FISHING FOR REDFISH IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

With a geographic distribution across the Gulf of Mexico and up the Eastern Seaboard, the Redfish is one of the most popular and sought after saltwater gamefish.  Their popularity today is almost as high as it was 20 years ago, but the reasons are different.  Chef Paul Prudhome created a recipe for “Blackened Redfish” which was pretty good.  It was so good, in fact, that that little recipe and dish served in a restaurant almost single-handedly led to the permanent extinction of the species.  When the commercial value of Redfish went higher than that of other food fish, many commercial vessels began targeting them.  Due to the Redfish’s behavior and locations, the fishing techniques were incredibly effective and devastating. 

As a schooling fish, massive schools of redfish would gather near the surface making themselves easily visible from spotter planes used in the fishing industry.  The plane would locate them and a large vessel would surround the entire school and capture virtually every single fish.  It did not take long to realize that the methods of fishing for this fish were going to lead to the extinction of the species.  Wisely, the Redfish was given gamefish status, protecting it from that type of fishing. 

Since the status and protection has been implemented, the Redfish has made an incredible recovery.  Many scientists claim that the recovery of the Redfish Species may be the most successful recovery that any of us will se in our lifetime.  Given the chance, the Redfish will thrive and reproduce rapidly.  Throughout the Gulf Coast and the Eastern Seaboard, Redfish anglers are enjoying healthy and growing populations which make for tremendous fishing.

The popularity of Redfish today is due in part to their hard fighting and often accommodating attitude but also to a professional tournament series seen on national television each week.  The ESPN Redfish Cup is one of three tournament trails that target the redfish across the Country.  FLW and IFA also have series and Tom Rowland and Rich Tudor have competed and won professional redfish tournaments as well as designing the top selling redfish bait, Strike King’s Redfish Magic.

The Florida Keys is home to some of the best Redfishing in the State of Florida.  With the perfect habitat, our Redfish will often swim so shallow that their backs and tails stick out of the water.  These “tailing” redfish are great targets for flyfishermen and spin fishermen throughout the Florida Keys and Key West.  Not every fish will be tailing, and some of the most productive situations will occur in slightly deeper water.  Anglers of all ages and skill levels can catch redfish with a variety of methods.

The Everglades and Upper Keys will hold the largest concentrations of Redfish but the Lower Keys also are home to many populations of fish.  It seems that the Hurricanes of the last 5 years have transplanted many schools of redfish to the Lower Keys who happily feast on the wide variety of food available to them.
 
Give us a call to schedule your redfish trip in the Florida Keys.  We can also arrange guides throughout the country utilizing our relationships forged on the Professional Redfish Tours.

Prices range from
Flats Skiff : Inshore $400 - $600
Bay Boat : Inshore $450 - $850