Fishing For Red Drum in Florida's Big Bend

The red drum is the most popular fish to target and catch inshore fishing. The Big Bend,

located in Dixie and Taylor counties, offers some of the state's best inshore flats Red

fishing. It is the perfect habitat for them to breed and survive. A nice Red can put up an

explosive heart pounding battle, bending the rod, and pulling in the drag. Redfish can be

found in the creeks, the mouth of the creeks, and on the flats. When looking for reds on

flats, I generally look for a specific type of bottom. A hard rock bottom with rock grass,

also known as pepper grass, is a good area to target.

Redfish will eat a variety of types of bait, live and artificial. When they are feeding, the

Reds will hit almost anything. Top water plugs work great in the early morning or late

evening. Live baits including pinfish and shrimp are always well received. They can be

presented under a pop-in cork or a free line. The old-fashioned gold spoon is a fantastic

option. It could be weedless or have a treble hook. I like to include a swivel on my gold

spoon. An easy alternative for the lazy fisherman is to cut mullet or cut ladyfish, put the

pole in the pole holder, and sit back and observe the action. However, a warning is you

probably will catch some catfish, also.

The red drum is a beautiful fish that can help create some good pictures and great

memories of a day on the water. Its population is good in the Big Bend area, and with

exemplary conservation and following the FWC laws, it should remain that way for years

to come.

Come visit us and enjoy a weekend of fishing and enjoying our small fishing villages of

Suwannee, Horseshoe, and Jena. 

We look forward to introducing you to “Florida’s  Hidden Coast”.

Captain Frank Taylor / 904-759-6777

RockyCreekCharters@yahoo.com / Rockycreekcharters.com

Rocky Creek Charters offers guided scallop trips and inshore fishing charters from the

picturesque Rocky Creek, located in Dixie County, just south of the Steinhatchee River.

We provide a memorable experience for anglers of all skill levels.