Inshore

Redfish

Sciaenops ocellatus

Found In

97 Destinations

About Redfish

Redfish — also called Red Drum — are the most popular inshore gamefish along the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts. They are bronze-copper in color with one or more distinctive black spots near the tail, which scientists believe confuse predators into attacking the wrong end. Juveniles (called "rat reds") are bright gold or copper, while bull reds over 30 inches take on a deeper bronze-red hue with a pronounced hump behind the head. Males and females are visually identical, though females grow larger and are the primary spawners.

Identification & Appearance

Redfish are copper-bronze along the back and sides, fading to white on the belly. The most distinctive feature is one or more black ocelli (eyespots) at the base of the tail — most fish have one, but some carry multiple spots. The mouth is underslung, designed for rooting along the bottom. They have a streamlined, muscular body built for powerful runs.

Male vs. Female

Males and females look identical. Females generally grow larger — most bull reds over 40 inches are female. Males mature at 1-3 years, females at 3-6 years. Both can live 40+ years.

Size, Weight & Records

Slot-size reds (18-27 inches depending on state) weigh 3-8 lbs and are the best eating. Bull reds run 30-50+ inches and 15-50+ lbs. The IGFA all-tackle world record is 94 lbs 2 oz, caught in Avon, North Carolina in 1984.

Seasonal Availability

Peak Season Good Fair Off Season

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Popular Bait & Fishing Methods

Best Techniques

Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.

Recommended Tackle

Medium or medium-light spinning rod (7 ft), 2500-3000 size reel, 10-15 lb braided line, 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. For bull reds: medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 20-30 lb braid, 30 lb leader.

Regulations & Bag Limits

Most Gulf states have a slot limit (typically 18-27 inches) with 1-3 fish per person per day. Oversized "bull reds" must be released in most states. Atlantic states may have different size limits. Regulations vary — your captain will know the current rules.

Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with your charter captain or state wildlife agency before fishing.

Where to Catch Redfish (97 destinations)

