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Featured Fishing Trips
Top Types of Fishing
Half Day and Full Day Trips
Top Locations for Redfish Fishing
Everything to Know About Booking a redfish fishing charter
What are the best redfish fishing charters?
Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 873 redfish trips, and the most popular trips are Half Day Jetty Trip - 21' Mako guided by Meghan, Ropin' Reds Inshore Adventure guided by Jim, and Flats and Backwaters on Artificials guided by Larry.
Our guides are rated a 5 out of 5 based on 5033 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.
All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.
What types of redfish fishing charters are common?
Inshore fishing is the most popular for redfish as well as flats fishing, nearshore fishing, and jetty fishing.
The most common fishing techniques are light tackle fishing, artificial lure fishing, and live bait fishing but bottom fishing and drift fishing are popular as well.
How much do redfish fishing charters cost?
for redfish prices can range anywhere from $175 to $3,000 and up, but the average price for a half day for redfish is $622. The average price for a full day for redfish is $953.
When is the best month to go redfish fishing?
The most popular season for redfish fishing is summer, and most anglers book their trips 40 days in advance.
Do I need a fishing license for redfish and what are the bag limits for redfish?
See here for more information on redfish fishing licenses, redfish bag limits, and fishing season regulations for redfish. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right redfish rules and regulations.
What is a Redfish?
Red drum, also know as redfish, reds, spottail bass, or Sciaenops ocellatus is one of the most ubiquitous coastal gamefish of the Southeast. Redfish have a distinctive spot on their tail which is often considered a "second eye" meant to fool predators. They occupy a broad range across the Gulf of Mexico and up the east coast of the US, and can be found inshore and nearshore.
How big do Redfish get?
Redfish spawn close to the shoreline in the Fall and will generally mature by 3 years old, with males reaching up to 28 inches and females being a few inches bigger at the same age, with both weighing between 6 and 8 pounds. From there, it is only up, and redfish can be fairly large. Most locations will not allow more than one kept fish over 28 inches.
Whats the biggest redfish ever caught?
Monster redfish can be over 50 inches long and weigh upwards of 50 pounds. The world record redfish was caught in November 1984 in Hatteras, North Carolina by David Weber and weighed 94 pounds 2 ounces.
Where is the best place to catch Redfish?
Redfish have a fairly diverse range, living among shallow to nearshore areas from Mexico all the way to Massachusetts. Redfish do not care too much about salinity in the water so this greatly expands their options of where to reside. In terms of habitat, young redfish prefer inshore areas including flats, grasses, and shallow bay systems, even expanding up into freshwater lagoons and marshes. There are even freshwater redfish in a few lakes near San Antonio. Adult redfish will move out into the Gulf or further offshore, but still congregate near rocky structure (including rigs in the Gulf), and especially jetties when coming back to spawn. The bull redfish run in the Fall is one of many anglers favorite times of the year.
When should I catch Redfish?
Slot redfish can be found inshore year-round, and do not have much of a seasonal migration. Bull redfish can be caught offshore or by rigs, but the most common is to catch them around jetties and other nearshore rocky structure.
The Spring and Summer is easy for redfish, and it is generally advised to take advantage of the early bite before the fish get too sluggish in the heat. Winter can be fantastic if you are able to brave the cold - cold fronts often push water out of inshore areas, and the redfish will be packed into less water, meaning more fish around per the amount of water. Fall will be your best season for redfish in most of their range, as the big ones come back to shore to spawn. Not only are there more redfish around, there are bigger ones.
How do you catch Redfish?
Because redfish are so ambivalent on what they stick in their mouths, they can be caught in quite a few ways, not limited to throwing live bait, popping corks with shrimp, jigging / bottom fishing, throwing artificials and soft plastics, trolling with gold spoons, and fly fishing / sight casting. Redfish are great for all anglers because everyone can use the style of fishing they are most familiar with and feel confident in catching some reds.
Are Redfish good to eat? What are the best redfish recipes?
Redfish are known to be great eating, and many will swear by blackened redfish or redfish with cajun seasoning. The large scales can be difficult to remove, but once past that obstacle you're in for some delicious fish. Young fish will be tastier, and have a fairly moderate flavor.
