3 Things That Determine Your Tailing Redfish Lure

Seeing a redfish tail sticking out of the water is about as exciting as it gets.

You found a fish.

It’s actively feeding.

Now you just have to convince it to eat YOUR lure.

And that last part isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

Tailing redfish can be surprisingly picky, especially in clear water or heavily pressured areas.

So instead of reaching for one “magic” lure every time, there are 3 things you should look at before making your first cast.

Featured Software:

• Smart Fishing Spots

Featured Gear:

• Prawn XT JR

What Is A Tailing Redfish?

A tailing redfish is simply a redfish feeding with its nose down toward the bottom.

As it roots through grass, mud, or shell looking for food, its body tips forward and its tail can break the surface.

Sometimes you’ll only see the very tip of the tail.

Other times, nearly the entire tail is sticking straight out of the water.

Either way, there’s one important thing you already know:

That fish is feeding.

But feeding doesn’t necessarily mean easy to catch.

The lure you choose and how you present it should depend on what that particular fish is telling you.

The 3 Things That Determine Your Lure

Before picking a lure, Pat looks at three variables:

1. How Spooky Are The Fish?

This is one of the biggest factors.

Tailing redfish in heavily pressured areas may have boats, anglers, birds, dolphins, and lures around them all day long.

Those fish can get VERY skittish.

In that situation, Pat prefers a natural, subtle presentation that isn’t going to create a bunch of flash, vibration, or splash.

A small shrimp imitation like the Prawn XT JR is a great example.

Another option is a simple “do nothing” style bait like the Polk County Tweaker.

There doesn’t need to be anything flashy about the presentation.

You’re simply trying to make an easy meal appear in front of a feeding fish without giving it a reason to spook.

But if the redfish are aggressive and aren’t showing signs of being pressured, you can get away with more vibration.

That’s when a paddletail like the Slam Shady 2.0 or 4-inch Mulligan can shine.

The vibration helps the fish locate the lure, which can be especially important because a tailing redfish is often focused almost entirely on what’s directly underneath it.

2. What Are The Conditions?

Conditions can completely change the amount of commotion you want from your lure.

Think about it this way:

Calm water = calm presentation.

Windy or dirty water = more vibration can help.

If the water is slick calm and clear, a loud lure landing near a redfish can send it running.

A subtle shrimp or stickbait presentation is usually the safer choice.

But if there’s wind, chop, dirty water, or slightly deeper water, the fish may need a little more help finding your lure.

That’s where a paddletail can become much more effective.

You also need to consider the bottom.

Thick grass may require a weedless presentation, while cleaner bottom gives you more freedom with how you rig your lure.

3. What Are The Redfish Eating?

Tailing redfish are commonly digging around for:

• Shrimp
• Crabs
• Marine worms
• Small baitfish
• Other crustaceans

But don’t assume.

Look around you.

If you see shrimp spraying across the surface as the fish feed, throw something that resembles a shrimp.

If you see small baitfish or mud minnows scattering, switch to a baitfish profile.

The fish will often tell you exactly what they’re eating if you pay attention.

Lure Placement May Be More Important Than Lure Choice

You can have the perfect lure tied on and still ruin your shot with one bad cast.

This is especially true with spooky redfish.

If a fish is moving in a particular direction, resist the temptation to drop your lure right on its head.

Instead, lead the fish.

For pressured fish in clear water, Pat likes to place the lure at least a couple of feet ahead of the redfish and let the fish swim toward it.

That gives the lure time to settle naturally without startling the fish.

If the fish doesn’t notice it, you can gradually make your next cast a little closer.

It’s much easier to move your presentation closer than it is to bring back a redfish you just scared halfway across the flat.

The Tailing Redfish Tip Most Anglers Miss

Not every tailing redfish gives you the same opportunity.

Pay attention to the angle of the fish.

If the tail is sticking almost straight up at a 90-degree angle, the fish is basically vertical with its nose buried toward the bottom.

That fish is extremely focused on what’s directly underneath it.

Your lure may need to land very close for the fish to even notice it, which makes the cast much more difficult.

But if the tail is sitting at a lower, more horizontal angle, the fish itself is also more horizontal.

That means it can see farther ahead.

You can place the lure farther away, give the fish time to find it, and often watch the redfish swim over and crush it.

The more horizontal the fish is, the higher-percentage opportunity it usually becomes.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cast at the vertical fish.

Just know which fish gives you the better odds.

Final Thoughts

There isn’t one lure that wins every time you see a tail sticking out of the water.

Instead, ask yourself three questions:

How spooky are these fish?

What are the conditions?

What are they eating?

Then adjust your lure and presentation accordingly.

Start subtle when you can.

Add vibration when the conditions or fish behavior call for it.

And most importantly, pay attention to where you place that first cast.

Because when you’ve already found an actively feeding redfish, the last thing you want to do is scare it before it ever sees your lure.

Have you noticed certain lures or presentations working better on tailing redfish in your area?

Let us know in the comments!