This Is How To Locate Redfish On High Tide Around Grass Flats
- By: Richard Thomas
- on September 17, 2021
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Paddlecraft, Red Drum, Red Drum Tips, Weekly Newsletter: 9-19-21
Are you itching to fish but the tide is high and you aren’t sure where the fish will aggressively hunt bait?
The best areas to reel in slot redfish on high tide are in the grass flats or areas with a big tidal shift.
The tall grass and sloping banks allow redfish to pile up and find bait in the mud.
Check out these tips on how to successfully target redfish at high tide!
This Is How To Locate Redfish On High Tide In Grass Flats [VIDEO]
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Even though there will be more water, the fish can be predictable in the areas they set up in.
Fishing The Grass Line
A productive area to fish is a steep bank below a line of taller grass where there is good current nearby connecting to a larger body of water.
This can be near a main creek system or intercoastal waterway.
The best time to fish these areas is when the water just starts to creep into the grass.
There’s just enough water for the baitfish and crustaceans to get into the grass and find somewhere to hide but not enough water for the redfish to swim in there and feed.
During this time, the redfish are hugging very close to the banks cruising up and down picking off small baitfish.
This is also one of the best times in the tide cycle to fish hard and cover water up and down the banks.
The fish are aggressive and hunting bait along the edges of the grass.
An important key to keep in mind is looking for high probability zones on the bank.
Whether that be a small grass point on edges of small coves or anything that breaks the linear shoreline.
Fishing In The Grass
When more water starts to come in, don’t be afraid to cast a few feet into the grass with a weedless jerk shad or spoon.
Many times these fish are several feet or more into the grass.
By slowly pulling it through the grass you will get the attention of a redfish and they will strike the lure.
Fishing The Tidal Flats
These are areas that are dry during most of the tide cycle.
When there is enough water for the redfish to get into these areas, they are in a race against time to eat as much as they possibly can before the water empties back out and the tide changes.
The flats are also plentiful with crabs and shrimp among other baitfish that are trying to escape from predators.
If you have a small craft or skiff you can get onto these flats for a short time and do some fishing.
This will often have good sight fishing opportunities as well where you will be able to see pushes and wakes from redfish.
And who doesn’t want to see that??
Conclusion
Fishing on high tide can be productive as the fish are hungry and active in the tidal flats and areas with tall grass.
The redfish will hug the shoreline in search of baitfish or crustaceans to feed on.
And breaks in the shoreline can indicate where a fish might be patrolling for food.
Casting out into the grass for redfish will also give you the best chance at catching a slot redfish during high tide.
If you have any further questions about targeting redfish on high tide, please let me know in the comments!!
And if you know someone who loves to catch redfish but cannot find them at high tide, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Great Video Richard!! Well done my man!!
Solid Work!
Thanks Matthew!!
Hey Richard, great video! Question: When fishing the tidal flats, how shallow is “too shallow” when it comes to the water depth that redfish will venture in to feed? I’ve heard the term “belly crawler” when it comes to redfish swimming in shallow water, but I’ve never actually seen this myself. I always assumed that I shouldn’t bother fishing water any shallower than 10-12″.
Just thought of another question: Do redfish hunt in groups of more than 2-3 or are they typically solo hunters? For example, if I hook up a redfish waiting to ambush prey around a bridge pylon, should I assume there are no other redfish around that same pylon and move to another?
Thanks again for the great video!
Great Questions Matthew!
So I honestly don’t believe there is too shallow of a pace for redfish- Just as you said I have seen them on many occasions where even their eyeballs were over the water line and they were still chasing bait.
The better question in my opinion is if there is a escape route- If you know there is an escape route to deeper water nearby that they can access, I have seen these types of areas or flats are the most productive compared to just shallow water. -Also keep a eye out for mudcrabs and small grass shrimp, those typically make a flat a winner for reds.
I think most redfish are always close to others. In your warmer months the mid and upper slots tend to break up from the bigger schools however. Sometimes they still hunt together in 2-3s and other times they are just in the same general vicinity because there is bait present.
In your colder months is when they typically school up together.
Redfish also cruise back and forth in areas so if you catch one on a defined piece of structure as you mentioned, there is a good chance another will swim by the same route as long as its a similar part of tide. Moving and covering water often can work as well, as long as you don’t disturb the area or spook the fish while moving- depends on the situation.
Hope that helps!
That is incredibly helpful and I will be putting this knowledge to the test this weekend. My fishing plans have us close to some tidal flats. I’ll be able to directly apply your tactics and post the results in a fishing report in the Community area. Thanks very much for your reply!
Anytime!
If its at the top of the tide I like to use a small paddle-tail like the SS 2.0 or a crab imitation. As the water starts dropping a small shrimp imitation can be deadly. If fish are in the area you will definitely see and hear them chasing bait.
Good luck, let us know how it goes!
I was curious how your weekend fishing venture went Matt. Were you able to get on some fish with the tactics shown in the video and discussion? Hope you did well!!
I would like to know as well! Jim, don’t forget you can message Matt on the community by searching for his name as well! Sometimes thats easier!
Do you have an Instagram page Richard?
Hey Skylar, I do! It’s a personal page right now, but you can find the link to it on my Salt Strong community profile.
Hey Richard, great video. I noticed you are fishing out of the Shearwater and was wondering how you like it? I currently fish from a Sea Ghost 130 and an Old Town Topwater; and I was thinking of getting a Shearwater. How do you like it and is there a particular reason you chose it over other pedal drive kayaks?
Hey John, Thanks. I like the SW a lot. Its a very stable kayak and has proven well over the last year or so. The top reasons I got it were the price, and the seat I think is the best in the industry, and you can add in a seat perch to allow you to be more elevated above the water when sitting. Another very cool feature is that the rudder is ready for a bixby motor jet if you were to get one, you dont have to change anything on your existing rudder or make any additional holes etc.
-I wouldn’t feel as comfortable in the ocean compared to others, just due to the low sides. It is pretty easy to get water over, but that being said I’ve been in some very hairy stuff and came out fine. For 90% of inshore fishing i thinks it’s an excellent kayak. It will also take the hobie 180 mirage drive with fins. I fish shallow a lot so this was a big bonus rather than a prop drive. It also paddles decent for its size.
Great video and info, I plan to try these techniques tomorrow 👍
Awesome, remember its all about water level on where they will be located! Good luck!
Awesome video Richard! Those were some quality reds!
Thanks Mario! By far one of my favorite species inshore!
Good tips and video of the catches.
Thanks Mel, glad you liked it!
Nice job cane polling that red !!
Thanks Bill, it was a rush!
Really Enjoyed this video! I couldn’t believe that last Red took the bait after it was dropped so close to him! Great Job!
Thanks Bob, you and me both!! The Alabama Leprechaun rigged weedless is one of my favorite lures for sight fishing reds on flats and in the grass.
That was awesome! Great video!
That type of fishing is right up my alley, would love to get up there sometime and do it. Is there a better time of year for fishing on the grass?
Keep these coming!
Thanks Pat!
So with the higher tides, fish often get on the flats here for a short amount of time even when its hot because there is so much water movement, so really all year is good for locating them in these types of areas.
That being said, your best chance of catching them more consistently in my opinion is the Fall and colder months. Spring and Summer have so much small bait and a variety of bait, it can be tricky to catch them at times. As it gets colder and the bait grows the fish turn on big time!
If you want actual flood tide fishing which we have here as well, Summer through early fall is when we get the big tides that can completely flood the grass that normally may not see water.