An Unexpected Tactic to Trigger Redfish Strikes
- By: Matthew Lanier
- on
I decided to take my kayak around the bend and fish Cedar Key for the first time. The day started off calm and clear without a ton of current. I knew there were redfish in the area, but I had to get them moving before they would eat.
In the video below, I’ll show you the technique I used to get the bite going. Just keep in mind, there’s a very fine line between spooking fish and getting them in the boat.
On-the-Water Action and Analysis
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Trip Details
- Location: Cedar Key, FL
- Time of Day: 7:00 AM -1:00 PM
- Air Temperature: High 80’s by the afternoon
- Wind: 1-5 MPH from the NE
- Cloud Cover: Clear skies
- Tide: Low & Incoming
- Water Depth: 1-2 feet
- Water Clarity: Murky
Equipment
Rod and Reel Setup
- Rod: Bull Bay Bolt 7’6″ Medium action
- Reel: Daiwa BG MQ Series 3000
- Mainline: 10-lb Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand Braid
- Leader: 20-lb Ande Monofilament
Lures and Scent
Vessel
- 2020 Hobie Outback
Key to Success
- When in an area where you have identified fish are sitting still, be as quiet as possible as any movement or noise will put those fish on high alert.
- When dealing with inactive fish, going with a slower presentation that will bump along the bottom can be a good way to get bites from those finicky fish that don’t seem willing to commit to other options.
- If all other tactics fail to get the fish in an active feeding mode, you can sometimes get the fish to move around by pushing up to them to get them to change position. It is in this moment in which the fish moves, that you have an opportunity to get a well placed cast in front of them to entice them to take your lure while on the run. If the fish is moving, it will be much more likely to eat your lure than if they are laying still and not moving.
- Using Smart Fishing Spots to find oyster bars is a great way to find high probability zones for redfish.
If you have any questions about how we found the fish, what it took to get them to bite, or you have some feedback for me, I’d love to hear from you! Drop those in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
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Thanks Matt.
You got it John! Thanks for watching!
Do you think they were asleep?
I don’t know if they were asleep or what, but they were not active for sure! We got em active and chewing though! lol