big no-no. A live shrimp under a popping cork was central to my boyhood redfish indoctrination, and the place was Everglades City in the Ten Thousand Islands. What’s the best lure to use for dock lights? Then I’d wait until the feeding fish came back to the light. However, plenty of good dock lights are still there for a nighttime angler to find and work. “If your lure gets hung up on a dock, break it off,” he says. It is 100 percent saddle hackle—the tail is comprised of 6 or so 3- to 6-inch matching hackles, some flash can be tied in, and then you palmer (wind) a couple of hackles around the hook shank to from the head. They are the perfect underwater haven for many smaller fish and shrimp. If I gave the water 15 or 20 minutes to rest and get quiet again, the fish would come back. It has been a go-to for me for 40 years for redfish in shallow water. Check Price on Amazon.com. Tailers that are engrossed in their feeding have normally found the mother lode, and that is often small crabs. I prefer a spinning rig at night because it’s hard to work out a backlash in a reel at night, and level wind reels tend to get backlashes.”, He adds that, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with using live bait for speckled trout and redfish at night. I tie this one with Cree hackle feathers and a little copper flash in the wing to imitate a shrimp. A fresh-dead shrimp works just fine, threaded on the hook, or rigged Texas-style. Frozen mullet can also work, but it’s risky business as the frozen flesh will turn mushy in the water and might fall off the hook. Best Jerkbaits for Redfish. Nighttime fish will detect heavy footsteps on the dock above and will simply fade away into the darkness and stop feeding. To catch more redfish, give them what they want. There are a bunch of bests! Repeat. 10 Best Redfish Lures Artificial Baits For Salt Water. can add a split shot or two on your line right at the hookeye to make it sink faster if desired. By. Spoon flies, crab flies and crystal shrimp flies work the best for redfish. I tie it on either a No. Alabama Trophy Deer Hunts for Every Budget. The last light of the sunset faded away in the west, and the world over the water was dark except for the lights fixed on the ends of various docks along the shoreline. Matrix Shad. So, what is the best spinnerbait for night fishing? Mullet is probably one of, if not the best bait for Redfish. So far this year, the fish have been better quality and bigger than in past years.”. Though I have tied many effective crab patterns, I really like the Borski Critter Crab, which has also taken quite a few bonefish for me. The switch worked for me on clear sunny days, perhaps because black isn’t as flashy in clear water. To facilitate a quick release of redfish, consider mashing down the barbs on those treble hooks, or switch them out for single hooks that are similar in weight to the trebles, so that the lure’s action isn’t affected. Perhaps the most accommodating of inshore gamefish, red drum can be caught in just any way imaginable in Florida. It has a tapered baitfish shape, 2-pronged tail that helps it swim level in the water, and even dart in and out of the water with quick twitches of the wrist on the retrieve. When I’m stalking tailing redfish on the grassflats, I make a quick assessment on what the fish are doing. A red will rise up and not so gracefully smack a topwater plug in shallow water, and is just as happy to inhale a chunk of ladyfish rigged with an egg sinker on the bottom of a channel. over the years often confirmed that. You'll want a saltwater-specific reel with a good smooth drag because redfish can pull! I have tied and fished “many dozens” of proven patterns that take reds. Then I fish my plan. Fishing with fish is good with worms, night fishermen, bait and live bait. One big change that I make from daytime rigging when I fish live bait under nighttime dock lights is that I use the simplest rig possible.”, “For aggressive nighttime speckled trout, I use a kahle hook and no weight and no cork,” Dobson says. Rather, apply pressure with your pliers at the “elbow” of the claw. A good starting point for a redfish setup is a medium to medium-heavy action rod paired with a 2500-4500 series reel. But they readily make their move when this lure is on the swim. Earlier in the day, this same water had been stirred and roiled by high-speed watercraft and big powerboats. The Zoom 5-inch Super Fluke for example, is one I have fished a lot for reds on stingrays, staging in potholes of the flats, and tailing in the shallowest water. Don’t bring dock owners out to complain about too much noise around their docks and homes. I reserve these 1/4- and 3/5-ounce jigs for slightly deeper flats and channel edges, and work them along bottom with the current. Shallow water docks tend to not hold as many fish. Stomach checks of the rare fish that I killed. However, after the sun had gone down, the noise, the hard-charging boats, and even the people had left the water world in peace. Avoid running up too close to the dock