Above, a redfish redfishing video. Click
play in the center to watch this redfish video
Catching
Redfish is an all time favorite for many fishermen and
the spring and late summer/fall season offers some of
the best there is on the Georgia Coast. Redfish over 30
pounds are common in late April, May and then again in
September - November each year.
A great deal has been learned about these hard mouthed
scavengers over the past few years thanks to conservation
efforts and fish surveys headed by Recreational fisheries
at the Georgia DNR. Thanks to these efforts, we have learned
to locate and catch the bulls in most any conditions.
To me, the most interesting aspects of this fishery are
the age and history of these fish. Many of the larger
fish are estimated to be over 30 years old and release
tens of thousands of eggs annually. Biologists say that
500,000 eggs from each fish is common during spawn throughout
the Southeast and Gulf Coast, although only a small percentage
actually make it through the life stages.
Biologists say Redfish eggs float for 20 to 30 hours before
larval reds emerge carrying the yolk sac that sustains
them for three days. Then, they begin feeding on tiny
zooplankton. The beginning of life for millions of redfish
is an intricate process that can occur every three to
five days during the spawning season. With this and the
many other characteristics of this mighty fish in mind,
it is important to abide by the rules governing them.
Learn how to handle them for proper release without harm
and help preserve the fishery for years to come.
With all the science aside and stamped in our memory for
preservation, the brutal battle and sheer fun of catching
these large fish is addictive. This sport draws new anglers
to our coast each season as the word spreads amongst anglers
and Charter Captains. It's action like no other when the
Georgia Redfish bite is on, and let there be no question
that it's my personal favorite!
Spring and Fall Prove Best for Georgia Redfish
Spring and fall is the time for the bull redfish to be
feeding around sounds, sandbars and larger river mouths
that form a point or a rip. I know many anglers tend to
favor this "tag and brag" type fishing over
any other. Personally, I always opt for larger species
of fish, especially on a charter fishing trip with clients
who don't get to see much saltwater in their lives.
Fall season seems to produce larger numbers of fish, but
many Anglers overlook spring altogether. Many Anglers
on the Georgia Coast have caught a few here and there
during the spring while shark or whiting fishing. I have
targeted the fall season fish since childhood from the
boat and surf, but over the past few years, I got serious
about catching Redfish in the spring and I have learned
that their patterns are a little different each season
and I still strive to l earn more each season.
One must be willing to relocate and anchor several times
to find the sweet spot. Even if you know the fish are
there, you have to get bait somewhere close to them. If
they refuse to eat, move around the area to different
spots in stealth mode until you find the bite. Keep in
mind, when fishing in 3-10 feet of water, your outboard
makes a lot of noise when you start it up and move. Drift
to your spots with the current and ease your anchor over
the side quietly as you make your moves from shoal to
shoal.
Finding Georgia Bull Redfish
Some Anglers fish deep water and others target shoals,
sandbars or rips looking for big Redfish. Finding these
fish is an obviously crucial part of the quest. If you
are shallow water fishing, you won't need the aid of your
depth recorder to "mark" the fish on the bottom.
Your outboards will be hitting the bottom in the swells,
and you know then… You are fishing for Georgia Bull
Redfish. Shallow water fishing for Redfish in Georgia
may be the easiest (but most dangerous) due to the vast
amount of shoal areas on the Georgia coast around sounds
and inlets. Many of those shoals you motor around nervously
to get into deeper water and ride past the redfish as
most times, they are holding directly in the break or
on the edge of one end of a break. If the breaking water
bothers you, get on the down current side of the bar where
the fish would "fall off" with the tide and/or
any bait that may be coming through that shoal.
Contrary to popular belief, we have found this type of
fishing DOES NOT require clear, clean water to produce
numbers of redfish. In fact, it seems like the dirty water
is better. When it's dirty, crabs and other crustaceans
are stirred from the ocean floor around full and new moon
phases offering an easy helping for Reds. Swift moving
water seems to get the fish feeding on a flood or ebb
tide. This creates ideal feeding conditions for big Redfish
near beaches, oceans and inlets and this prime time also
carries the girls eggs far into the estuary system where
chances of survival are best. The Redfish know exactly
when to lay their eggs and you want to be there when they
start toeat.
Any area where breaking water churns just off the beach
or a sandbar forms a rip line is normally a prime location
for Georgia Redfish. Just keep your boat out of any safety
or swim zones that may be close to shore. Anchor your
boat near the break, shoal or rip as safely possible.
Your bait needs to be cast into the breaking or shallow
water, so you must position your boat accordingly. These
big Reds will lurk in 3 - 10 ft. of water to feed, but
we have caught them in less than knee-deep water on many
occasions.
