Are redfish in season in Tampa Bay?
Technically there is no season on Redfish here in Tampa Bay. We refer to the late summer and early fall as “season” because the fish are schooled up for the spawn. These schools can number anywhere between 30 fish to over 300.
Where can you find redfish in Florida?
Specifically, the Indian River, Mosquito Lagoon, and Banana River are most known for their redfish fishing and big bull redfish fishing in New Smyrna. Almost all the coastal water on West Central Florida makes for good flats fishing for redfish. Specifically, Clearwater, Tampa Bay, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, St.
What is needed to catch redfish?
Live bait such as live shrimp, mud minnows, or small baitfish like mullet or menhaden shad are all used to catch redfish. Live shrimp are fished under a float or on a jig head. Free-lining live shrimp is another technique that works in shallow water under certain circumstances. Mud minnows can be fished the same way.
What is the best time to catch redfish?
The best time of day to catch redfish is in the morning before the sun heats up the shallows and in the afternoon off in deeper water features like jetties, wrecks, and bridges. Redfish funnel back into deeper water in the afternoon because it is both cooler and holds more bait than the shallows.
What is the best bait for redfish?
During the spring, the best baitfish to use are mullet, pilchards, greenies or pogies. Although redfish also eat shellfish and crabs, they’ll eat the prey that’s easiest. If you’re not able to get some live bait, you also can use dead bait too.
Is redfish safe to eat?
Generally redfish, or red drum, is safe to eat as long as it is cooked thoroughly. If you’re over the age of 15 and are not a woman of childbearing age, eating redfish is considered safe to eat up to four times a week.
When is Redfish catch and release in Tampa?
Normal regulations have resumed for redfish in all state waters in Pasco County and Tampa Bay north State Road 64 in Manatee County plus the Braden River but not including Palma Sola Bay. Redfish remains catch-and-release through May 31, 2022.
Where can I see redfish in South Florida?
Fred Howard Park Causeway through Monroe County (west coast) and Miami-Dade through Volusia counties (east coast) Normal regulations have resumed for redfish in all state waters in Pasco County and Tampa Bay north State Road 64 in Manatee County plus the Braden River but not including Palma Sola Bay.
How are red drum stocks doing in Florida?
Red drum stocks have rebounded and are currently meeting or exceeding the FWC’s management goal of 40% escapement in most parts of Florida. Escapement is the proportion of fish that survive through age four relative to the fish that would have survived if there was no fishery.
What’s the limit on red drum in Florida?
Management of red drum in Florida is considered a success story. In the late 1980s red drum was overfished, thus several emergency closures were established to reduce fishing pressure. In 1989, the slot limit of 18-27 inches, the bag limit of one fish per person and a closed season from March-May were put in place.