Redfish Archives - Page 32 of 37

May 1, 2026

Cold weather doesn’t slow down the redfish bite in the New River around Jacksonville.

Hot New River reds

For someone known as a year-round speckled trout specialist, guide Ricky Kellum of Jacksonville may be just as efficient on red drum — especially during the winter. […]

Capt. Rod Thomas, a/k/a Capt. Ponytail poses with a bull redfish he caught on a popping cork/swimbait combo in Winyah Bay.

VIDEO: Catch more bull redfish with this tip

Brian Cope

This time of year, anglers up and down the coast of both Carolinas can find trophy redfish much closer to shore than any other time of the year. These big bulls, which can range in size from 35 to over 50 pounds, come inshore to spawn, then head back out to the bluewater until next fall. […]

When fishing from a kayak in the nearshore ocean, try to fish with at least one other fisherman for safety purposes.

Kayak safety for ocean fishing

Jerry Dilsaver

Part of the fun of tackling big fish from a kayak is fishing with your friends and reliving the experience when telling the story. The first part, fishing with friends, is a key part of safety and the second, reliving the experience when telling the story, means having a safe and successful trip. […]

Using a circle hook allows easier release of big red drum, which can’t be kept longer than 27 inches.

Handling large fish for release

Jerry Dilsaver

The fall fishery off Oak Island for kings and red drum is a fishery for large fish, some of which must be released. Many fishermen keep king mackerel to eat, and that is good as they are very weak after being fought to a kayak and their odds of healthy survival are not good. […]

Capt. Rod "Ponytail" Thomas is catching bull redfish in the Georgetown, S.C. area, and takes great care to release them properly.

VIDEO: How to revive a sluggish redfish

Brian Cope

It’s bull redfish time across the Carolinas. Anglers are catching them from the piers, the beaches, and while fishing from boats. While some anglers target these trophy fish this time of year, others catch them while going after slot-sized fish. Anglers fishing for sharks also hook a bull redfish from time to time. […]

Two if by sea – Oak Island’s fantastic fall kayak fishery

Jerry Dilsaver

The nearshore ocean off North Carolina’s Oak Island has attracted fish and fishermen for decades. It is one of only a few south-facing beaches along the coast of the Carolinas, and the unique westerly flow of water running out the Cape Fear River carries bait down the beach for a ways instead of sweeping it to the north like at most other inlets. […]

Big, bull redfish will stay locked on to schools of menhaden moving down the beaches of the Grand Strand this time of year.

Big reds like Grand Strand beaches, too

Jeff Burleson

Fall fishing action fires off all over the South Carolina coast this time of year, but for big-fish action, you don’t have to go far from the beach. Big, bull redfish are heading out of inlets for the ocean, where they will spend the winter, making nearshore waters, especially those off the Grand Strand, prime areas to be brought to your knees by a strong fish. […]

Guide Noah Lynk won a battle with this bull redfish off Cape Lookout last fall.

‘Lookout’ for big bull redfish

Craig Holt

By October, most inshore saltwater species will have moved through the inlets along North Carolina’s northern coast and into the ocean, especially after the water begins to cool. […]

Glenn Finley said the marshes of Georgetown are very similar to what redfish anglers see in south Louisiana.

Georgetown’s waters are top drawer for redfish

Phillip Gentry

According to redfish tournament champ Glenn Finley, the vast expanses of marsh, creeks, bays and sounds around Georgetown, S.C., are the closest match he has seen to the popular redfish meccas of south Louisiana. […]

The clear waters around Wrightsville Beach make for great sight-fishing opportunities for redfish.

Wrightsville Beach’s diverse redfish opportunities

Phillip Gentry

Of the great fishing destinations along the North Carolina coast, Wrightsville Beach — at the end of I-40 and US 74 — is probably the easiest to get to and has the most different targets waiting for anglers: rock jetties, marshes, bays and plenty of protected area behind the barrier islands. […]