More Fishing Trips
Other Species to Target
- African Pompano
- Albacore Tuna
- Alligator
- Alligator Gar
- Almaco Jack
- Amberjack
- Arctic Char
- Atlantic Mackerel
- Atlantic Salmon
- Barracuda
- Bigeye Tuna
- Black Drum
- Black Duck
- Black Grouper
- Black Marlin
- Black Seabass
- Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
- Blackbelly Rosefish
- Blackfin Tuna
- Blacktip Shark
- Blue Catfish
- Blue Marlin
- Blue Shark
- Blue-Winged Teal
- Bluebill
- Bluefin Tuna
- Bluefish
- Bluegill
- Bonefish
- Bonito
- Bonnethead Shark
- Bowfin
- Bream
- Brook Trout
- Broomtail Grouper
- Brown Trout
- Bufflehead
- Bull Shark
- Bull Trout
- Burbot
- Calico Bass
- California Corbina
- California Sheephead
- Canada Goose
- Canvasback
- Carp
- Cero Mackerel
- Channel Catfish
- Chinook Salmon
- Chum Salmon
- Cichlid
- Cinnamon Teal
- Clown Knifefish
- Cobia
- Cod
- Coho Salmon
- Common Goldeneye
- Common Merganser
- Crab
- Crappie
- Cubera Snapper
- Cutthroat Trout
- Dolly Varden
- Dove
- False Albacore
- Flathead Catfish
- Florida Pompano
- Flounder
- Fluke
- Freshwater Drum
- Gadwall
- Gag Grouper
- Garfish
- Giant Trevally
- Golden Dorado
- Golden Trout
- Goliath Grouper
- Great White Shark
- Green-Winged Teal
- Grunt
- Guadalupe Bass
- Haddock
- Halibut
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hardhead Catfish
- Hog
- Hogfish
- Hooded Merganser
- Horse-eye Jack
- Hybrid Striped Bass
- Iguana
- Jack Crevalle
- Kingfish
- Ladyfish
- Lake Trout
- Lane Snapper
- Largemouth Bass
- Lemon Shark
- Leopard Shark
- Lingcod
- Lionfish
- Lobster
- Mahi Mahi
- Mako Shark
- Mallard
- Mangrove Snapper
- Mexican Duck
- Mottled Duck
- Mullet Snapper
- Muskie
- Mutton Snapper
- Needlefish
- Northern Pike
- Northern Pintail
- Northern Shoveler
- Nurse Shark
- Peacock Bass
- Perch
- Permit
- Pink Salmon
- Pink Snapper
- Pollock
- Porbeagle Shark
- Queen Snapper
- Rainbow Runner
- Rainbow Trout
- Ray
- Red Grouper
- Red Snapper
- Red-Breasted Merganser
- Redhead
- Ring-Necked Duck
- Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
- Rockfish
- Roosterfish
- Sailfish
- Sauger
- Scallop
- Scamp Grouper
- Sculpin
- Scup
- Shad
- Sheepshead
- Shrimp
- Skate
- Skipjack Tuna
- Smallmouth Bass
- Smallmouth Buffalo
- Snook
- Snow Goose
- Snowy Grouper
- Sockeye Salmon
- Spadefish
- Spanish Mackerel
- Spearfish
- Specklebelly Goose
- Speckled Trout
- Spotted Bass
- Steelhead
- Stingray
- Strawberry Grouper
- Striped Bass
- Striped Marlin
- Sturgeon
- Sunfish
- Swordfish
- Tarpon
- Tautog
- Thresher Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Tigerfish
- Tilapia
- Tilefish
- Triggerfish
- Tripletail
- Vermillion Snapper
- Wahoo
- Walleye
- Warsaw Grouper
- Weakfish
- White Bass
- White Marlin
- White Seabass
- Whiting
- Wigeon
- Wood Duck
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Yellowtail Amberjack
- Yellowtail Snapper
Other Techniques to Try
- Artificial Lure Fishing
- Blind Hunting
- Bottom Fishing
- Bowfishing
- Calling
- Cut Bait Fishing
- Decoy Hunting
- Deep Dropping
- Drift Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Gigging
- Heavy Tackle Fishing
- Hunting With Dogs
- Ice Fishing
- Jigging
- Kayak Fishing
- Kite Fishing
- Light Tackle Fishing
- Live Bait Fishing
- Management Hunting
- Rifle Hunting
- Scalloping
- Shotgun Hunting
- Sight Casting
- Spearfishing
- Surf Fishing
- Topwater Fishing
- Trolling
- Wading
Other Types of Fishing
States
Cities
- Apalachicola, Florida
- Aransas Pass, Texas
- Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
- Banana River, Florida
- Bay City, Texas
- Baytown, Texas
- Bayview, Texas
- Beaufort, North Carolina
- Belleair Bluffs, Florida
- Big Pine Key, Florida
- Biloxi, Mississippi
- Bokeelia, Florida
- Bolivar Peninsula, Texas
- Bon Secour, Alabama
- Bonita Springs, Florida
- Boothville-Venice, Louisiana
- Bradenton, Florida
- Bradenton Beach, Florida
- Buras, Louisiana
- Cape Coral, Florida
- Captiva, Florida
- Carolina Beach, North Carolina
- Cedar Island, North Carolina
- Cedar Key, Florida
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Chauvin, Louisiana
- Chokoloskee, Florida
- Clear Lake Shores, Texas
- Clearwater, Florida
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Crystal River, Florida
- D'Iberville, Mississippi
- Darien, Georgia
- Dauphin Island, Alabama
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- Deer Park, Texas
