Redfish Fishing in Texas
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also known as: redfish, red drum, puppy drum, channel bass
Texas quick take
Texas redfish stay local and predictable, but the active edge changes fast with wind, tide, and how much water is actually on the flat.
Max Length
150cm
Typical trophy size
Max Weight
42kg
Record class
Water Temp
64–86°F
Preferred range
Difficulty
2/5
Skill level
How to catch Redfish in Texas
Texas redfish stay local and predictable, but the active edge changes fast with wind, tide, and how much water is actually on the flat.
Where to fish for Redfish in Texas
Focus on Laguna-style flats, bay shorelines, potholes, grass lanes, marsh mouths, drains, channels, and pass-adjacent water with bait movement.
Use shallow clear flats early and on stable water, then slide to drains, guts, and channel edges when water falls or wind muddies the bay.
Look for mullet, shrimp, wakes, and birds because Texas fish often tell you the exact shoreline or pothole lane they are using.
How to work the pattern in Texas
Wade or drift spoons, topwater, soft plastics, shrimp, or flies across potholes and grass edges, keeping the bait in the shallow lane as long as possible.
If the flat dies, move to the nearest drain or bay edge carrying water instead of completely changing bay systems.
Seasonal behavior in Texas
Warm seasons keep fish spread across flats and shorelines, fall and winter improve visible schools and drain patterns, and spring mixes shallow feeding with strong shoreline and grass-lane movement.