This is a serious question…
All of the redfish I have been catching have been too big. At the spots that I go to all of the fish I catch are over 30".
Does anyone have any suggestions for getting some in the slot?
Haha come fishing with me 
I catch them in the chehaw. I have never caught one to big down ther
Just tell me where your fishing spots are & I can take the burden of catching those for you.
That is a terrible, terrible problem to have…
Change location, change bait size/hook size, and change tide. Those big fish move/cruise with the tide. The smaller fish seem to stay around structure.
Same problem …all over slot
This is a problem state-wide that not many are discussing. I have commented on this issue several times in the last few years, but the 2010-2011 year classes were extremely weak. Last year’s class was decent, and those fish are on average 15-17 inches long now but seem to be tough to locate (and catch) on the flats now. Finding 2-3 year old fish is very tough in most locations. The concerning part is those 27+ inch fish will be heading offshore this Fall to spawn. When they leave, the inshore population (at least in my area) will dramatically decrease. We need multiple years of successful spawns in order to bring the slot populations back up to where they were pre-2010. Also, SCDNR is not stocking like they used to before the recession. This also could be a big factor depending on your area.
Are you fishing a high pressure (as in lots of anglers beating the same spot) area?
I agree with Sermon. Change location. Redfish stay in the same area until they are ready to move offshore, like RADDADDY said.
Great insight by the way, RADDADDY.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
What is the growth rate for juvenile redfish (less than 30 inches)?
An inch every couple of months?
Romans 1:16-17
It varies with age. They will grow 14-17 inches in their first year, then their growth rate (length) slows as they age. Slot fish are mostly 1-3 year olds (more than 12 months less than 36 months). For more detailed information, check out the printed material on the life cycle of redfish at SCDNR.gov. I think the author is Charles Wenner.
quote:
Originally posted by spotsnslotsWhat is the growth rate for juvenile redfish (less than 30 inches)?
An inch every couple of months?Romans 1:16-17
quote:
Originally posted by RADDADDYIt varies with age. They will grow 14-17 inches in their first year, then their growth rate (length) slows as they age. Slot fish are mostly 1-3 year olds (more than 12 months less than 36 months). For more detailed information, check out the printed material on the life cycle of redfish at SCDNR.gov. I think the author is Charles Wenner.
quote:
Originally posted by spotsnslotsWhat is the growth rate for juvenile redfish (less than 30 inches)?
An inch every couple of months?Romans 1:16-17
http://saltwaterfishing.sc.gov/pdf/reddrum.pdf
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
Rad, hoof, thanks for the info!
I have thought they hit maturity pretty quick, but just didn’t know what that looked like on a time scale.
Romans 1:16-17
Same goes for me and my husband. 30-32 inches or nothing at all except for that one lethargic 15 incher a couple weeks ago that didn’t even put up a fight. He must have thought he was under slot and going to be released anyway ( which he was).
Hope to get one for dinner tomorrow. Everything else lives to fight another day![:I]
I haven’t been much lately, but when I have we’ve caught a lot more over slot fish than in slot.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose