I catch plenty of bull reds all throughout the year but I wanted to give something new a try. I know you can get lucky and catch the bulls schooled up just offshore in the winter months. Does anybody ever try this? If so, how far out do you go? I know they sometimes school at the reefs but I know some people actively pursue them in other areas as well. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
This time of year HUGE red drum are abundant from 60’ to 90’ Read the regs - It is illegal to harvest red drum from 2 to 200 miles offshore. I don’t know if “harvest” includes catch and release. I do know that if you crank a red drum up from 70’ it will kill the fish. Some years back we were fishing seabass in 70’ and everyone on board hooked up a red . All 4 came up dead - guts & entrails hanging out the mouth & vent. One of the fish was over 70 lbs. sad.
Thanks for the info! I was more or less talking about catching them when they are schooling on top so I wouldn’t be pulling them in from that deep. Over 70lbs that’s a state record and that is indeed very sad.
Those offshore reds are the breeding stock. Making our future inshore fish!