Wondering what redfish eat? It’s simple and salty. They love shrimp, crabs, and baitfish like mullet and menhaden. They eat these foods in places like grassflats and beaches.
In Florida, redfish eat shrimp and mullet in the water. They also eat fiddler crabs in the grass. When the tide moves, they go after schools of fish.
Redfish eat from the bottom to the top. They eat crustaceans, fish, and even baitfish on the surface. They like live shrimp and crabs, and even eat whole blue crabs.
Redfish eat different foods in different places. But the key is to match the local food and fish where it’s most likely to be found. This is the secret to catching redfish.
Redfish basics: habitat, range, and how diet changes by region
Redfish live in many places, from marsh creeks to beaches. They have a special mouth for eating from the bottom. But they also go up to catch bait when they can.
Studies show their diet changes based on where they are and the time of year. This is because they eat what’s available in their area. You can read more about this here.
From Texas to the DelMarVa: a massive U.S. coastline range
Redfish live all along the coast from Texas to DelMarVa. They like places with lots of food, like grass and marshes. They follow schools of fish and shrimp, and they like to be near beaches and inlets.
Inshore to nearshore: marshes, grassflats, oyster bars, jetties
In Florida, redfish like to be in shallow water. They eat crabs and shrimp in different places. When the water is moving, they go to spots where food is likely to pass by.
Ambush predators that key on local forage and structure
Redfish are sneaky hunters. They use their surroundings to catch prey. They like to eat in shallow water where it’s easy to ambush.
But, if the water gets too dirty, they might not have as much to eat. This can change where they live and what they eat.
| Subregion | Primary Structure | Typical Red Drum Forage | Seasonal Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Coastal Bend | Windward grassflats, shell reefs, jetties | Crabs, mullet, menhaden | Surf runs in fall; strong tide swings push bait to cuts |
| Louisiana Marsh | Spartina edges, ponds, bayou mouths | Fiddler crabs, shrimp, pogies | High water opens ponds; lows drain forage to points |
| Florida Gulf Coast | Seagrass potholes, oyster bars, passes | Shrimp, pinfish, scaled sardines | Winter clarity favors subtle baits; summer storms spark flows |
| Florida Atlantic to DelMarVa | Oyster rakes, docks, inlet jetties, beaches | Menhaden, mullet, blue crabs | Mullet run drives surf feeds; cooler temps shift to deeper rips |
Crabs are redfish candy
When the tide comes in, redfish crabs are the main attraction. In shallow water, a soft cast and quiet entry work best. Bulls, slots, and schoolies all go for the crab that looks easy.
Blue crabs for bulls; fiddler crabs on flood tides
Live blue-claw crabs from coastal shops are great for bull reds. Use whole 4–5 inch crabs for big fish. Pop the shell and pinch the claws to stop line twist, then hook a leg.
On a fiddler crab flood tide, fish hide in the grass. Use a fiddler on a light sinker or leadhead. Move it slowly to keep it in the strike zone.
How redfish crush crabs with their underslung mouths
Reds are built to feed down. Their mouths angle under their snout. This lets them nose into mud and oysters.
Work flooded mats and marsh ponds where current is strong. In these areas, redfish crabs sit close to the bottom. Aim for short hops and pauses to mimic a stunned crab.
Best presentations: unweighted in skinny water vs. light jigheads
For clear, shallow flats, use an unweighted crab. Cast a small “bonefish” crab on a heavy‑wire hook. Let it settle before adding a split shot.
Where water is knee-deep, use light jigheads or sparse leadheads. Keep your retrieve slow and low. Whether bait or a crab fly, aim to drop it quietly into the feeding zone.
Shrimp: year‑round staple across grassflats and mangroves
Shrimp are always good to eat in the Everglades, Louisiana marsh, and Carolina estuaries. Redfish like to eat them near mangroves, oyster bars, and grass edges. Using redfish shrimp bait is a great idea, as it attracts them well.
Live under a popping cork vs. soft‑plastic shrimp imitations
In the Ten Thousand Islands, live shrimp under a popping cork is very effective. Use a steady pop-pop-pop to call fish. Or, try a single blurp and pause. Hook the shrimp through the horn to keep it lively.
For covering water, soft plastic shrimp are good. The 1/4‑oz D.O.A. Shrimp casts well and lands softly. Swim it slow, snap the rod, and hold tight as it sinks. Many strikes happen on the fall.
