Bridge Bull Redfish CRASH COURSE (Live Bait Bottom Fishing)

What if I advised you catching a 40” Redfish isn’t a “fish of a lifetime”? What if I advised you anyone can exit proper now and catch 10 in the event that they waited lengthy sufficient. That’s proper, Bull Redfish are extraordinarily straightforward to catch at bridges throughout the Spring via Fall. As we speak we’re going to run via a newbie pleasant crash course on tips on how to exit and catch your PB Redfish TODAY!

Use Correct Gear

The gear you select is extraordinarily essential. Most folk present up approach too mild, or approach too heavy. I’ve executed each! The very last thing you need is to lastly hook into a large and lose him in seconds. To not point out, one of these fishing catches Pink Snapper, Grouper, Tarpon, Black Drum and different massive, aggressive species that you’ll NOT wish to lose as a result of mild gear. Right here’s the typical setup I take advantage of throughout most circumstances.

Rod – Medium Heavy to XXH
Reel – 4500 to 6000
Line – 30lb to 60lb
Chief – 30lb to 80lb (mild throughout clear and colder circumstances, heavier when tight to cowl)
Weight – 3oz to 6oz Egg Sinker
Swivel – Most swivels will work
Hook – 2/0 to five/0 circle hook

This offers vary of drugs that may work with one of these fishing. When the water is extraordinarily calm, clear and colder, you’ll wish to go as mild as attainable. When the fish are energetic however holding extraordinarily tight to cowl, you’ll want a really robust setup to horse them out rapidly.

Greatest Bait

You need to use all kinds of bait. Even synthetic! Nevertheless, I by no means use synthetic lures when fishing for these massive, clever Redfish. It’s more durable and takes extra time. I ALWAYS use stay bait. You need to use all kinds of stay bait, relying on what you might have obtainable. Be mindful, the bigger your bait, the bigger your hook. The smaller your bait, the smaller your hook.

Right here’s my favourite bait to make use of for Bull Redfish

Threadfin Herring
Pinfish
Blue Crabs (small and entire or massive and minimize)

You may also use

Massive Shrimp
Bull Minnows

The place are The Fish Positioned?

The Bull Reds are at all times going to carry the deepest pilings. I at all times begin instantly on the deepest spot, often close to the principle channel. The very center of the bridge additionally often has different types of cowl like barrels or bridge fenders. This offers not solely the deepest water however probably the most cowl for the Bulls to ambush their prey.

The fish will at all times face into the present and stack on the aspect of the bridge wherein the present is flowing. In case your bridge is 50ft deep, these fish can stack anyplace from floor to backside. Throughout late Summer time, you’ll have an opportunity for an EPIC topwater chunk as these fish stand up and can HAMMER your topwater lures!

Methods to Fish for Redfish

Now, you’ve acquired the gear, bait and know the place these Redfish stack. Now, how do you truly fish for them? Nicely, I like to begin on the entrance of the piling, drop my bait to the underside and let the tide naturally drift my boat alongside the piling. These fish will face INTO the present. That means, you’ll be naturally dragging your bait proper into their faces and also you float with the tide.

In case you don’t have a graph and don’t know the place the fish are hanging within the water column, no downside! Merely change your depth each occasionally throughout your drifts. Oftentimes, I get hammered whereas slowly reeling up your complete water column throughout a single drift! Experiment with completely different depths and when you begin getting hit, persist with that.

As soon as You Get Ate

The #1 mistake new Bull Redfish anglers make when utilizing stay bait and circle hooks is setting the hook. That’s proper! You DO NOT EVER set the hook utilizing circle hooks and stay bait. Let the bait do the work and as soon as you understand the Redfish has taken your bait, let him totally eat it. Don’t set the hook however reasonably let the Redfish pull towards you.

I don’t begin preventing till the Redfish is pulling my rod into the water and I do know 100% he’s hooked. Subsequent, merely reel into the fish and don’t set the hook. Make sure that your drag is TIGHT as a result of these will struggle unbelievably laborious. Attempt your finest to drag the fish as distant from the bridge as attainable along with your trolling motor.

The Launch

Lastly! You’ve caught your first Bull Redfish! Now what? It’s extraordinarily essential to make use of fish grips and by no means maintain these large fish by their gill plates. Additionally, get your pictures FAST and return them again to the water. You’ll possible should revive the fish and perhaps even vent the fish. Be sure you have a venting device onboard always in case the Redfish can’t swim again to the underside on their very own.

In Conclusion

Bull Redfish fishing is my favourite kind of fishing on planet Earth. If the fish are hungry, you’ll be able to maintain catching these monsters all day lengthy. Essentially the most Bull Reds over 38” I’ve caught in 2 hours was 7 Redfish. I needed to go away as a result of I used to be so sore! These are lovely creatures that aren’t laborious to catch with the best method. Deal with and deal with them with respect and also you’ll be catching these hogs on demand!

Tight traces and GOD BLESS!

-Greyson