Redfish, also known as red drum, feed heavily on crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish, often rooting through grass and mud in shallow water to find food. Their downturned mouths are suited to this kind of bottom feeding, and their black tail spot is one of their most recognizable features.
Redfish live in inshore waters along the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic seaboard, favoring grass flats, marshes, and oyster beds where food is abundant. They're commonly seen tailing in shallow water, with their tails breaking the surface as they feed head down in the mud. Redfish tolerate a wide range of salinity and can be found in both brackish and full saltwater environments, which allows them to move between marsh systems and open bays depending on the season.
A 7 to 9 weight rod with a weight forward floating line handles the vast majority of redfish situations. An 8 weight is the most common all around choice, offering enough power to cast weighted crab and shrimp patterns in wind while still protecting light tippet on smaller fish.
Saltwater Flies