Scent and subtle pops to draw fish from cover
On pressured flats and over oyster beds, shrimp scents help a lot. Use scent on jigheads, dress a bucktail, or pair it with a weedless spoon. Under a cork, keep the cadence gentle.
For sight-casting, use a live shrimp or soft plastic. Land it past the fish, give one short pop, and let it glide back. The tight-line drop is key.
Clear vs. stained water color choices and retrieves
Choose colors based on water clarity. In clear water, use clear/red glitter or gold flake. In tannic or muddy water, try Figi Chicken or Rootbeer with a chartreuse tail.
For short casts along docks and grass mats, use a slow roll with faint twitches. Over clean sand holes, speed up with sharper snaps. Use these tricks with redfish shrimp bait or a popping cork shrimp rig.
Baitfish on the menu: mullet, menhaden, croaker, glass minnows
When redfish move into current, they quickly change what they eat. They follow schools of baitfish like mullet and menhaden. This change happens fast in moving water.
Following bait schools along beaches, inlets, and channels
Redfish gather near jetties and bar cuts where baitfish go. Places like Port Aransas and Cape Hatteras are good spots. Mullet and menhaden swim near the surface, and croaker are on the bottom.
Use a lure that moves like a wounded baitfish. Cast into the current and move your lure quickly. This helps you catch redfish.
When reds switch from bottom grubbing to mid‑column feeding
Redfish that eat in the middle of the water are different. You’ll see them roll and splash. This is when you should move your lure fast.
Use soft plastics in murky water. In clear water, a jerkbait works well. It looks like a baitfish swimming.
Why “match the hatch” matters in different U.S. regions
In the Southeast, use lures that look like menhaden. In Texas and the Gulf, mullet shapes work best. In the Mid‑Atlantic, glass minnows and croaker are key.
Change your lure as the water gets deeper. Use baitfish lures in clear water. Flies like Clousers work well in current.
| Region | Primary Baitfish | Best Water Type | Go‑to Imitations | Retrieve Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Gulf (Port Aransas) | Mullet, croaker | Jetty funnels, channel edges | Storm Wildeye Swim Shad, spoon flies | Sweep the seam, moderate speed with brief pauses |
| Louisiana Marsh Entrances | Menhaden, mullet | Pass mouths, bayou mouths | Zoom Super Fluke, paddle‑tail plastics | Slow roll mid‑depth to stay with schooling fish |
| Florida Atlantic Inlets | Glass minnows, menhaden | Rip lines, tide breaks | Clouser Minnow, small jerkbaits | Short twitches high in the column when birds are working |
| Carolina Beaches | Menhaden, mullet | Outer bar cuts, surf troughs | Game Changer flies, topwater plugs | Fast, skittering moves during active beach runs redfish |
What does redfish eat
Anglers often wonder what redfish eat. The answer is simple: they eat what the tide brings. In marshes and grass mats, they find shrimp and small crabs. Along jetties, channels, and beaches, they catch baitfish like mullet and menhaden.
The natural prey of redfish changes with the water depth and current. On a flood tide, they eat fiddlers and blue crabs in shallow water. In deeper water, they chase schools and even hit topwaters when the surface is lively.
Knowing what redfish eat helps you choose the right bait. Young fish like shrimp, small crabs, and marine worms. Larger fish eat bigger crabs and finfish. Bull redfish might even eat mullet or cut ladyfish in strong currents.
Use this list to pick the right bait for redfish. Match local food with spoons, skimmer jigs, and soft-plastic swimbaits. Place your offerings near oyster edges, grass points, docks, and drop-offs where current funnels prey.
