How To Catch More Redfish Using Cut Bait
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
Lately, fishing has been TOUGH which meant I had to break out an old trick – target redfish using CUT BAIT.
In the video below, we’ll talk about specific cut bait fishing tactics as well as positioning, and much more!
If you’re really struggling to spark a bite, here’s one quick way to kickstart the action!!
How To Catch More Redfish Using Cut Bait [VIDEO]
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Cut Bait Setup:
- Rod: 7’6 Century Weapon Jr. Medium Power Fast Action
- Reel: 2500 Shimano Stradic FL
- Line: 10lb PowerPro
- Leader: 20lb Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon
- Bait: Cut Mullet on 5/0 Owner Mutu Light Circle Hook
Artificial Lure Setup:
- Rod: 7’6 Slot Machine Medium Power Fast Action
- Reel: 2500 Shimano Stradic FL
- Line: 10lb PowerPro
- Leader: 20lb Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon
- Lure: Mulligan (Slam Shady color)
- Hook: 3/0 Hoss Helix Hook 1/8 oz.
Click Here For My Inshore Lure Bundle For The Florida Atlantic!
To kick off this trip, I stopped off at a point on an island because I was able to spot a school of over-slot redfish just hanging out.
They wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with artificial lures.
So I had some frozen mullet with me that I tossed on a hook and let drift toward the redfish.
I positioned myself upwind from the point to face toward it so my bait moved with the current to the fish.
Also, the wind would assist in carrying the scent over to the redfish.
The mullet I had was frozen so I cut off the tail and threw the chunk on a 5/0 circle hook and threw that out to soak.
Cut bait is perfect when you know for a fact there are fish near you, but they do not want to eat artificial lures.
The scent and appeal of cut bait can make all the difference in these moments to trigger a strike.
Be sure to stay upwind and far enough away from the fish to get them to eat.
If you were to toss a chunk of mullet out in an area where there was NOT any fish, you would start to get bites from catfish and other related bycatch.
Rigging The Mullet
All they had on this day at the bait shop was the LARGE mullet but any size will work well.
I start by cutting the tail off first along with the fins and other appendages.
Then I cut about a 2-3 inch piece from the end of the mullet to use as the first bait chunk.
I recommend using 5/0 circle hooks with larger mullet chunks.
Also, you don’t have to change your inshore setup at all and can fish with 10lb braid comfortably.
Set the drag very loose and place the rod in a rod holder and wait for a bite!
I highly recommend you use circle hooks when live bait fishing – they are safer for both you and the fish.
When a fish takes the mullet, it will end up hooking itself in the corner of the mouth due to the circle hook design.
You don’t need to aggressively set the hook like a J-hook, etc.
Simply apply pressure and the circle hook will do the rest.
Click Here For My Inshore Lure Bundle For The Florida Atlantic!
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Finding The Fish Help
In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.
1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)
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2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)
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3. Community Reports (live feed)
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Great video Tony, thanks for the info! I was just thinking about taking some frozen bait with me next time I go out, now i will for sure!
You’re welcome Darren!
If all I can get on a certain day is smaller finger mullet… should I just leave them whole and alive on the circle hook? Or should I just cut the tail off, and maybe slit the belly?
I prefer to cut the tail and slit the belly on the smaller mullet, especially if the fish aren’t being very aggressive to chase down a bait.
Thanks Tony, reminded me of the times we chunked bunker (menhaden) anchored in the Delaware Bay. We’d cut the tails and discarded them and smash up the washed out baits and discard them as well. The stripers would pickup the scent trail and game on, catching stripers up to 50lbs, my pb was 40lb approx. Good times.
Awesome!
Thanks! Very helpful.
You’re welcome Travis!