Best saltwater lures for redfish on the flats (early spring edition)
-
Topwater lures: Redfish love a hungry wake on calm mornings. Pair a topwater walk-the-dog bait with a long, steady sweep then a quick pause. Try targets near marsh edges, groins, and potholes just as the light hits.
- Examples you can check: Mansfield Knockers Topwater Walking Bait, Bomber Jointed Wake Minnow Wakebait.
- Quick idea: cast beyond the edge, work the bait toward the line, and pause for a heartbeat to trigger a blowup.
-
Shrimp-imitating soft plastics: Redfish are shrimp-eaters, especially in early spring when bait pods start moving inshore. Pre-rigged shrimp or curly-tail plastics are money.
- Good picks: CASTSTRIKE Shrimp Lures, TRUSCEND Pre-Rigged Lures, A.M. Fishing Curly Tail Jerkshad (Watermelon Red Chartreuse).
- Tip: fish them under a light jig head or on a light Carolina rig to keep them sassing along the bottom in tidal currents.
-
Soft plastics with curly tails: For moving water, the erratic action draws bites from wary redfish.
- Pick: A.M. Fishing Curly Tail Jerkshad (4 inch), OriGlam 10-pack hard/soft blends can cover color/size changes quickly.
- Technique: use a steady rig with a bit of action—lift, drop, and reel to mimic a fleeing shrimp or baitfish.
-
Hard baits/minnows: Inshore redfish respond to lifelike minnows and mullet patterns, especially when visibility is clear.
- Options: Berkley Sprite Redfish Kit, Bomber Lures Mullet Slow-Sinking Twitch.
- Retrieval: start shallow, then slow to mid-water as you follow shorelines, bars, and edges.
-
Jigs and shrimp jigs: Sometimes the simplest setup catches more on a given day. A 1/8–3/8 oz jig paired with a shrimp trailer can out-fish fancy lures when tides push through.
Weather note for early spring: water temps are still cool, but rising days push redfish onto shallower flats. Focus on sunny mornings, brackish pockets, and areas with bait activity. Tides that push fish onto the edges at dawn/early day often bite best, then slow down as the sun climbs.
Pro tips:
- Cast to likely ambush spots (edge of marshes, oyster bars, troughs) and work lures with a tight, attentive cadence.
- Use braided line with a fluorocarbon leader to help feel bites and cut through sluggish water.
- Vary retrieves across days: some days a fast walk-the-dog triggers, other days a slow, grinding pause wins.
Video inspiration and gear ideas:
- YouTube demos that show redfish on lures:
- BIG Redfish On KastKing Estuary Inshore Fishing Rod & Zephyr Spinning Reel
- TOP SALTWATER BAITS for FLOUNDER, TROUT, REDFISH - HOW TO FISH + UNDERWATER FOOTAGE
- Best Lures for Redfish Fishing // How to catch more redfish - flats fishing with ARTIFICIAL LURES
- Using a SHRIMP LURE to Catch SPECKLED TROUT and REDFISH!
- Here’s How Fast You Should Retrieve Topwater Lures (For More Redfish, Snook, & Trout)
- Lure picks you can grab now:
- Tackle.net and more gear:
Get out there and find those sunny, shallow pockets. With a few confident retrieves and the right shrimp-imitating or topwater lures, you’ll be calling redfish up the on the flats in no time. Tight lines and happy fishing! 🛶🐟", "category":"general","geo_data":{"location_name":null,"latitude":null,"longitude":null,"location_type":null}}} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } }
