Fishing with Captain Jay

By Captain Jay Cranford www.coastalgafishing.com

Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), also known as redfish, channel bass, puppy drum and spotted bass are mainly found in shallow water. They're easily recognized by the large spot or spots on their body, usually closer to the tail. There's an old saying that the number of spots on a redfish is how many times the fish has escaped a dolphin. (Old timers do tend to have a lot of fish stories and memorable sayings.)

Sometimes you will notice redfish with blue tails. That is due to their diet: the blue-green algae that comes from crabs and snails and other crustaceans they feed on.

Fishing inshore for reds in Georgia is popular and they're often caught in creeks and near sandbars, and if you see one redfish, odds are good there's a school nearby. Depending on the size, be prepared for a good fight! An over-slot red (over 23 inches) will offer a challenge, especially on light tackle. The big females will give you a memorable fight that’ll get your adrenaline going! Redfish are a blast to catch, and doing a little research and homework will reward you and help you make the most of your red fishing experiences.

As usual, if you find the bait, you will usually find the fish. This is a widely known rule that you can rely on to locate most any fish successfully. In finding your target fish’s favorite seasonal food and prey, you also increase your chances of finding that fish. Redfish are predatory and feed on a wide range of marine life. Shrimp, whiting, ladyfish, mullet, menhaden, sheepshead, pinfish, sardines, squid, crabs, oysters, and more, are all part of the redfish diet.

Finding a location where there's an abundance of one or more of these favored foods is a good approach to finding redfish. It could be inshore, near shore and even offshore. Start by locating what bait is active in your area and figure out where they are concentrated. For example, if shrimp are abundant where you fish, identify the structures where they spend most of their time and fish that area hard. Redfish are probably there looking to feed.

Also, it's not uncommon to see mullet jumping in creek mouths and that's a great sign that inshore fish, especially redfish, will be in the area looking to ambush their prey.

Inshore, locate the oyster beds in your area and any underwater terrain with a good a shrimp and crab population. Surprisingly, redfish (especially the big reds) love blue crab. We often catch overslot reds by using fresh crab: breaking them in half, removing the claws and fishing on the bottom in 20 to 25 feet of water on the edge of a channel.

Redfish, especially the smaller slot sizes, feed aggressively on most crustaceans.

Most juvenile slot reds stay primarily inshore but once they reach a certain age they tend to move into more open water. As the over-slot reds get larger, of course they get smarter and can use the shallow waters. Just as juveniles do, they can use shallow waters, but also take advantage of deeper waters where they can more comfortably observe, feed and escape from predators. Additionally, their large size increases the risk of getting stuck or injured in tight areas and, therefore, causes them to move to open water for safety.

Like all species in the food chain, redfish know the preferences and weaknesses of their predators and use that knowledge to stay safe and survive.

When fall approaches and colder weather begins, usually September and October, the lower water temps trigger migration and spawn. Look for Reds to be in large schools near inlets with good current. They feel more comfortable there knowing their eggs will be dispersed in an area that is less susceptible to predators.

There are quite a few redfish to be caught once you learn when and where to find them. We have found they are excellent on the dinner table regardless of size.

As always, go out to learn and have fun, ensure all of your safety gear and licenses are up to date.

Don't wish ... let's go fish!

Captain Jay has over 20 years experience fishing the Georgia coast. He's passionate about fishing and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with you!