The Secrets To Catching Redfish On The Flats With Cut Bait
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
If you want to get on some big redfish, then using cut bait is a great option!
And cut mullet is one of my favorite baits for redfish.
But there are some strategies that you’ll need to know if you want to be successful.
So in this video, you’ll learn:
- How to make a simple cut bait rig
- How to find these fish
- Best positioning to get fish to strike
- And more
Check it out below!
Secrets To Catching Redfish With Cut Bait [VIDEO]
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Cut mullet is readily accessible.
You can find it at your local bait shop (fresh or frozen).
But fresh is preferred so take your cast net with you if you can.
I really like mullet that are in the 6″ to 10″ range so you can get several baits from one.
Simple Rig For Cut Bait
Keep it simple for the rig and let the mullet do the work!
Use 3 to 4 ft of leader and tie on a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook.
Make sure you match the size of your hook to the size of your baits (not the size of the fish you want to catch).
You can catch really big fish on small hooks!
Here’s what I use for the rig:
You don’t need a weight, just freeline out the chunk of mullet.
Cut a 2″ to 2.5″ piece of mullet.
Hook in through the meat and out through the skin and make sure the hook point is clear of scales.
And if you’re fishing in current, go through the narrower part of the bait so the mullet is more streamlined in the water.
Positioning & Location For Using Cut Bait
Make sure you are in an area where you know there are redfish, otherwise you’ll end up catching some by-catch (like catfish).
You can use an artificial as a search bait to find where fish are holding.
Position yourself up current or upwind from your target area that way the current pushes the bait scent up to the fish.
Pro Tip: Why do I use longer rods on my kayak? I’m typically using anywhere from 7’6″ to 8′ rods. When you have a fish run underneath your kayak, you need the clearance to run your rod around the front or the back of your kayak to effectively land the fish.
Conclusion
Cut bait is an excellent choice of baits for catching big redfish on the flats.
And if you know the best rig, how to prepare your baits, and how to position yourself, you should be landing a big redfish in no time!
Have any questions about this rig?
Or how to position yourself when using cut bait?
Let me know down in the comments!
And if you know someone who wants to start using cut bait or needs a simple rigging tip, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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If you are fishing in a place where you need a weight to keep the bait in the strike zone how do you recommend rigging it?
Hey Rick!
I prefer to use a fish finder rig or a dropper rig with a pyramid sinker to keep it in place on the bottom. Also, positioning is important to keep the bait in the right spot. Ideally, you want to be positioned directly up current from where you want your bait to be, that way you can drift it into position.
Hi Tony do you ever retrieve withmullet chunks or do they pretty much just sit on the bottom?
Hey Lawrence!
I let them soak on the bottom, or you can also let them drift with the current.
Yet another great instructional video, great job. I am curious as to which Hobie
you are fishing out of. I am looking to upgrade from my kayak and any help with
a recommendation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Thank you for the great feedback David! I am using a 2020 Hobie Outback. Awesome fishing machine for the flats.
Tony, as always you have great tips to help us catch more fish.
Thank you for the awesome feedback Mel!
Nice Red, Tony! These are great tips. I always used this method off a boat for big bull Reds. Looking forward to trying it on the kayak now.
Thanks J!
Would like to see a video on how to catch mullet either waiting or from a boat, or kayak. I’ve had no trouble catching pinfish or pilchers with a cast net. I always see mullet jumping in the distance but never see them close enough to the cast of them.
Great video… As usual from you guys.
Thank you for the great feedback Bill!
I can definitely put something together for that. It’s ideal to locate the mullet, and then get up current or up wind from them so you can drift towards them with your net ready to go. Once close enough make a toss.
Great tips, Tony! Reminds me of the bull reds I caught in ML.
Seems I’ll never get that castnet to open, so fresh cut mullet is hard to come by for me! I’ll use large chunks of cut pinfish instead & it works great. Snip off the tail & the head & even the fins if I find I’m getting strikes without takers… seems to make a difference when I do.
With cut pinfish, which tend to be much smaller than mullet, I can get away with 2/0 or 3/0 circle hooks.
Thanks Jacinda!
Just about any piece of cut bait works great! Mullet and ladyfish tend to be nice and oily and stinky. If you find yourself hooking into a lot of catfish try going bigger on the hook.
Thanks Tony. Enjoyed the instruction and the video. I have some questions in regard to hooks used. Do you exclusively use in line hooks or are there times to use offset? Also what are the hooks sold in the salt strong store- are they inline or offset? Thank you
You’re welcome Mike!
I was using the Owner Mutu Light Circle hooks on this trip and they are offset. Thats all I had with me so thats just what i happened to use. We sell those on the shop page and they are offset. The Gamakatsu octopus circle hooks we sell are inline.
Thanks Tony for great video. My baits have been too small (compared to yours). I did this the other day. (Put the baits right next to the edge ) Nothing but catfish. Also how close to the mangroves are you casting the bait to? Thanks
You’re welcome Jonathan! Yes you don’t want to go too small or you’ll catch more catfish. Catfish have a small mouth in comparison to redfish. So a bigger bait and a big circle hook can help avoid catfish while still being able to hook a red. I was casting about 10 to 15ft off the edge of the shoreline (which is where I saw the reds spooking off from). Base your bait placement on where you see the fish.
Tony, I guess using larger chunks of bait, helps in getting larger fish?
For sure! If they are in the area though. Redfish have a pretty large mouth so a 3 to 4 inch chunk of bait should be no problem for slot sized fish and larger. It also helps avoid catching catfish since their mouth is smaller.