Scianeops Ocellatus

Redfish tailing in shallow, saltwater flats have to be one of the most desirable saltwater gamefish. They require patience, a great understanding of the ecosystem, a stealthy approach, an accurate presentation, and they fight like a "poor man's bonefish." The only problem with redfish is that they taste great. In the mid-'70s, New Orleans chef and book author Paul Prudhomme promoted blackened redfish as gourmet fare, and the resulting demand caused a commercial fishing frenzy that nearly eradicated the species from many areas. It took massive changes in many state fishing regulations, and the participation of sportsfishermen (who became catch-and-release fishermen) to save the species from exctinction and bring redfish back to their current levels of abundance. Today redfish are found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico from New Jersey to Mexico, and everywhere in between. The best places to fly fish for them are over shallow flats with sandy or muddy bottoms. They are most commonly found in inlets, channels, and estuaries with brackish water, but can tolerate both salt and fresh water.

You can find redfish flats in Florida (both coasts), Texas, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and most other southern states with ocean frontage. Most redfish weigh between 5 and 15 pounds, but the chance at a real honker is a very real possibility. Redfish run up to 75 pounds or more, and most saltwater fly rods records are over 30 pounds. While these records are interesting from the perspective of understanding the species, the important thing you need to know is that a ten-pound redfish on a fly rod will provide all the excitement you need, and then some. Redfish don't jump, but they make long powerful runs. An elongated fish with a square tail, the redfish's general coloration is coppery or bronze on the back, darker in color than the sides, with a general silver or grey color behind the darker hues. The belly is white.The snout of the fish is slightly rounded, with the upper jaw protruding a little beyond the lower one. There's a large black "eye spot" just in front of the tail. Occasionally, there will be two or more spots, but most fish will have the single spot that provides the simplest, most immediate means of identifying a redfish

. Like many saltwater species, it has two anal spines that can cause injury to gloveless hands. Be careful. The almost universally accepted common name for Sciaenops ocellatus from Florida to Texas is "redfish," but there are many, many other terms used to describe the species across the country. In Georgia and South Carolina they are sometimes called "spot-tails" or "spot-tailed bass" to get. A few "bull drum" are also found in the region. In North Carolina the official state fish is the "channel bass." Redfish can have different names at various stages of their development. Those less than ten pounds are sometimes called "puppy drum." From 10 to 30 pounds they are "yearlings," and only after they reach the 30 pounds or more can they be called "red drum" or "drum." Some peopel even refer to them as "poor man's bonefish." The preferred method of fishing is to take a boat to a warm water tidal flat, sight the fish 'tailing' , anchor up, get out, wade to within casting distance, and drop a fly in front of the feeding school. The fly pattern is generally a crustacean imitation or a minnow/streamer pattern. When they're feeding, redfish root on the bottom trying to turn over feed. This creates the murky water that benefits flyfishers. The fish are often so intense with what they're doing that they don't spook at the drop of the fly. Some anglers swear that making the fly plop loudly actually attracts the fish.