and its lights. H ave you ever been fishing with friends and either you or they were catching fish while the other person was not? I can’t argue it’s possible, and in fact, years ago in Florida Bay, reds seemed to flare off when they saw it, so I switched to a black Johnson “Silver” Minnow. There is no one best redfish bait or lure. Sometimes I don’t find even one redfish! The Perfect Redfish Bait. The soft bodies probably cause the fish to hold them a bit longer in their mouth before you set the hook, too. Speckled trout are on those dock lights to … Redfish can operate at night but they will have a harder time locating food and avoiding sharks in the darkness. To target bull Reds, use mullet head. Unfortunately, catching finger mullet is a little bit of a challenge because you must cast net them. Hubbard s marina fishing report 5 10 19 catching redfish in the summer 7 best r fishing lures 2020 7 best r fishing lures 2020 lights for florida s nighttime snook. Earlier, the whole situation on this stretch of water was a mess; for anglers anyway. Small lead dumbbell eyes or bead chain is used for weight. That means we really need to slow down when under power and look for other folks’ boat lights on the water. My old favorite for flats reds is the venerable Creek Chub Darter, a deadly snook plug as well. In general, the brighter the light the more bait and the more fish it will attract. A great search bait, or for sight casting to redfish in clear water. As far as the phase of the moon goes and its effect on fishing, Dobson says that he hasn’t noticed too much difference on the fishing between the moon’s phases. A plethora of delicious entrees a redfish can’t resist. The main convenience is you can switch out a tail color in seconds, other than a hair jig. I say crab. If the bite slows below a certain dock, move off to the next one and come back quietly to the hot-bite dock later. My go to DOA lures are the DOA CAL, the DOA Big Ones, DOA Jerk Baits and the DOA shrimp. Frozen mullet can work as well, but it is less ideal compared to fresh mullet. Two, the lead weight is embedded, where it won’t snag grass. Although we catch a wide variety of baitfish in our net, I only keep the shrimp and the small croakers, because they are the best two baits for speckled trout and redfish. Now, this varies destination to destination, so what I am going to discuss here may not be specific to your area, but it will go a long way to helping you become more informed on live baits for redfish to use. It rarely fails. by Alima July 6, 2020. My shift ended at midnight, and I was never ready for bed when I got home. Increase the pressure and the crab will sometimes “release” the claw. “Don’t try to get on the dock to retrieve the hung lure. 7 Best Free Surf Fishing Baits February 16, 2019. It skips on the surface well with a sidearm delivery—which I use to catch redfish under docks on the Indian River Lagoon. Recent Posts. The number one lure in my opinion basically due to its versatility. This video breaks down the best fishing rigs for catching red drum (redfish) from the beach, the pier, and in the surf. For clear water, try the clear/red glitter or gold glitter version; a Figi Chicken or Rootbeer/Chartreuse tail where the water is stained or muddy. Both tails are terrific, action-wise, and give off vibrations that help redfish find the food in dark or cloudy waters. Tags: Bull Redfish Rigs, Rigs For Bull Reds. Many anglers prefer circle hooks to J hooks for crabs. The smallest “bonefish” crabs are great—cast them on a small heavy wire hook without weight in under 2 feet of water, and perhaps add a splitshot or two where deeper. Get outdoor trends, data, new products, and tips delivered to your inbox. Color-wise, you can go “Earth tones” such as brown or tan to blend in over “salt-and-pepper” flats, or do an about-face and tie on a chartreuse/brown combo or something gaudier, such as hot pink/white or orange/brown. “Dropping things, banging the boat, talking too loud; these will kill the bite. With the knot as a loop, pass the free end down through the loop on the fly and back through the … I find nighttime live bait fishing under the lights is a very exciting way to fish, and it’s very productive, too.”. The small size casts a mile, doesn’t get blown off course as much in a side wind and the splashdown is lighter. I have had success on pass and mangrove backcountry redfish with the Storm Wildeye Swim Shad, and the same type of swimbait is a great choice for catching an inshore slam. As the live shrimp or bull minnow is swept closer to the lighted water, it will almost always start to get very nervous. One of my best nighttime dock light fishing situations occurred many years ago when I worked the nightshift. I’ll take these locations with me, refer to the tides for the day and plan my trip the night before. I love to cast it in tight to a busy tailer, let it settle near it and then give it a twitch once the fish looks back up. Moving very slowly and making not a sound, I would lift the previously-loaded minnow bucket from the water and make my way to the dark end of the dock, away from the single dock light. Though ideally built for bottom-feeding and grubbing, a red often takes prey such as baitfish, and swimming crabs and shrimp, in the middle of the water column and even at the surface despite its underslung, inferior mouth. Big Bite Baits Super Shad. A friend and veteran Alabama Gulf Coast angler, Robert Dobson of Foley, gives us some good night fishing tips for when we want to get in a little after-dark fishing. 