Fishing for redfish has been great and should continue well into summer. The key is targeting the right areas, during the right tide phases, and avoid spooking the fish once you find them.
At high tide, schools of redfish gather around oyster bars and weed patches, and under mangroves. Extreme low tides push fish into potholes, channels, and dropoffs on the edges of flats. During the tide's middle phases, these fish will be in transit between high and low tide stations. When the fish are in transitional modes, they'll scatter loosely.
Redfish in clear shallow water can be quite spooky. Pole the boat, use a trolling motor or shut off the engine and ride the wind to the area you want to fish. Wading is by far the most productive approach, though not always practical.
Another problem with clear, shallow water is that terns and gulls try to catch your bait. Terns are especially persistent. All the splashing and the bird's shadows constantly overhead often spook redfish into moving.
Though chumming with a few handfuls of live bait can get fish into a frenzy, it also brings in birds and ultimately is counterproductive in open areas. Only use live chum on overcast and windy days when birds are not prevalent, or in areas that have structure or depth.
Using corks with live offerings or using dead baits also help limit problems with diving birds.
- Capt. Pete Katsarelis charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at (727) 439-3474 or by e-mail at pkatsare@helios.acomp.usf.edu