- Delacroix, Louisiana
- Destin, Florida
- Dickinson, Texas
- Edgewater, Florida
- Englewood, Florida
- Fernandina Beach, Florida
- Flagler Beach, Florida
- Folly Beach, South Carolina
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Fort Myers Beach, Florida
- Fort Walton Beach, Florida
- Freeport, Texas
- Freeport, Florida
- Frisco, North Carolina
- Fulton, Texas
- Galveston, Texas
- Golden Meadow, Louisiana
- Goodland, Florida
- Grand Isle, Louisiana
- Groves, Texas
- Gulf Breeze, Florida
- Gulf Shores, Alabama
- Gulfport, Mississippi
- Hatteras, North Carolina
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Hitchcock, Texas
- Holiday, Florida
- Holmes Beach, Florida
- Homosassa, Florida
- Hopedale, Louisiana
- Hudson, Florida
- Ingleside, Texas
- Islamorada, Florida
- Isle of Palms, South Carolina
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Jacksonville Beach, Florida
- Johns Island, South Carolina
- Jupiter, Florida
- Key Largo, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Kingsville, Texas
- Kissimmee, Florida
- La Porte, Texas
- Lafitte, Louisiana
- Largo, Florida
- Layton, Florida
- Little River, South Carolina
- Live Oak, Louisiana
- Mandeville, Louisiana
- Manteo, North Carolina
- Marathon, Florida
- Marco Island, Florida
- Matagorda, Texas
- Matlacha, Florida
- Melbourne, Florida
- Melbourne Beach, Florida
- Mims, Florida
- Morehead City, North Carolina
- Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Naples, Florida
- New Bern, North Carolina
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- New Smyrna Beach, Florida
- Niceville, Florida
- North Charleston, South Carolina
- Oak Hill, Florida
- Ocean City, Maryland
- Okeechobee, Florida
- Old Town, Florida
- Orange Beach, Alabama
- Oriental, North Carolina
- Palacios, Texas
- Palm Coast, Florida
- Panama City, Florida
- Panama City Beach, Florida
- Pass Christian, Mississippi
- Pensacola, Florida
- Pensacola Beach, Florida
- Placida, Florida
- Port Aransas, Texas
- Port Arthur, Texas
- Port Isabel, Texas
- Port Mansfield, Texas
- Port O'Connor, Texas
- Port Orange, Florida
- Port St. Joe, Florida
- Port Sulphur, Louisiana
- Punta Gorda, Florida
- Reedville, Virginia
- Rio Hondo, Texas
- Riviera Beach, Texas
- Rockport, Texas
- Rodanthe, North Carolina
- Ruskin, Florida
- Saint Bernard, Louisiana
- San Antonio, Texas
- San Leon, Texas
- Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
- Sarasota, Florida
- Seadrift, Texas
- Sealevel, North Carolina
- Shalimar, Florida
- Slidell, Louisiana
- Sneads Ferry, North Carolina
- South Padre Island, Texas
- St. Augustine, Florida
- St. Marks, Florida
- St. Pete Beach, Florida
- St. Petersburg, Florida
- Steinhatchee, Florida
- Sulphur, Louisiana
- Summerland Key, Florida
- Surfside Beach, Texas
- Swan Quarter, North Carolina
- Tampa, Florida
- Tarpon Springs, Florida
- Tavernier, Florida
- Texas City, Texas
- Tierra Verde, Florida
- Tiki Island, Texas
- Vero Beach, Florida
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Wanchese, North Carolina
- Wharton, Texas
- Wilmington, North Carolina
- Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
- Yscloskey, Louisiana
Other Featured Cities
- Aransas Pass, TX
- Austin, TX
- Biloxi, MS
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Cancun, MX
- Cape Coral, FL
- Charleston, SC
- Clearwater, FL
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Crystal River, FL
- Dauphin Island, AL
- Daytona Beach, FL
- Delray Beach, FL
- Destin, FL
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Fort Myers. FL
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Freeport, TX
- Galveston, TX
- Gulf Shores, AL
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- Islamorada, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jupiter, FL
- Key Largo, FL
- Key West, FL
- Kona, HI
- Marathon, FL
- Marco Island, FL
- Miami, FL
- Naples, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Orange Beach, AL
- Panama City Beach, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Port Aransas, TX
- Port O'Connor, TX
- Rockport, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Sarasota, FL
- South Padre Island, TX
- St. Augustine, FL
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Tarpon Springs, FL
- Tulum, Mexico
- Venice, LA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Wilmington, NC