Amelia Island

Florida · Northeast

Atlantic Beach

North Carolina · Crystal Coast

Bayou La Batre

Alabama · Mobile Bay

Beaufort

South Carolina · Lowcountry

Beaufort NC

North Carolina · Crystal Coast

Biloxi

Mississippi · Gulf Coast

Brunswick

Georgia · Georgia Coast

Cape Charles

Virginia · Eastern Shore

Carolina Beach

North Carolina · Cape Fear

Cedar Key

Florida · Nature Coast

Charleston

South Carolina · Lowcountry

Chesapeake Beach

Maryland · Chesapeake Bay

Chincoteague

Virginia · Eastern Shore

Clearwater

Florida · Tampa Bay

Cocoa Beach

Florida · Space Coast

Cocodrie

Louisiana · Cajun Coast

Corpus Christi

Texas · Lower Coast

Crystal River

Florida · Nature Coast

Darien

Georgia · Georgia Coast

Dauphin Island

Alabama · Gulf Coast

Destin

Florida · Panhandle

Dulac

Louisiana · Cajun Coast

Fairhope

Alabama · Mobile Bay

Fernandina Beach

Florida · Northeast

Fort Lauderdale

Florida · Southeast

Fort Morgan

Alabama · Mobile Bay

Fort Myers

Florida · Southwest

Fort Walton Beach

Florida · Panhandle

Freeport

Texas · Upper Coast

Galveston

Texas · Upper Coast

Georgetown

South Carolina · Grand Strand

Grand Isle

Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana

Gulf Shores

Alabama · Gulf Coast

Gulfport

Mississippi · Gulf Coast

Hatteras

North Carolina · Outer Banks

Hilton Head

South Carolina · Lowcountry

Homosassa

Florida · Nature Coast

Houma

Louisiana · Cajun Coast

Islamorada

Florida · Keys

Jacksonville

Florida · Northeast

Jekyll Island

Georgia · Georgia Coast

Key Largo

Florida · Keys

Key West

Florida · Keys

Kiawah Island

South Carolina · Lowcountry

Lake Charles

Louisiana · Southwest Louisiana

Manteo

North Carolina · Outer Banks

Marathon

Florida · Keys

Marco Island

Florida · Southwest

Matagorda

Texas · Mid Coast

Melbourne

Florida · Space Coast

Miami

Florida · Southeast

Mobile

Alabama · Mobile Bay

Morehead City

North Carolina · Crystal Coast

Murrells Inlet

South Carolina · Grand Strand

Myrtle Beach

South Carolina · Grand Strand

Nags Head

North Carolina · Outer Banks

Naples

Florida · Southwest

New Orleans

Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana

New Smyrna Beach

Florida · Space Coast

Norfolk

Virginia · Hampton Roads

North Myrtle Beach

South Carolina · Grand Strand

Ocean Springs

Mississippi · Gulf Coast

Orange Beach

Alabama · Gulf Coast

Oregon Inlet

North Carolina · Outer Banks

Panama City Beach

Florida · Panhandle

Pass Christian

Mississippi · Gulf Coast

Pawleys Island

South Carolina · Grand Strand

Pensacola

Florida · Panhandle

Port Aransas

Texas · Mid Coast

Port Fourchon

Louisiana · Cajun Coast

Port Isabel

Texas · Lower Coast

Port Mansfield

Texas · Lower Coast

Port O'Connor

Texas · Mid Coast

Rockport

Texas · Mid Coast

Sarasota

Florida · Southwest

Savannah

Georgia · Georgia Coast

Sebastian

Florida · Space Coast

Slidell

Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana

Solomons Island

Maryland · Chesapeake Bay

South Padre Island

Texas · Lower Coast

Southport

North Carolina · Cape Fear

St. Augustine

Florida · Northeast

St. Petersburg

Florida · Tampa Bay

St. Simons Island

Georgia · Georgia Coast

Steinhatchee

Florida · Nature Coast

Stuart

Florida · Southeast

Surfside Beach

Texas · Upper Coast

Swansboro

North Carolina · Crystal Coast

Tampa

Florida · Tampa Bay

Tarpon Springs

Florida · Tampa Bay

Tilghman Island

Maryland · Chesapeake Bay

Tybee Island

Georgia · Georgia Coast

Venice

Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana

Virginia Beach

Virginia · Hampton Roads

West Palm Beach

Florida · Southeast

Wilmington

North Carolina · Cape Fear

Wrightsville Beach

North Carolina · Cape Fear

Related Species

Snook

Inshore

Bonefish

Inshore

Permit

Inshore

Black Drum

Inshore

Fishing Guides & Tips

Redfish Blog Posts

Expert tips, seasonal reports, and fishing guides featuring Redfish.

View All Articles

Sight-Fishing Redfish in Homosassa: Techniques for the Nature Coast's Rocky Flats

Fishing Tips

Oct 18, 2025

Sight-Fishing Redfish in Homosassa: Techniques for the Nature Coast's Rocky Flats

Homosassa's rocky limestone flats demand different Redfish tactics. Weedless rigs, boat positioning, and reading the wat

Homosassa, Florida

St. Augustine Inshore Slam: Redfish, Trout, and Flounder on the Matanzas

Seasonal Guide

Oct 8, 2025

St. Augustine Inshore Slam: Redfish, Trout, and Flounder on the Matanzas

Chase the Northeast Florida inshore slam on the Matanzas River—redfish, seatrout, and flounder in one trip from St. Au

St. Augustine, Florida

Portersville Bay Redfish: Marsh Fishing West of Mobile Bay

Species Spotlight

Oct 1, 2025

Portersville Bay Redfish: Marsh Fishing West of Mobile Bay

Portersville Bay's oyster-lined marshes hold schools of redfish that rarely see fishing pressure. A guide to this overlo

Bayou La Batre, Alabama

Jacksonville Mayport Jetties: Offshore Access and Bull Redfish

Fishing Report

Sep 22, 2025

Jacksonville Mayport Jetties: Offshore Access and Bull Redfish

The Mayport jetties give Jacksonville anglers land-based access to bull redfish, flounder, and a gateway to offshore bot

Jacksonville, Florida

Fall Redfish Schools at Cedar Key: Timing the Run on the Suwannee Delta

Seasonal Guide

Sep 20, 2025

Fall Redfish Schools at Cedar Key: Timing the Run on the Suwannee Delta

Massive Redfish schools flood Cedar Key's flats every fall. Here's the week-by-week breakdown and how to find them.

Cedar Key, Florida

Fall Redfish Blitz in the New Orleans Marsh: Timing the Mullet Run

Fishing Report

Sep 15, 2025

Fall Redfish Blitz in the New Orleans Marsh: Timing the Mullet Run

The fall mullet run triggers the year's most explosive redfish fishing in the New Orleans marsh. Time your trip to Septe

New Orleans, Louisiana

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