What Happens To Redfish When it’s Hot? [And What To Use]

Most anglers see a blazing-hot afternoon and assume the redfish bite is DONE.

But that’s not always true.

In fact, once you understand what’s happening to redfish when water temps push into the 90s, you can start predicting exactly where they’ll move and what they’ll want to eat.

And there’s one BIG reason deeper, moving water can become such a productive place to look.

Watch the video below to see the science behind this summer pattern, how I rig blue crab for these fish, and the artificial lures I trust when the heat is cranked up.

Featured Software:

• Smart Fishing Spots

Featured Gear:

• Rod: Slam Stick 7’6 Medium Heavy
• Reel: Diawa BG MQ 3000
• Lure 1: Prawn XT OG
• Lure 2: Prawn XT JR
• Hook 1: Hoss Round Eye Jighead
• Hook 2: Hoss Weedless Round Eye Jighead
• Hook 3: Hoss Football Jighead
• Hook 4: Hoss Weedless Football Jighead
• Mainline: Diawa J-Braid 20lb
• Leader: Ande 20lb Mono Leader

You can find the tackle featured in this video at FishStrong.com.

Why Redfish Move To Deeper Water In Hot Weather

Redfish can tolerate water temperatures above 90 degrees, but extreme heat creates an interesting problem.

As water temperatures rise, a redfish’s metabolism increases.

That means the fish needs MORE food and energy just to maintain normal bodily functions.

But at the same time, warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen.

So the fish has an increased demand for oxygen right when there’s less of it available.

That combination can make certain areas much more attractive than others during the hottest part of the day.

Deeper water is often cooler near the bottom, while moving water helps reoxygenate the water column.

That’s why deeper channels, current seams, and other areas with consistent water movement can be excellent places to search for summer redfish when shallow water gets extremely hot.

Best Bait For Redfish In Hot Summer Conditions

When redfish are dealing with extremely warm water, an easy meal can be hard to beat.

That’s where cut bait shines.

A chunk of blue crab sitting on the bottom doesn’t require a redfish to burn much energy chasing it down.

For the crab rig shown in the video, remove the legs, trim the pointed edges of the shell, and cut the crab in half.

Then run your jighead through the rear leg or flapper hole and out through the shell.

You’re left with a compact chunk of natural bait that can sit right in the strike zone.

And as you saw in the video, a big redfish had no problem finding it.

Major and minor feeding periods can also help stack the odds in your favor.

The fish in this trip ate right in the middle of a major feeding period, which is another piece of information worth paying attention to when planning a summer trip.

Best Artificial Lures For Summer Redfish

Cut bait isn’t your only option.

If you want to target these fish with artificial lures, larger profiles can work extremely well during the summer.

Baitfish are typically larger this time of year, and a bigger lure presents redfish with exactly what they’re looking for:

A BIG, easy meal.

Four- to five-inch lure profiles are a great starting point.

For paddletails, I like pairing them with a round-eye jighead.

If I’m fishing relatively clean bottom without much structure, I’ll use an open-face jighead to maximize hookups.

If there are oysters, rocks, or other snaggy structure around, I’ll switch to a weedless version.

Best Jighead For Paddletails And Shrimp Lures

Jighead style can also make a difference depending on the lure profile you’re fishing.

I prefer a round-eye jighead with paddletails because the visible eye matches the profile of a baitfish and gives predators another target to key in on.

Shrimp are different.

For shrimp profiles like the Prawn, I prefer a football-style jighead.

The football head helps the lure sit naturally on the bottom and allows the shrimp profile to stand up.

Again, match the hook style to the structure you’re fishing.

Use an open hook when the bottom is relatively clean.

Go weedless when you’re fishing around heavy structure or areas where snagging is a concern.

And if you want something that can survive multiple fish and multiple trips, the new Prawn XT is made from an extra-tough material designed for exactly that.

Final Thoughts

Extremely hot summer afternoons don’t automatically mean you should stop fishing for redfish.

You just need to understand what those fish are dealing with.

Hotter water increases their metabolism while simultaneously reducing dissolved oxygen, which can make deeper, moving water especially attractive.

Find cooler water with current, give those fish an easy meal, and you can still put some impressive reds in the boat even during the hottest part of the day.

And whenever you’re fighting fish in extreme heat, make sure to take your time during the release and let the fish fully recover before it swims away.

What’s your go-to strategy for catching redfish during the hottest part of summer?

Let me know in the comments!