Catch MORE Redfish By Fixing These 2 Mistakes
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Redfish Fishing Tips, Red Drum, Red Drum Tips
If you’re struggling to catch redfish, you’re probably making one of two mistakes.
They’re simple. They’re common. And they’ll keep you casting at water that looks good but isn’t holding feeding fish.
This trip happened during a warming trend after a stretch of cold weather. And that detail matters.
Because while redfish will hold deeper during extreme cold, once temperatures begin to rebound, they move shallow to warm up and feed.
I wanted to break down two redfish mistakes and show you how adjusting them can lead to more redfish in the net.
Key Takeaways
- Redfish often push shallow during warming trends
- Depth selection plays a major role in finding active fish
- Slower retrieves consistently outperform fast presentations
- Pause length should match fish activity level
- Shallow structure like grass, oysters, and mud hold feeding fish
Featured Gear:
- Rod: Slam Stick 7’6 Medium Light
- Reel: Otis 2500
- Lure: Polk County Tweaker – Terd Ferguson Color
- Hook: Hoss Helix Hook 3/0 1/16oz
- Mainline: Diawa J-Braid 10lb
- Leader: Ande 15lb Mono Leader
Final Thoughts
Redfish don’t just roam randomly.
They’ll slide deeper during extreme cold for stability. But once conditions stabilize or begin warming, they move shallow with purpose.
If you’re fishing too deep or moving too fast during that shift, you’re likely missing the most active fish in the area.
Adjust your depth. Slow your retrieve.
And let the shallow bite work for you.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
The 2 core benefits we promise to Insider Club members is to be able to find and catch fish easier than ever before while saving money on fishing equipment.
So I am including links to the quickest ways to achieve each:
1) Finding Fish System
2) Insider Club’s Group Discounts
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Hi Tony, I’m in South Louisiana Cocodrie and Madison Bay area is where I am fishing in a 1′ to 1.5′ of water in the marshes with mud and some grass bottom. Are the baits you showed in this video will work the same way in these areas. Sometime the water a little muddy in light winds and it hard to see the fish. What do you suggest how to fish and retrieve for this area. Thank You.
Hey Thomas! These lures will definitely work there. You always have to experiment with retrieves depending on the conditions. My go-to is a slow steady reel with the paddle tail, and a few twitches with a pause with the tweaker.
Tony I have a question for you or anyone on the pro staff. I primary fish the Chesapeake Bay and I rarely get into red fish but I do chase Striped Bass and I’m wondering if these fishing techniques will work on the stripers Any info would be great
Hey Timothy! Stripers are going to be different than redfish as far as habitat and behavior. We do have a lot of members that target them so be sure to post any questions you may have in the community here:
https://community.saltstrong.com
excellent information on presentation of lure. Can’t wait to put it to the test.
Thanks Eduardo!
Tony another great video. Do you use the tweaker year round?
Thanks Leo! I usually use it depending on how the fish are behaving. If they are really spooky and the water is really calm and clear I will use it more.
Great video thank you.
You’re welcome James!
Always great knowledge coach. Sometimes I need a refresher
Thank you for the great feedback Jason! We all do sometimes!
Thanks
You’re welcome Jeffrey!
Thanks Tony. We are starting to get warmer weather in VA, so I can apply these tips.
You’re welcome Denerio!
Thanks, Tony, great info and nice red.
You’re welcome Stan!
Great video Tony, Ill try it in Flamingo next week.
Thanks again.
You’re welcome Gary!