Understanding Redfish Migration in Southwest Florida: Best Times to Catch Them

Few fish are as iconic to Florida’s inshore waters as the redfish. Known for their copper-bronze backs, tail spots, and bulldog fight, redfish are a year-round target for anglers in Southwest Florida. But while you can catch them in every season, their patterns and behaviors shift with the tides, temperatures, and migrations. Knowing when and where redfish move throughout the year will help you maximize your time on the water.

At Outshore Gear, we’ve studied the seasonal rhythms of redfish in the back bays, grass flats, and passes of SWFL. Here’s what to know about their migration and the best times to plan your trips.

The Seasonal Rhythm of Redfish

Redfish don’t migrate long distances like tarpon or cobia, but they do move within estuaries and coastal waters in response to temperature, food sources, and spawning needs. Their year follows a general seasonal cycle.

In spring, as waters warm from March through May, redfish become more active on the grass flats and along mangrove edges. Smaller schools feed aggressively on baitfish and shrimp, and strong spring tides create excellent conditions for sight fishing in the shallows.

During the heat of summer from June through August, redfish often retreat to deeper channels, passes, and shady mangrove shorelines. Midday can be slow, but dawn and dusk provide prime opportunities when fish move shallow to feed. Summer is also when juvenile redfish thrive in estuaries, keeping action steady for anglers targeting smaller fish.

Fall, from September through November, marks the peak of redfish season in Southwest Florida. Large schools of “bull reds” gather near passes, inlets, and beaches to spawn. With cooler water and an abundance of baitfish, redfish feed heavily, creating some of the most exciting action of the year. Anglers frequently encounter tailing reds on shallow flats and massive schools cruising open bays.

Winter, from December through February, brings cooler water temperatures that push redfish into back bays, creeks, and rivers where conditions are slightly warmer. They often move into shallow areas during the middle of the day when the sun warms the flats. While winter redfish tend to school in smaller pods, they can be easier to target with slower presentations.

Best Times of Year in Southwest Florida

Although redfish can be caught year-round, the best time to fish for them in Southwest Florida is during the fall months of September through November. This is when big schools of redfish gather in large numbers, and trophy-sized bulls are most common around inlets and nearshore waters.

Spring is another excellent time to fish, with consistent action on slot-sized reds feeding along grass flats and mangrove points. Both summer and winter still provide opportunities, but success depends more heavily on paying attention to tides, water temperatures, and timing your trips carefully.

Tactics for Each Season

In spring, anglers often find success with paddle-tail swimbaits and shrimp imitations worked along grass flats, especially when targeting tailing fish on flood tides. Summer requires an early morning or late evening approach, with topwater plugs producing explosive strikes and cut bait proving effective in deeper holes during midday. Fall demands covering water near passes with spoons, twitchbaits, or live mullet, while calm days often reveal large schools pushing wakes across bays. Winter calls for slowing down presentations, with soft plastics and shrimp fished patiently around warm mud flats, creeks, and channels.

Final Thoughts

Understanding redfish migration is the key to consistent success in Southwest Florida. Whether you’re chasing tailing reds on spring flats, sight-casting to big schools in fall, or picking apart creeks in winter, each season offers unique opportunities.

At Outshore Gear, we carry the lures, leaders, and tackle to keep you ready for redfish year-round. Plan your trips around the seasonal patterns, match your presentation to the conditions, and you’ll be in prime position to land Florida’s favorite inshore gamefish.