Redfish Fishing

Along our Alabama Gulf Coast we troll for redfish using planers and spoons at the pass or right off the beach. We have found that when fishing for redfish, the best baits are live shrimp, small finger mullet and small live blue crabs. Live shrimp are fished under a popping cork or "free shrimped" using a small weight and letting the shrimp swim freely. Live fish are best on the bottom using a slip-sinker type rig where the fish can swim freely. The bait fish are hooked through the lips or through the top of the back behind the dorsal fin. Small blue crab are fished on bottom and are hooked through one of the swimming legs at the rear of the crab.

The most distinguishing mark on the redfish, or red drum, is one large black spot on the upper part of the tail base. Having multiple spots is not uncommon for redfishs, but having no spots is extremely rare. The color of redfish ranges from a deep blackish, coppery color to nearly silver. The most common color is a reddish-bronze.