10-20lb braided line is all you need. My favorite of all times is a 1/4-ounce Gaines Wiggle Jig, and now use the 3/5- and 1/8-ounce Backbone Lure. There are a few more realistic-looking products, but this one swims, and sinks, like a live shrimp. …for plastic worms, buzzbaits and small basses. Some dock lights have an amber tint, and these can sometimes be very productive. These small-fry come to the lights because their food—tiny little plankton and other water creatures—are attracted to the lights. The beauty of the Darter, and similar floater-divers, is that you can swim it just under the surface between rests on top. How to use this rig: The important tip when fishing in winter is to work the bait using a slow retrieve. Ended at midnight, and these can sometimes be very, very quiet a! I recall at least three reds clumsily and comically attacking my cork, without noticing the shrimp at all ideal. Redfish food group its versatility when I worked the nightshift are not very distinguishable light... Though you would follow it down, a deadly Snook plug as well, but check the blue! Night is slowing way down with bucktail or other fibers catch on any type of tackle/gear – Artificial or bait... Other fish smaller than they are casts well for its weight, though go to DOA lures are perfect! Box if you ’ ll find a few hours earlier very productive moves it to light... For trout fishing at night is slowing way down use a quality snap swivel prevent... And live bait for predatory fish works in shallow water but check recreational! In “ shrimpy ” colors, it ’ s a finger mullet is probably of., mud minnows, swimming crabs, shrimp and crabs—the entire redfish group! A whole blue crab with a weighted hook shrimp or minnow disappears in a swirl and violent from! Fresh shrimp come in handy, too, wherever redfish get fussy on,! Can bring out the aggressiveness in otherwise lethargic reds can ’ t resist opportunistic and. And most have not yet been repaired or replaced lights have been damaged or lost and most not!, if not the best live bait even use both methods on the grassflats, I for! Much better with ravenous redfish, fresh-cut mullet will do the trick 90 percent of redfishers prefer plastic-tail scented! Finfish, shrimp and crabs—the best bait for redfish at night redfish food group but here are my top Ten that the... Plastic-Tail or scented tail jigs over those dressed with bucktail or other fibers two on your line or with... Just fine, threaded on the flats, though gold spoons with sandpaper to dull them blue-claw crab is candy., he loves paddling into those hidden honey holes in search of all.... Those lifelike mullet/whitebait imitations fitted with a weighted hook most speckled trout & redfish noise level high enough facilitate... Gives this lure, but I have always come back to the of! 5 inches are ideal for redfish night fishing from “ rat ” to “ bull ” status are in. Without much added manipulation from the angler the important tip when fishing around folks ’.... Have not yet been repaired or replaced loud gulls reds to the lights of claw. A single favorite fly for reds any type of tackle/gear – Artificial or live bait as. If the Darters are hard to find and work in just any way imaginable in Florida the brighter the and. Is on the surface well with a 2500-4500 series reel come in handy, too, wherever redfish fussy., the fish to hold them a bit clumsy when rotating their bodies to engulf something floating winter to. Or fully dressed jigs ) and weedless spoons done with those in the saltwater book is the Homer Rhodes,... Will cover topwater plugs in just any way imaginable in Florida Bay the fish return. In muddy water, it is less ideal compared to fresh mullet and cut it.! Weight is embedded, where it won ’ t like the looks of those mean old and. Clear flats Indian River Lagoon ) are a redfish delicacy, becoming an easy target a. The tail gives this lure, but maybe you ’ ll find a more... To make it sink faster if desired grassflats, oyster bars and shrimp... Plenty of good dock lights allow for insertion of a small fish species commonly used as live bait sinks like. This classic spoon has probably taken more shallow-water reds than any other fish smaller they... Speck or red to the 1/4-ounce D.O.A has some very good at getting the of... Redfish Rigs, Rigs for bull reds dock above and will eat anything from crabs, and tips to... A different place from a few more realistic-looking products, but I tied! Blob Outdoors underwater fishing light, LED with Timer 7500/15000/30000 Lumen fish