Redfish – Red Drum | Hernando Fish Identification

Red Fish

Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS
Sciaenops ocellatus*

Description: chin without barbels; copper bronze body, lighter shade in clear waters; one to many spots at base of tail (rarely no spots); mouth horizontal and opening downward; scales large.*

Fishing Areas:
Mostly inshore, but a there are a few caught while grouper fishing. Redfish will tend to be in the same area during a tide phase. On incoming tide they may hold at the mouth of a creek and on a high tide they may hold deep in the back water. When you find a few fish note the tide and location. Chances are the next time your out on the same tide phase there will be fish in the same location.

North:
Just about any area north of Pine Island is good all year round.

Central:
Bayport area holds redfish, just not many most of the time. In the fall the some of the larger fish are caught in the Bayport area.

South:
Centipede Bay holds fish most of year, but the winter is very slow.
Hernando Beach Channel holds fish most of the year, but is the best in the winter when the tides are too low to get in back waters.

View Fishing Areas in a larger map

Baits:
The best part about red fish is that the are not very picky. They will take live bait (shrimp, pin fish, whitebait, mud minnows, sand perch, etc) , cut bait (mullet, lady fish, etc) and a verity of lures.

Tackle:
Rod: A 7ft 10-12# class rood.
Reel: A 10# test class spinning reel
Line: 10# mono or 20# braid.
Leader: A 20# mono leader since they rarely cut the leader with their teeth.
Hooks: 3/0 to 4/0 circle hooks works well. Just do not set the hook, the hook will set it self.
Weights and other terminal tackle: A little as possible.
Float: Depends on the baits, many use popping corks and do well.

Red Fish Pictures:
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A fat red fish with lots of spots, caught in Centipede Bay, using a top water soft bait.