The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Redfish Sciaenops ocellatus
Redfish Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 18–30 in, 3–10 lb; bulls run well over 40 in |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to about 5 ft and 94 lb |
| Lifespan | Up to about 40 years, with rare fish near 60 |
| Range | Atlantic coast from the mid-Atlantic south through Florida and along the entire Gulf of Mexico to Texas and northern Mexico. |
| Habitat | Shallow marsh creeks, oyster bars, grass flats and sand troughs 1–4 ft deep; big fish stage on beaches, jetties and nearshore wrecks to spawn. |
| Diet | Blue crabs, shrimp, mullet and menhaden rooted off the bottom or crushed on oyster shell. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Redfish
- Coppery-bronze to reddish back, white belly
- One or more black ocellated (eyespot) spots at base of tail
- No barbels under chin
- Square-ish, slightly notched tail
- Subterminal (underslung) mouth, no large canines
Tell it apart: The black spot(s) on the tail base plus the absence of chin barbels separate redfish from the barbeled, bar-sided black drum.
Easily confused with: Black Drum
Side by side: Redfish vs Black Drum, Redfish vs Mutton Snapper, Redfish vs Speckled Trout
How to Catch Redfish
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- Year-round — sight-cast gold spoons and topwater to tailing fish on summer flood tides; in winter slow a soft-plastic for schooled fish in clear creeks.GearGold weedless spoonsFish-finder bottom rigs7/0–8/0 circle hooks
- Best in the fall as fish school in the backcountry; sight-cast gold spoons and weedless soft plastics, slowing the retrieve in cooler months.GearGold weedless spoonsPaddletails + jigheads30 lb fluorocarbon leader
- Best in the fall as bull reds school nearshore; sight-cast gold spoons and paddletails on the flats, slowing presentations in winter.GearGold weedless spoonsPaddletails + jigheadsFish-finder rigs
When & Where Redfish Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Atlantic Inshore | ||||||||||||
| South Florida & the Keys Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Gulf of Mexico Inshore |
Redfish Regulations
GeorgiaGeorgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources DivisionSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources DivisionNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), Division of Marine FisheriesSouth Atlantic Fishery Management CouncilSAFMCAtlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionASMFCFloridaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council)GMFMCAlabamaAlabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division (Outdoor Alabama)MississippiMississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR)LouisianaLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)TexasTexas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.