Where To Find Big Redfish During Summer

Think the big redfish disappeared when the water heated up?

They didn’t.

Big summer redfish are actually pretty predictable if you know what to look for.

I created this video to show you the four types of spots I look for when targeting big redfish in the summer.

Featured Software

• Smart Fishing Spots

Why Big Redfish Move In The Summer

As water temperatures rise, bigger redfish become more focused on conserving energy.

They’re looking for places that provide:

• Cooler water
• Current
• Easy access to food

Instead of roaming around shallow flats all day, they’ll often position themselves near deeper water and let bait come to them.

That’s why I like to think in terms of feeding zones and safety zones.

Shallow areas provide feeding opportunities, while nearby deeper water gives the fish a place to retreat when temperatures climb.

Finding areas that offer both is one of the keys to catching larger summer reds.

Fish Edges And Drop-Offs

One of the first places I look is a shallow flat that borders deeper water.

Big redfish may feed shallow early in the day, but once the sun gets high, they’ll often slide off into nearby channels or deeper troughs.

Instead of staying on top of the flat all day, I like to work the edges where shallow water meets deeper water.

Those transition areas can hold some of the biggest fish around.

Focus On Points With Current

Points are natural feeding funnels.

Current pushes bait around the tip of the point, and big redfish simply sit in position and wait for food to come to them.

If you don’t have strong tidal current in your area, wind-blown points can accomplish the same thing.

The key is movement.

If a point isn’t getting current or wind pushing bait through it, I’ll usually move on and find a better area.

Funnels Concentrate Fish

Another area I love targeting is anywhere water gets squeezed.

Examples include:

• Creek mouths
• Passes
• Inlets
• Narrow channels

These areas force baitfish into predictable paths, making it easier for larger redfish to feed without expending much energy.

Big fish are efficient.

They don’t want to chase meals all over the bay when they can sit in one location and let the current deliver food right to them.

Structure Near Deep Water Is Critical

Docks, bridges, and oyster bars can all hold fish, but only if they’re connected to deeper water.

An isolated shallow dock or oyster bar often looks great, but it may not hold bigger fish during the heat of summer.

What I really want to find is:

• Structure next to a channel
• Oyster bars with nearby troughs
• Bridges with current and depth
• Docks positioned along deeper edges

Those combinations create ideal feeding opportunities while giving fish quick access to cooler water.

Ask Yourself These Three Questions

Before I spend much time fishing an area, I ask myself three questions:

Is there current?

Moving water helps position bait and brings food to the fish.

Is there deep water nearby?

Big redfish want quick access to safety and cooler temperatures.

Is there bait?

If there isn’t food present, there’s usually no reason for the fish to stay.

If the answer is no to any of those questions, I’ll often leave and find another area instead of wasting time fishing dead water.

Final Thoughts

Big summer redfish aren’t gone.

They’ve simply moved to areas that offer current, depth, and easy feeding opportunities.

So instead of changing lures every few casts, spend more time looking for edges, points, funnels, and structure near deeper water.

Find those areas, and you’ll find fish no matter what state you live in.

And if you want help finding those spots faster, Smart Fishing Spots and the Salt Strong Insider Club can make the process much easier.