6 Best Rigs and Baits For Catching Redfish

Redfish are one of the most popular sport fish in the United States. Some might even describe them as one of the most accommodating inshore gamefish. An enthusiast can catch red drums in almost any imaginable way!

Why are redfish so popular with fishermen? The reasons are simple: they strike hard when hooked, can get very big, and remain delectable when adequately prepared. Moreover, red drums don’t generally take long runs like numerous other game fish, they’re unfussy eaters but put up a great fight.

Finding the perfect redfish rig, bait, or lure can be challenging, as there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. With various options out there to choose from that can fill a cooler in no time, our team from Rite Angler wants to break down some of the best redfish rigs, lures, and baits.

Top Jig Rigs for Redfish

The best redfish lures, baits, and rigs will depend on where and how you want to fish and the size of the redfish you’re fishing for. The best redfish rigs for pier or beach fishing may not ideally suit fishing for red drums in grass flats or other areas. That said, here are our best rigs for redfish.

Most fishermen only need 2 to 3 redfish rigs for their purposes. Once you succeed with a few setups, trying out different options might help you achieve better results.

Jig Rigs

Jig rigs serve as one of the simplest redfish rigs for pier fishing, are incredibly versatile, and remain suitable for numerous kinds of baits and fishing techniques. However, fishermen must remember that jig heads, or any hooks for that matter, can easily become snagged in cover.

Jig rigs are suitable in almost any situation where we can find redfish close to shore, making them the ideal redfish rigs for pier fishing, jetties, surf casting, or when fishing from a boat.

The easiest way to set up a jig rig is by tying a jig head directly to the main line. Some fishermen may also choose to use a few feet of fluorocarbon leader as a helpful addition in clear-water conditions.

Simply bait a jig head with your bait of choice and cast it out, letting it sink to the bottom. When retrieving the lure, bounce the jig rig along the bottom. This technique will help the rig perform better and attract redfish who feed on the bottom.

Let’s take a look at the best jig rigs that you can use on your next fishing adventure.

Soft Plastic Jigs

The most common soft plastic jigs have a small “tail” that emits a scent to attract redfish. While fish like snook feed utilizing their sight, redfish typically feed by smell. You can determine the speed and action of the soft plastic jigs after determining where redfish reside in the water column.

To enhance your soft plastic rig setup for redfish, consider experimenting with different jig styles and sizes. Paddle tails, for example, create more vibration in the water, mimicking the movement of baitfish, which can be particularly effective when redfish feed aggressively. 

Additionally, pairing your soft plastics with a weighted jighead allows you to control the lure's depth and presentation, making it easier to target fish at different levels in the water column. Remember to adjust your retrieve speed depending on the behavior of the redfish and the water conditions, ensuring your lure looks as natural as possible.

Topwater Skimmer Jigs

When fishing in shallower waters, flats, or clear water, topwater skimmer jigs can entice red drums to produce one of the most exciting topwater strikes a fisherman will ever experience. You can position a topwater skimmer jig anywhere in the water column, and they work well even near the bottom. With a medium sink rate, many topwater jigs provide the necessary time to present the bait properly.

Topwater skimmer jigs are especially effective in the early morning or late evening when redfish are more likely to feed near the surface. Their lifelike action and splash create a disturbance that mimics a fleeing baitfish, triggering aggressive strikes from redfish patrolling shallow waters.

Popping Cork Rig

The popping cork is a favorite for many fishermen aiming for inshore redfish. The setup works best in cold, shallow water under 5 feet in depth. Low water temperatures make the red drums more lethargic.

Popping cork redfish rigs make a chugging sound with a popping cork that stimulates and attracts redfish to the surface commotion. The “pop-pop-pop” sound simulates surface feeding or bait fleeing from predators. Game fish come to investigate the sounds or catch a scent of dangling bait enabling the fishermen to set the hook.

Best Baits for Redfish

Getting the redfish to bite is as much about the bait as the rig and lure. You must consider everything about the water where you fish and best redfish bait to make the ideal choice. 

Shrimp

Live shrimp is one of the most widely available bait options for catching redfish. More importantly, redfish love the smell and taste of baited shrimp, rarely ignoring them. The secret to fishing with live shrimp is to try and keep the shrimp alive and healthy for as long as possible. A lively shrimp will keep moving in the water, helping a redfish to spot it easily.