| Food Item | When It Shines | Where to Target | Best Imitations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shrimp (live or fresh‑dead) | Year‑round; warm months peak | Grassflats, mangroves, marsh ponds | Popping cork with live shrimp; plastic shrimp on light jigheads | Core staple in any red drum diet breakdown; subtle pops pull fish from cover |
| Blue crabs & fiddlers | Flood tides; around oyster bars | Spartina edges, shell mounds, creek mouths | Crab flies, weedless crab plastics, unweighted baits in skinny water | Essential bull redfish food; crushed with underslung mouths |
| Mullet | Moving tides; fall runs | Beaches, inlets, jetty tips | Topwater walkers, swimbaits, cut mullet when current rips | Triggers switches from bottom feeding to surface strikes |
| Menhaden (pogies) | Bait schools nearshore | Channel edges, current seams | Paddle‑tail swimbaits, spoons, live pogies | Follow slicks and birds to active schools |
| Croaker & glass minnows | Summer into early fall | Inlets, sandbars, drop‑offs | Jerkbaits, bucktails, small baitfish flies | Part of any practical redfish food list for open water |
| Marine worms | Soft‑bottom flats after rains | Mud bays, backwater creeks | Light jigs crawled slowly, worm‑pattern flies | Documented natural prey of redfish, specially juveniles |
| Cut ladyfish | Strong current; low visibility | Deep bends, bridge pilings | Fresh cut bait on bottom rigs | Big scent trail that draws bulls and slots alike |
For a science-backed look at what redfish eat as they grow, see this state profile. It shows how young drum start with small crabs and shrimp and grow to eat larger prey.
Seasonal shifts: how spawning and tides influence feeding
Redfish change their ways with the seasons. They follow bait, find structure, and move into flooded grass with the moon. Knowing these patterns helps predict when to fish, from deep water to shallow flats.
Pre‑spawn and spawn: big schools, deep structure, inlet edges
When the water gets cooler or warmer, redfish move from creeks to deeper areas. You’ll see them in big schools near inlets, chasing baitfish. Some even spawn high in the water, letting their eggs flow out with the tide.
At passes and jetties, the strong current brings bait to the surface. Use whole blue crabs or cut menhaden to get bites. Topwater or big swimbaits work well when the school attacks. For more tips, see this guide to redfish through the seasons.
Flood tides: tailing reds rooting crabs and shrimp in inches of water
When the marsh grass floods, redfish search for crabs and shrimp. Cast softly ahead of them, then slowly move your lure into view. Short movements are best in shallow water.
As the tide goes out, they wait at edges and drains for food. The best times are often when the tide is going out, when the current brings food to them.
Temperature triggers around ~65°F and regional timing
Redfish timing varies by coast. In Texas, they start late winter; in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, it’s August to September. Near Cape Hatteras, it’s late fall. Each area has its own 65°F spawn timing, but weather can change it.
Look for bait near inlets, rising moon tides, and bull reds. Plan to fish deep early, then shallow on the flood for tailing redfish.
| Season Window | Primary Location | Feeding Cue | Proven Offerings | Tide Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Late winter–spring (TX) | Channels, jetty tips | Bait stacked in rips | Whole blue crab, heavy swimbait | Mid to high, strong flow |
| Late summer (FL–GA) | Inlets, outer bars | Inlet schools bull reds | Menhaden chunks, topwater plugs | Top of tide into ebb |
| Early fall (NC sounds) | Edges of deep bends | 65°F redfish spawn timing | Mullet strips, big spoons | Outgoing with current seams |
| Any warm flood | Spartina flats, potholes | Flood tide tailing redfish | Weedless crab or shrimp | Last hour of flood |
| Post‑spawn shifts | Creek mouths, drains | Redfish spawn feeding on washouts | Soft plastics, cut bait | First half of ebb |
Lure and fly patterns that imitate natural prey
Match the forage, then pick tools that fish clean through grass, shell, and edges. The best redfish lures work when they land soft, track straight, and shed weeds. Keep sizes modest, colors honest, and hardware simple with loop knots and barbless or single-hook swaps when needed.
Weedless spoons, skimmer jigs, soft‑plastic swimbaits and jerkbaits
A Johnson Silver Minnow in gold is great for weedless spoon redfish work. Use 1/8‑ounce for bomb casts and to slip through grass. Add a snap swivel to tame twist and tip with shrimp for scent.
A skimmer jig is good for where tailers root or potholes dot a flat. Try 1/8–1/4‑ounce Backbone Lure or the Gaines Wiggle Jig with mono weedguards. Use earth tones, chartreuse/brown, pink/white, or orange/brown. Tie a loop knot to free the glide.
