Winter Reds Series

Lesson 1

Where to Fish for Redfish in the Winter. 

A common mistake of anglers is staying home in the winter months. The belief is often that fish are not as aggressive in the winter. While there is some truth to that, some of my best fishing adventures have been done in the winter months. Plus, it’s nice to get a break from the scorching Florida heat- I’ll take that any chance I can. We are focusing on reds here, but many of these strategies can be used for other species as well. So, let’s take a look at how to catch more fish in the winter. 

Where to find redfish in the winter?

First things first. You can’t catch them unless you know where they are. So the question becomes, “How can I find reds in the winter months?” The great thing about fishing for reds in the winter is that they are often schooled up together. It can quickly become a “find one find them all” type situation. 

Structure: Fishing near a structure is one of the best ways to hone in on a fantastic winter red fish bite. Fish in the winter do not like to move around and “hunt” as much. Rather, they conserve their energy. Structure creates 3 perfect components that all entice a redfish to collect there. 

1. Structure retains heat. Large objects in the water are hit by the sun and heat up the surrounding water. This attracts redfish as they look to stay warm. 
2. Structure attracts bait. Reds are not on the prowl as much in the winter. They would rather loaf around the structure and have their pick of prey as it comes by. 
3. Structure provides security. A fish that is super still is often an easy target. Reds have several critters that target them as a food source. If they want to sit still they do so around some sort of structure for protection. 

What type of structures to look for when fishing for winter reds:

• Docks: Possibly the best structure to look for and hone in on in the winter fishing months are docks. They are large and provide ample room and cover for a large school of reds. Don’t just look at any dock though. Search for ones with a lot of oysters and barnacles attached. Target the first couple of docks after a long break with no docks or structure. These often hold the most fish as it is the first and last cover a red will see. 

• Oyster Beds: Not everywhere has oyster beds, but if you are lucky enough to have them like we do here in North Florida, they are a great structure. They house hundreds of bait fish and shrimp. This makes for an easy snack for red fish that are also seeking structure in the winter months. Large reds often school up in a relatively deeper hole in front of an oyster bed. 

Deep Holes: I often find the most productive deep holes to be on the outside of a bend in a medium to large size creek. Reds are able to sit below the faster moving colder water above them. This is often the best place to look on colder winter days.