Besides avoiding porpoises in winter, red drum like shallow water — especially water over a dark muddy bottom — for two other reasons.
“One reason is warmth,” guide Bryan Goodwin said. “They like to soak up sunshine that time of year.”
Anyone who thinks reds are in shallow water to find baitfish would be mistaken, because when the water drops into the 50s, most inshore baitfish head out of inlets and turn south for more agreeable temperatures.
“It’s almost like redfish are sunning themselves,” he said. “They pretty much know they can relax and be safe and enjoy themselves. I’ve seen ’em just sitting still in the warm sun, not moving at all. I also think they may be conserving energy.”
The other reason red drum like shallow water is food.
“In winter they forage for shellfish such as hibernating crabs and shrimp,” Goodwin said. “They root around on the bottom, where crabs and shrimp bury themselves in winter.”
Anglers who fish the clear, shallow waters in saltwater marshes are familiar with seeing boils of mud, almost like clouds, in the water. They’re made not necessarily by spooked reds, but often by drum stirring up the bottom as they root for food.
“I like to use darker, natural-looking baits such as black or dark-green soft plastics, and you never can go wrong with a little chartreuse in clear winter water,” Goodwin said, “Sometimes reds will hit suspending MirrOlures with black or dark-green backs.”
The main key to remember is cold water dictates slow lure presentations because the activity and metabolism of most fish slows with wintry water temperatures.
“You have to use stealth, be quiet and use a push pole (to move around in the marshes) so you don’t spook the fish,” Goodwin said.
“When the water is coldest and their metabolism slows down, they get very finicky and presentation is the key to getting hook-ups,” he said.
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