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Captains corner: Redfish hammering artificials between fronts

 
Published March 7, 2013

What's hot: Between the late-season cold fronts redfish are slamming artificial lures. Catches are modest in size, even though the numbers are good. Some areas hold over-slot (more than 27 inches) fish.

Tackle: Medium spinning outfits are appropriate, rigged with plastic tails on light jig heads, suspending twitchbaits and topwater lures tied to a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. Light braided lines translate to long casts, which are needed to get lures in front of skittish redfish.

Scouting: Concentrate on depths of 8 inches to 2 feet and areas with a bottom featuring a mix of grass and sand or mud. Also try creek mouths and up against mangrove shorelines at higher tides. Retrieve the lure slowly.

Neil Taylor charters kayak fishing trips in the Tampa Bay area and can be reached at strikethreekayakfishing.com and (727) 692-6345.