Redfish Fly Fishing
Charter

Redfish are an amazing fish because they can be targeted with a fly or artificial baits year round in the state of Florida. Their ability to withstand a wide temperature range and their willingness to eat a properly presented fly or artificial bait is what makes this species one of the most sought-after saltwater fish game fish in the state.

Fly fishing for redfish in Tampa Bay is a game of placement and presentation. These fish love to eat and our fly or artificial selection is dictated by the time of year.

The equipment that we use for these fish with a fly rod 8 and 9 weight rods to accommodate for the wind and the weighted flies that we use. Anyone from a novice to an expert can come to target them. Weight forward floating fly lines are a must along with a 10-12 foot leader for the fish that can be spooky.include, Conventional spin tackle equipment will include 7-7’6″ rods with 15-20 lb braid is what I like to use to target redfish with a plug rod. Artificials include spoons, mirrolures topwaters, and bucktail jigs. Choice of artificial will vary with time of the year and water temperature.

The average size of the redfish that we find in Tampa year round is between 14-30″ which would be around 4-12 pounds. They can be found just about everywhere including the river systems, mangrove shorelines, and our grass flats. With Tampa Bay being the largest saltwater estuary in Florida, it’s safe to say we have our fair share. It’s not uncommon to find these fish in shallow water rooting around for crabs and shrimp with their tails out of the water. Through the months of September and October, these fish school up before their annual spawn. When this happens, the size of the fish that move in are considerably bigger. These fish have a different mentality when in a large school and we begin to see a competitive mentality. bay

The equipment that we use for these fish with a fly rod 8 and 9 weight rods to accommodate for the wind and the weighted flies that we use. Anyone from a novice to an expert can come to target them. Weight forward floating fly lines are a must along with a 10-12 foot leader for the fish that can be spooky.include, Conventional spin tackle equipment will include 7-7’6″ rods with 15-20 lb braid is what I like to use to target redfish with a plug rod. Artificials include spoons, mirrolurestopwaters and bucktail jigs. Choice of artificial will vary with time of the year and water temperature.