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Winter Redfishing

This is one of those times of year that can be both extremely productive but also very difficult. As we enter the colder months of the year, the water temperature can be very dynamic, changing drastically on a day to day basis. In a very short 2-3 day period, water temperatures can fluctuate 30 degrees. This plays a major role on fish behavior. For me, watching the weather and barometer can be a major factor in finding success.

When the water cools down along our coastal beaches and marshes of Oak island, Bald Head, Wrightsville, and Topsail, the water can become extremely clear making for some of the best sightfishing of the year. Phytoplankton and many other suspended particles that can dirty up the water die off and settle to the bottom. A mass migration of various fish species migrate south for warmer more stable water temperature and food. Residential fish that stick around are left with cooler water and less food. This change in season is reflected in the behaviour of redfish perfectly. The enzymes in many fish including redfish, take much longer to breakdown food. Their metabolic rate, energy, and desire to feed can decrease with the decrease in water temperature. This means redfish are much less active in terms of their movement and feeding habits. They are now less concerned with food but more concerned with stable water temperature, and protection. Redfish have a number of predators that they need to worry about. Humans, dolphins and sharks are among the most common. Outside of humans, dolphins are the biggest predator of redfish. As I mentioned, there is less food around during the colder months of the year due to the mass migration of bait including mullet, menhaden, and shrimp. Resident redfish are not the only fish left with less food. With less menhaden and mullet around, dolphins often look for redfish for their next meal. Redfish are very concerned with dolphin predation and seek protection in a number of ways. This is perhaps the main reason why redfish are found in larger schools during this time of year. Schooling fish has often been thought of as a defense mechanism against predators. There are many theories as to how, why, or even if this is effective. Perhaps they are able to perform more evasive maneuvers in a large school. I will leave the “Theory in Numbers” of fish for another discussion for now, but the fact of the matter is that many species of fish are believed to school up for safety.

Now that we know a little bit about what redfish are doing during this time of year, how can we use this information to find and catch more fish? We need to find areas where fish can find protection from dolphins, and stable water temperatures. Fish use a number of things to protect themselves from dolphins. Depth is one of the number on factors that I have seen redfish use to protect themselves. Redfish will often get themselves in shallow water areas where their larger predator dolphins simply cannot reach. Redfish like to put themselves deep in the marsh where there are many shallow water sandbards that make it difficult for dolphins to get to them. Spartina grass flats are another great area for redfish to find protection. I will see redfish deep in the marsh grass moving extremely still conserving energy while remaining unapproachable by dolphins. The tidal ecosystem only allow for these fish to hang in theses areas temporarily while the tide is high and are forced to push back out into dangerous open water. Shallow open water flats also present a potential threat to redfish. The tide and cold air temperatures can be just as much of a problem for redfish as the dolphins are. Shallow water heats up quickly but also drops very quickly as well. In this case, redfish need to find deeper water to hang out in. Sometimes this means leaving the marsh entirely. The ocean being such a large body of water can provide more stable water temperatures. Many fish choose to hang out in the ocean for the duration of winter for this reason. While in the ocean, redfish will use the surf and waves for protection. Surf fishing can be very productive during the winter months for this reason. Fish that are in the surf do not have the ability conserve as much energy as those that hang out in the marsh throughout the winter. For that reason, I have found these fish to be much more susceptible to eating, often times eating anything you throw at them. I have caught redfish in the surf with plain jig heads without any artificial. The redfish hanging out in the marsh however tend to feed much more opportunistically when the weather is right. Warm sunny days when there is a low tide midday is ideal. Darker shallow bottom areas heat up and the redfish gain some energy back and are ready to feed. These fish are still much more picky and usually spooky than those fish found in the ocean. The key to success for me has always been small lightweight baits that you can sneak into those schools without spooking too many of them. Fly fishing is an awesome way to target these fish in the winter as well. Schooling fish is some of the best fly fishing that we get. These fish are smart and very skeptical this time of year. Stealth is very important with not only your bait, but with your approach. Keeping your distance, moving slow, and allowing the fish to swim where they want without bumping into them is ideal. It is also extremely important to let these fish have breaks. The less they are pressured, the more they will be inclined to eat. When you find a school, it is extremely important to only catch a few and move onto another school. I promise there are many schools out there and it is important to not put too much pressure on a single school of fish. With minimal pressure, a school of redfish can last a very long time. If you find a group of fish that will not eat and is spooking very easily, it is best to leave them alone for a few days and let them settle back into their place to find comfort. Nothing is more frustrating then heavily pressure winter redfish.

There are a few links below that you can checkout if you would like to find out a bit more about the science of these fish. I am always intrigued by the way fish think and why they do the things that they do. Finding patterns and theorising reasons behind those patterns patterns is a key to becoming a better fisherman. Thanks for reading!

https://dtmag.com/thelibrary/defense-mechanisms-how-marine-creatures-avoid-predation/#:~:text=It%20is%20believed%20that%20the,the%20one%20the%20predator%20captures.