- 1). Take a trip to Florida. Although Red Fish can be found in many parts of the United States, Florida seems to be a major area of concentration for them, especially around Mosquito Lagoon. To make it even better, Red Fish thrive in Florida year round, even during the winter.
- 2). Learn to adequately cast your line at least 50 feet. Red Fish scare quite easily, especially by boats. The longer that you can cast your line, the better chance you will have at hooking the big one. As long as the water is clear and there is no wind, you should be able to see the schools beneath you or a short distance away. This will help you place your boat in the best position.
- 3). Learn where to cast your line. Red Fish swim in large schools which can be a real benefit to getting one on your line, but can also be a hindrance. Be sure to calculate how far out you think the school reaches and cast your line in front of them. If your lure lands in the center of the school it's just going to scare them away. They must discover the bait, not have the bait thrown at them.
- 4). Be prepared with the right bait and weights. Red Fish can be found at pretty much any depth from 1 to 8 feet, depending on the day and the weather. Being prepared with a host of different baits and weights can be of a great advantage to you while your out on the water so you can be prepared for anything. You are also going to want to use a 9-foot leader with an 18- to 20-pound tippet. Just about any bait works as long as you can imitate the movement of a sand crab with your line. Even if you are a novice fly fisherman, look for times when the Red Fish are in a feeding frenzy near the top of the water. You will almost be guaranteed to catch a big one.
- 5). Know the slot limit. Red Fish are pretty plentiful in Florida. This is because of a strict slot limit. You will be required to release any fish over 27 inches. However, that doesn't mean that you can't take a picture of the three footer to show off to your friends before you release it.
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