How the Redfish Spawn Works

The timing of the redfish spawn depends on numerous factors. Location plays a role,­ as it does in all redfish fishing. Mature redfish follow baitfish populations up and down the Atlantic coast and through the Gulf of Mexico.

Much of the movement of fish populations is due to water temperature. In spring, schools of baitfish move up the Atlantic coast, and the redfish follow, eating all the way.

In the Texas part of the Gulf, the redfish spawn takes place in late winter or early spring. Farther north, the spawn might happen in August or September -- hurricane season. In the Indian River lagoon in Florida -- one of the few inshore spawning grounds -- the spawn typically happens in late fall.

Many environmental factors affect not just the timing but also the size of the spawn. Factors to consider include

The availability of food for the larvae and juvenile fish, predator populations, river discharge -- which can be affected by recent rain -- and water salinity also make an impact. [Source: Louisiana Fisheries]

Once you've considered timing, it's all about location, location, location. On the next page, you'll learn where redfish spawn, and why.

Usually, redfish spawn along the sou­theast Atlantic coast and Gulf Coast of the United States. You can find them from Virginia, south to the tip of Florida, and around the Gulf, all the way down to Texas.

Be aware that many conservation efforts are in place, and each state has a different program -- which means each state has different regulations on how many fish you can keep, as well as a minimum and maximum size for those fish. In Louisiana, for example, you can't keep a redfish more than 27 inches long; at this size, it's probably about three or four years old, and it has reached maturity, so it has had a chance to spawn before you catch it. Louisiana also has special saltwater angling license regulations pertaining to redfish. The minimum size requirement helps ensure that more fish reach maturity.

Redfish typically spawn in warm, deep waters, on incoming tides. They follow the schools of baitfish, such as menhaden shad (a.k.a. pogie), up and down the coast. The adult fish -- called bulls, regardless of their gender -- school when the water gets warm. They like to hang out around underwater structures, like reefs or submerged wrecks. Redfish are predators, and these underwater structures interfere with the current, allowing the redfish to surprise their prey.

Before you set sail, be aware that many guides now avoid fishing for redfish during the span, in order to give the population a chance to rebuild itself. Other anglers practice a strict catch-and-release policy. Size regulations mean you'll probably be doing quite a bit of catch-and-release no matter what. But that has special implications for redfish. Read on to learn more.

Redfish are natural fighters know to battle in excess of 20 minutes­. [Source: Miami Herald] That makes for exciting fishing, but demands vigilance for the fisherman. Why? By the time you finally reel in the redfish, it's exhausted. Lactic acid -- the same thing that makes your legs burn after a sprint -- has built up in its muscles. You might need to revive it before you let it go; otherwise it might not have the energy to swim away, turning your catch-and-release into a catch-and-accidentally-kill.

Another problem with catching and releasing redfish during the spawn is that these fish usually hang out in shallow waters. During the spawn, however, they're literally out of their depth. They may have dived deeper than they're used to. That wouldn't be an issue, except their air bladders are poorly adapted for depth. If you reel in a redfish from deeper currents, it may arrive at the surface with its air bladder prolapsed -- protruding from the mouth. You'll have to get the bladder back inside before you release the fish, meaning you must deflate it. Some fishermen carry a small ice pick or similar tool to give the air bladder a small puncture.

Always watch a released redfish closely. If it doesn't swim away energetically, get it back in the boat and work to revive it.

What about equipment? Fluorocarbon reels work well. Some anglers recommend 20-pound test line; others prefer 40-pound line. You can use light tackle, but remember how much these fish fight. Spinning or casting tackles are a good idea. So is a heavy-duty hook.

One last note -- if you're fishing with friends, you might want to take turns. Like people, redfish turn "dumb and silly" when they're mating. [Source: Miami Herald] If you have multiple lines hanging off the boat, you might catch multiple fish at once, and they've been known to fight so hard they get the lines tangled under the boat -- even in the propellers.