For soft plastic swimbait jerkbait duty, mix D.O.A. CAL shads or curly tails on 1/4–3/8‑ounce heads. Berkley Gulp! adds scent in murk. Storm Wildeye Swim Shad rides hook‑up and hums on a steady wind around oysters. Zoom Super Fluke in New Penny, 3–5 inches, can be twitched weightless, reverse‑rigged weedless, or sent deeper with a split shot. A 1/4‑ounce D.O.A. Shrimp in clear/glitter excels in clean water; Figi Chicken or Rootbeer/Chartreuse tail wins in stain.
Crab and shrimp flies (Merkin, Kwan, Critter Crab, sliders)
When fish pin crabs, redfish flies Merkin Kwan patterns seal the deal. A Strong Arm Merkin or Borski Critter Crab drops true and stays level over shell. In slick shallows, an unweighted Kwan with plastic bead‑chain eyes lands soft yet sinks quick, perfect for spooky singles.
For shrimp tones, try a Crafty Shrimp, Spawning Shrimp, or Chicone’s Disc Shrimp. Need a baitfish look? Clousers, Bendbacks, or a Feather Game Changer track near grass edges without hanging up.
Topwater and floater/divers when reds are aggressive
When wakes push mullet and the wind ruffles the flat, topwater redfish plugs come alive. Walk them across points, oyster bars, and jetty eddies to call fish up. If blowups miss, swap to a Creek Chub Darter‑style floater/diver that swims just under the film, a better fit for an underslung mouth.
Rotate through the best redfish lures by mood and water color, and keep retrieves honest to local bait. Short pauses, gentle pops, and straight swims often beat big moves when pressure runs high.
Sight‑feeding vs. bottom‑feeding: reading behavior to pick the right “meal”
Watch the water first. When redfish sight fishing is on, you’ll see pushes, wakes, or bronze backs tracking bait. In inches of water, tailing redfish behavior gives away a bottom feeding red drum that’s rooting for crabs and shrimp. Those redfish feeding cues point you to quiet, precise casts and choosing baits by behavior instead of habit.
For tailers on grass flats, drop unweighted crab or shrimp patterns that land soft and sink naturally. Keep it in their line of travel and move it inches, not feet. The visual cone is tight in skinny water, so accuracy beats distance. That’s classic redfish sight fishing where stealth, not speed, wins.
When fish lift off the bottom or roam edges, shift gears. A skimmer jig, spoon, or soft‑plastic swimbait works along oyster bars, dock lines, and jetty seams. Those spots funnel prey, and a bottom feeding red drum will swipe mid‑column if it sees an easy target. Let the lure tick the contour, then swim or hop it through the strike lane.
Use sound and scent when fish hold under mangroves or stained current. A live shrimp under a popping cork calls them out, and the thump can flip key redfish feeding cues from cautious to curious. In clearer, deeper water, work topwaters or swimbaits where fish can see and compete from a distance, choosing baits by behavior that matches baitfish.
Adjust weight with intent. Add just enough to reach their level without plowing bottom or spooking fish. If the lure drags and collects grass, go lighter; if it rides above their eyes, go heavier. This small tweak ties presentation to the moment, whether you’re reading tailing redfish behavior in a flood tide or tracking a school along a shell edge.
Where to find feeding reds: structure that concentrates food
Food piles up where current meets cover. Look for spots with quiet approaches and short pitches. Casts that sweep with the tide work well. Watch for bait signs before you cast.
Oyster beds, docks, grass mats, drop‑offs, and jetty funnels
Oyster bars and shell points attract crabs and shrimp. Slide baits along the edge and pause in pockets. Under docks and bridges, shade and moving water hold ambush fish all day.
Grass mats on flats hide shrimp and baitfish. Work a popping cork or a spoon along seams. On drop‑offs and inlet bends, sweep jigs downcurrent to waiting fish.
For jetty redfish, target the up‑current face where rocks funnel mullet and menhaden. Cast parallel to the stones and let the lure wash naturally into breaks and eddies.
Everglades shallows, Louisiana marsh, Texas flats, Carolina estuaries
Everglades redfish roam open, shallow bays. Watch for tailers over turtle grass at first light. Subtle crabs and shrimp patterns shine here.
Louisiana marsh reds prowl potholes, drains, and pond mouths year‑round. On flood tides, ease onto edges where fiddlers and minnows push shallow.
Texas flats redfish ride flooding water over seagrass and sand pockets from Port Aransas to Matagorda. Wade or pole and pick off fish that track along wind‑blown lanes.