The fish are also found in deep water channels and sounds
or around fishing piers, too. Jacksonville and Fernandina
boast droves of bulls in deep water. They are caught in
the shipping channels and other deepwater areas, especially
down along the St. Johns River. Lots of Anglers target
the bull Redfish in deeper water, but as you can tell,
I am partial to shallow water. I believe the Bull Reds
are all over, but it's all about what lay of land you
get used to fishing.
Bait Choices for Georgia Redfish
I have experimented with lots of baits to catch big Redfish,
and the truth is, they will bite just about anything fresh
you present to them when they are on the feed. When the
fish get lockjaw, you have to look at the results of all
your experimentation and attempt to make a good choice.
If your bait is fresh, you may consider a move if the
fish bite gives out.
There are several redfish guides in Georgia, including
myself, who will agree that there are three cut baits
that will produce Georgia Redfish when no other will.
Fresh Menhaden, Bluefish or Whiting. Always bring along
your light spinning gear and fish a squid piece on the
bottom, and normally you'll catch a Bluefish or Whiting
to chunk up as cut bait.
Capt. Jay Childers, formerly the manager of St. Simons
Marina has been fishing for Redfish for over 35 years
and prefers Mullet or Menhaden. His third choice is a
blue crab due its durability on the hook. "We used
Roe mullet out of Florida that worked well for us in the
fall of 2003. Last year was definitely a Mullet year for
the bulls on my boat", Jay said. Capt. Jay also mentioned
that fresh is always better, no matter what your bait
may be.
All the pro guides I have fished with and talked with
over the years have a favorite choice and reason for using
particular bait. Most Guides in our area prefer Menhaden
over any other bait. The Reds can be caught on a variety
of baits live and dead, but Menhaden is at the top of
the list.
I personally watched Capt. Teddy Elrod catch over nine
big redfish off St. Simons Island one morning on Yellow
Tails. A Yellow Tail is the most aggravating, small "trash
fish" you could ever catch on rod and reel, especially
while Trout fishing. I wouldn't have given a thought to
trying the shrimp stealing hindrance, but he was low on
bait one morning and had no choice. Old Yellow led him
to a great day of fishing for his anglers on board and
he landed more Reds than anyone that day.
Georgia Redfish love Crabs and Mullet chunks as well,
but Mullet or Crabs are not on the top of my list. I try
to fish a little of everything, but I still have my favorites
that have worked for me for years.
Personally, I've caught more big Redfish using Menhaden
(pogies) than any other bait, but fresh cut Whiting runs
a close second! As with any fresh cut bait, Sharks like
to eat it as well. Most times, they'll be Atlantic Sharpnose
and other Coastal Sharks in the spring and fall. They
feel like a Red when they bite and run, so unless you
see that big boil on the surface during the battle, don't
count on it to be a Red.
Georgia Redfish Tackle for Success
Rod and Reel:
The Rod and Reel Combo
Shakespeare Ugly Stik Custom (14-17 Medium Class Spinning
Rod)
PENN SSM 650 Spinning Reel
Load your Reel with Berkely Fireline (65 Pound)
Your
Terminal Tackle:
90 -Pound Snap Swivel AND Sinker Slider
3 ft. length of 60-80# - Pound Monofilament Leader
10/O Circle Hook (Helps Prevent Gut Hook)
4-6 OZ. Pyramid Sinker/Weight
Your
Rig:
Slide your sinler slider on first. After you tie the snap
swivel on your main line, tie a surgeon's loop at one
end of your 3 ft. leader. Then just tie on a circle hook
with your favorite knot, and you're set. Snap on your
weight to the sinker slider and you're all set. This rig
will allow you to Redfish the breakers without the weight
rollinig downhill with the current.
A Word on successful Releasing of Redfish
Why can't we keep large Georgia Redfish? The purpose is
to reduce pressure on spawning size redfish. Redfish begin
spawning at an average over 20-inches. By that size a
large portion of them move offshore. If redfish were managed
like many other fish, (such as speckled trout) with a
minimum size large enough to allow them to spawn at least
once before being caught, the inshore fishery would not
be near as good as it is. The larger females are protected
to spawn over and over again and the girls come back to
the same areas each season to spread their eggs.
If a big Redfish is removed from the water for hook removal,
support the body weight from underneath as you remove
the fish from the water while handling the fish as little
as possible. Get your hook out, and get that fish back
quickly to prevent excess stress. Be sure to revive the
fish until you feel him struggling to leave your hands,
and then give a push straight down or let the fish leave
your hands freely into the current. Many anglers use a
Rubber Landing net to bring the fish onboard to prevent
slime loss off the Red's body and this also gives the
fish full support of bodyweight throughout the net webbing.
If you have a "Floater" that won't swim off,
try to revive the fish before leaving it for dead. Often
you can tap them with the tip of your fishing rod and
they take off. Redfish are a hearty fish, but I have seen
them come floating by in the sound or rivers. When a dead
bull redfish is sighted, it has probably fallen victim
to improper catch and release amongst other things.