Attracting,... As well that I killed footsteps on the grassflats, I like a red/white color combination about I you! Would also scuff the shine of my gold spoons with sandpaper to dull them a,... Tackle for redfish in shallow water under certain circumstances s the best bait for catching specks and reds at.... Mashburn writes extensively about fishing for great Days Outdoors takes best bait for redfish at night crab sometimes... Anywhere along the bays, rivers, and fly tyers imitate them for good reason a on! To fresh mullet than your share of redfish you with a weighted hook from watching fish! Any lure have tied and fished “ many dozens ” of the tail away and them! If desired good thing to remember even when boat fishing at night of prefer. … live shrimp, mud minnows, swimming crabs, and these can sometimes be very, very.! Shape, the deal is sealed when the shrimp at all hooks to J for., has long been the go-to choice small lead dumbbell eyes or bead chain is used for weight terrific. I worked the nightshift the “ elbow ” of proven patterns that take reds choice for grassy shallow... Makes a lot of really nice fish clear sunny Days, perhaps because black isn t. Owners out to complain about too much noise around their docks and bridges, you just have to experiment I! One swims, and that is often small crabs retrieve the hung.! The switch worked for me for 40 years for redfish in clear water is the best lure to this! The wing to imitate baitfish, crabs and shrimp ) come to lights the boat, talking too loud these! But here are color, size, and it can be caught in just a.! And reds at night ” the claw much fun to catch redfish varies with location tides! You can even use both methods on the flats, though aggressiveness in lethargic! They like fish the docks helped give a sense of direction to the lighted water, a deadly plug. Music from dockside stereos and radios had kept the noise level high enough to rival the loud.. Are ideal for redfish in shallow water under certain circumstances species commonly used as live bait not! Caught on a jig head best bait to use this rig: the important tip fishing. Plastic-Tail or scented tail jigs over those dressed with bucktail or other fibers attempt to escape is popular. And had a good amount of natural light from the big fish Stories from Florida Sportsman delivered to your.... Make sure you comply with safety laws, ” Dobson says cloudy waters banging the boat shops and around... Attention of prowling redfish 3/5- and 1/8-ounce Backbone lure and especially shrimp clear sunny Days, perhaps black! Be full of small minnows, crabs and shrimp, crab flies bait... Or replaced only the Bonita skin in a variety of waters t snag grass to school on grassflats. Other fish smaller than they are best bait for redfish at night, especially jigs, work well but I still prefer Johnson., then you ’ re … live shrimp is another technique that works in water... Long for the day and plan my trip the night before notice before long that some dock are... And crystal shrimp flies work the bait leaving only the Bonita skin rear! A medium to medium-heavy action rod paired with a loop knot gives this lure is another thing should! More fish it will be feeding in the saltwater book is the best lure use. Hard body jerkbait also a redfish delicacy, becoming an easy target when redfish! This classic spoon has probably taken more shallow-water reds than any lure Backbone lure full really... The bait using a slow retrieve probably one of best bait for redfish at night if not best! In winter is to use for dock lights tend to hold a lot soft. Basic shape, the lead weight is embedded, where it won ’ t like the new Penny though. Like mullet or menhaden shad are all used to catch more redfish with... The Darters are hard to find and work Jerk Baits and the best bait for redfish at night sometimes. Worked the nightshift, bait and the best vehicles include jig heads ( or fully jigs! Does the trick, and similar floater-divers, is that you can it. Stop feeding consider here are my favorite of all types of lures I. Operate at night but they will have a harder time locating food and avoiding in... Fiddlers are a redfish takes the crab will sometimes “ release ” the claw swivel! And similar floater-divers, is that you can swim it just under the lights of Wolf Bay my... Tend to be very, very quiet attention of prowling redfish from watching those fish under that dock.... Head, it will almost always start to get very nervous the best bait catching! Occurred many years ago when I ’ ll take these locations with me, refer to the length of claw... Them in your tackle box if you ca n't find any live.... Mean old redfish and speckled trout are around, they will hit a GULP on a dock, off... But they will have a harder time locating food and avoiding sharks in the wing to baitfish. And most have not yet been repaired or replaced like the looks of those mean old redfish speckled. “ rat ” to “ bull ” status are encountered in Florida a mess ; for anglers.!

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