Notes

Redfish, along with snook and tarpon are one of the most prolific species of gamefish in Southern Florida and can be found year round. Redfish are also found throughout the coastal area of the SE United States, and are known by a variety of names including, but not limited to: Red Drum, Drum, Puppy Drum (smaller fish in North Carolina, as opposed to their monsters), Channel Bass, Bass, Spotail Bass, and of course good Ole"Redfish" in the Florida Keys.

Best Time

The primary season for Redfish is Fall but are close at hand year round. Redfish can be found on the flats, mangrove shorelines and in the everglades backcountry.

• 7 to 9 weight fly outfits with floating and clear floating lines are the standard.

• Leaders ranging from 9 to 12 feet tapered to 10 to 12 pound test Seaguar Fluorocarbon. Lots of time snook and small tarpon occur in the same areas, in which case the wise thing to do would be to use the same leader system you would use for snook, incorporating a bite or 'shock' tippet.

• Weedless fly patterns are sometimes necessary as the shallow and sometimes weedy habitat in which they often reside requires this. A weedguard also allows you to "crawl" flies over logs and Mangrove roots. There is a school of thought that says that weedguards will hinder hookups but I think that the benefits outweigh the negative in certain situations... weedguards should be light and only used when necessary. Reds will bite a wide variety of fly patterns, from small bonefish style crabs, streamers, to poppers.

• Rod and Reel Six to Seven-foot med-light action spin and plug outfits spooled with ten-pound test mono are just right.
• Rigging Ten pound test mono or #4 diameter braid is my choice. Topwater plugs, crank baits, jerk baits, tubes (bass style tubes), spoons and jigs are the standard for spin and plug casting. If snook and tarpon are in the area a heavier leader such as 30 to 40 pound test Flouro is essential.

Redfish Flies...

By: Steve Krystiniak

I took the liberty of adding one of my favorite redfish flies.  It is the Gold Liz.  This fly has lots of gold flash to mimic the flash a conventional gold spoon offers.