In Carolina estuaries, broad oyster beds and creek mouths funnel forage on the turn of the tide. Look for clean current pushing past shell and grass to set your angle.
“Find the bait” rule: birds, nervous water, and slicks
Scan for hovering terns and diving pelicans that mark moving schools. Nervous water—tiny ripples that travel against the chop—often frames feeding lanes.
Surface slicks smell sweet and feel oily. They form down‑current of crushed bait. Follow a line of slicks to active redfish structure spots and set up ahead of the flow.
Anchor your plan to find the bait signs first, then match your presentation to current speed and depth. That’s how jetty redfish, Louisiana marsh reds, Everglades redfish, and Texas flats redfish stack up in the net.
| Region | Prime Structure | Key Forage Funnel | Best Tide Window | Quick Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everglades | Shallow grass flats, mangrove points | Crabs and shrimp drifting across potholes | Early flood and first light | Poling shots to tailers beat long casts; keep wakes small |
| Louisiana Marsh | Ponds, drains, marsh edges | Fiddlers, minnows, mullet riding flood | Mid‑flood to high | Set on down‑current side of drains to intercept Louisiana marsh reds |
| Texas Middle Coast | Seagrass flats, sand pockets, jetties | Mullet and menhaden pushed by wind and tide | Wind‑driven moving water | For Texas flats redfish, wade windward edges where bait stacks |
| Atlantic Estuaries | Oyster beds, creek mouths, docks | Shrimp and glass minnows on outgoing flow | Falling tide | Cast upcurrent and tick shells; pause over drop‑offs |
| Jetty Systems | Rock faces, eddies, gaps | Baitfish funneled through narrow passes | Strong tide changes | Target seams for jetty redfish; let lures swing like live bait |
Live, dead, and artificial: which “food” to serve and when
Choose the right bait for the water. In calm, clear water, use quiet baits. In rough water, use scented and noisy baits. Always have a few options ready to change quickly.
Live crab and shrimp for pressured fish
For shy fish, use natural baits. Live blue crab or shrimp are great. Fish them on the bottom or just above it.
Live shrimp under a cork work well in grassy areas. If fish ignore it, try a dead shrimp on a jighead. For tips on shrimp and rigs, check out this guide on dead shrimp for redfish.
Cut bait (ladyfish chunks) on bottom when current is strong
In strong currents, use cut bait. Ladyfish chunks on the bottom attract fish. This method works well in strong winds and currents.
Use strong leaders in rocky areas. Change baits often to keep the scent strong. Set rods at different distances to cover more area.
Scented plastics (Gulp!) and rattles to call fish in dirty water
In murky water, use scented plastics. Berkley Gulp! Shrimp or Jerk Shads work well. Add a rattle for extra attraction.
Use weedless lures over grass and oysters. Then, switch to D.O.A. Shrimp or soft swimbaits. In busy areas, try swimming plugs or twitchbaits.
Conservation notes: healthy habitat means a healthy redfish diet
Healthy marsh and bay systems feed the fish we love. Smart redfish conservation starts at the hook. Use circle hooks with crab baits and handle blue crabs with care to avoid line twist and harm.
Keep fish wet, mind the weather, and swap to heavier tackle when big bulls show. Quick fights and clean releases help when sharks are prowling and during spawn, when catch and release is the wise call.
Rules change by state, so follow red drum regulations and be ready to adjust. The 2007 redfish moratorium in federal waters helped rebuild schools of mature fish along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. But pressure remains from habitat loss and severe storms.
Redfish can live more than 40 years, so today’s choices shape tomorrow’s stock.
Food begins with habitat. Seagrass oyster habitat supports crabs, shrimp, and baitfish, which means more feeding reds. Florida’s water quality crisis showed the cost: Florida Bay lost over 50,000 acres of seagrass in 2015 to hypersalinity.
Everglades restoration—backed by groups like Captains for Clean Water and the American Saltwater Guides Association—aims to fix flows and reduce nutrient loads. Better water, better forage, better fishing.
From Chesapeake Bay to Texas, prioritize clean water and structure. Pick up trash at the ramp, avoid tearing up grassflats, and respect closures. Blend ethical tactics with advocacy, and the payoff is clear: robust diets, broad age classes, and strong runs that define the sport.
Protect the places, and the fish will follow.