Crab

Live crab is among the best baits available today for catching larger bull redfish. Larger reds will have a larger mouth, enabling them to devour an entire crab with little problem.

The best way to rig a live crab is to remove a leg and place the hook through a leg hole. You should guide the hook through the crab shell, firmly setting it in place. Moreover, when fishing for smaller red drums.

Top Redfish Lures

When selecting the best redfish lures, a few consistently stand out due to their effectiveness. These lures are designed to mimic the natural prey of redfish, making them irresistible to these aggressive feeders and the best lures for redfish. 

Here are a few popular lures that can help you attract and catch redfish: 

Shrimp Imitations

Shrimp lures are incredibly effective, especially when fishing in areas where shrimp are a natural food source. Their realistic movement and scent can easily entice a strike from a redfish.

​​Shrimp lures can be fished under a popping cork or on a jighead, making them versatile for different water depths and conditions. Whether you're fishing in shallow flats or deeper channels, shrimp imitations closely resemble the natural diet of redfish, increasing your chances of a successful catch.

Soft Plastic Jerkbaits

Jerkbaits offer a lifelike presentation that can trigger redfish to strike, particularly in clear water or when redfish are feeding on small baitfish.

These lures can be worked with a twitch-and-pause retrieve, mimicking the erratic movement of injured bait, which often provokes aggressive strikes from redfish. Soft plastic jerk baits are also highly versatile and can be rigged weedless, making them ideal for fishing in grassy flats or around structures without getting snagged.

Weedless Spoons

Many fishermen choose the classic tried-and-true spoon. It is the closest option to a utilitarian approach to catching numerous different types of saltwater fish. Today’s tackle market provides fishermen with an array of spoons. 

Nonetheless, seeking a weedless option when fishing grass flats is critical to prevent the lure from getting stuck in the brush. Spoons are an excellent search bait for finding redfish as they cover a ton of water, enabling fishermen to figure out precisely where they can find the feeding red drums.

Selecting the best lure for redfish ensures you're equipped to handle these powerful fish, increasing your chances of a successful catch no matter where you cast your line.

Whether you're fishing in shallow flats or deeper waters, using good lures for redfish can make all the difference in your success.

The Right Tools to Fill Your Cooler

Hopefully, with the right redfish rigs, baits, and lures at your disposal, you’ve discovered some new ways to help you reel in more redfish. Many of these setups are ideal redfish rigs for pier fishing, shallow water fishing, and fishing from a boat. These rigs also work well for other inshore saltwater fishing applications like trout, snook, and flounder.

Rite Angler provides high-quality fishing tackle and other equipment for serious fishermen. Founded in 1990, we design our products for fishing men and women who understand the importance of quality equipment.

Rite Angler's product design uses only the best anti-corrosive materials. We focus on producing superior tackle options for all your fishing equipment needs. You can rely on Rite Angler for the proper lures, lines, and tackle to stand up against the elements (and the fish)!

FAQs

What is the best bait to catch redfish on?
Live shrimp and live crabs are some of the best bait options for catching redfish because of their strong scent and natural movement, which easily attract redfish. Redfish are bottom feeders and rely heavily on their sense of smell, making these baits especially effective. Other excellent bait choices include pogies, mullets, pilchards, and greenies, all of which mimic the natural prey that redfish often feed on in their habitat.

What is the best line setup for redfish?
A fluorocarbon leader paired with a braided mainline is the best line setup for redfish. The braided line offers strength and durability, making it easier to handle larger fish, while the fluorocarbon leader remains nearly invisible underwater, increasing your chances of fooling the redfish. This combination gives you the right balance of stealth and strength for successful redfish fishing.

What is the best bobber for redfish?
The best bobber for targeting redfish is the popping cork. Popping corks work by creating a splashing and chugging noise on the water's surface, which mimics the sounds of prey being attacked. This noise triggers a predatory response from nearby redfish, drawing them toward your bait. It’s especially effective in shallow water where redfish hunt near the surface or in grassy flats.

What is the best size hook for redfish?
The ideal hook size for redfish generally falls between 1/0 and 3/0, depending on the size of the bait and the fish you're targeting. A 1/0 hook works well for smaller live bait like shrimp, while larger hooks like 2/0 or 3/0 are better suited for larger baits like crabs or cut bait when targeting larger bull redfish. The hook size should be chosen based on both the bait size and the fish size to ensure a secure catch.