Last updated: October 20, 2026, 4:48 PM CDT

Red drum (redfish) in Texas: where, when & how to catch them

Redfish are the backbone of Texas inshore fishing. They're in every bay system on the coast, they'll eat almost anything, and you can catch them from a boat, wading the flats, from the jetties or in the surf.

Also called redfish, reds, rat red, bull red.

How to identify redfish

Reddish-bronze is the most common color, but it ranges from a deep coppery black to nearly silver.
The giveaway is a large black spot on the upper part of the tail base. Several spots are common; no spot at all is extremely rare.
They're in the drum family with black drum and spotted seatrout. Black drum have chin barbels and no tail spot.

Source: TPWD: Red drum.

Where to find redfish in Texas

For their first three years red drum live in the bays or the surf near passes, and tag returns show they usually move less than 3 miles from where they were tagged. They like shallow water (1–4 feet) along bay edges with seagrass or soft mud, oyster reefs, and breaks in the shoreline such as coves, points, guts, jetties and old pilings, and they often 'tail' with their heads down in the grass. During cold spells many move into tidal creeks and rivers. As they mature they move to the Gulf, and in fall, especially in stormy weather, big adults run the beaches and passes (the 'bull red run'). They spawn from mid-August through mid-October in Gulf waters near passes and shorelines.

Source: TPWD: Red drum.

Texas bay systems

Redfish are found in every Texas bay system. Our bay pages have the NWS marine forecast, NOAA tides, water temperature, wind and sun & moon times.

Redfish month by month

General Texas patterns. Timing shifts by a few weeks from north to south and from year to year, and fronts, rain, wind and water temperature move fish day to day.

Month	What fish are typically doing
January	Cold fronts push reds into deeper guts, channels, tidal creeks and bayous. Fish slow on the warmest afternoons; low water exposes drains.
February	Like January between fronts; reds slide back onto shallow mud flats on warm, sunny days.
March	Warming flats and shorelines; reds spread out over grass and mud. Wind is a factor most days.
April	Spring patterns on shorelines, flats and marsh drains; tailing fish on calm mornings.
May	Shallow flats and shorelines early, deeper edges and reefs as it heats up.
June	Early and late on the flats; reefs, jetties and passes in the heat of the day.
July	Summer: dawn shallow-water bites, then deeper shell, guts and passes. Watch heat and afternoon storms.
August	Like July. Big adult reds gather near passes and the surf as the Gulf spawn begins (mid-August through mid-October).
September	Bull reds in the surf, at passes and jetties; slot reds on the flats as water cools.
October (now)	One of the best months: the fall bull red run on the beaches and passes, and active slot fish in the marsh.
November	Cooling water; reds feed heavily around drains and marsh lakes as bait leaves the marsh.
December	Early winter: deeper guts, channels and creeks after fronts; shallow on warm afternoons.

Proven baits and techniques

Live or dead shrimp: Under a popping cork or 'free-shrimped' on a light weight.
Finger mullet, croaker and small blue crabs: On the bottom with a slip-sinker rig; crabs hooked through a rear swimming leg.
Gold, copper or silver spoons: 1/4–1/2 oz shallow-running spoons, weedless around heavy grass. A Texas classic for wading the flats.
Soft plastics: Shrimp- and baitfish-style plastics on a jighead or under a cork.
Topwaters and shallow plugs: Over grass flats in low light.
Cut mullet and blue crab for bull reds: On single- or double-drop bottom rigs with a heavy grabbing sinker in the surf and passes.

Source: TPWD: Red drum (how to catch).

Texas redfish limits (statewide)

Daily bag	3
Length	20–28 inches (slot)
Over 28 inches	One per license year with your Red Drum Tag, plus one more with a $3 Bonus Red Drum Tag

The red drum tag comes with your saltwater endorsement. Tag the fish right away, or report it in the Texas Hunt & Fish app if your tag is digital. TPWD is the authority, and limits can change. See our License & regulations guide for licenses, tags and how to check a specific bay.

Sources: TPWD: Drum bag and length limits; TPWD: Tagging red drum.

Texas record

TPWD's red drum profile lists the Texas record at 59.5 pounds. For current records by category, search TPWD's official fish records.

Sources: TPWD: Red drum; TPWD: Fish records.

Gear for redfish

For slot reds, TPWD suggests a 6½–8 foot medium-action rod and a reel that holds at least 100 yards of line: 8–15 lb test over grass flats, 17–25 lb around oyster shell, rocks or pilings. For bull reds in the surf and on piers, TPWD suggests rods over 10 feet and reels with a good drag that hold several hundred yards of 25–40 lb line. If you wade, stingray protection comes first.

Source: TPWD: Red drum (how to catch).

Examples from our comparisons (specs and dated manufacturer prices are on the comparison pages):

Some links are affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See our affiliate disclosure.

Redfish FAQ

What is the redfish limit in Texas?

The daily bag is 3 red drum in the 20–28 inch slot. You can keep one red drum over 28 inches per license year with the Red Drum Tag that comes with your saltwater endorsement, and one more with a $3 Bonus Red Drum Tag.

Where are redfish in Texas bays?

TPWD says red drum prefer shallow water (1–4 feet) along bay edges with seagrass or soft mud, oyster reefs, and breaks in the shoreline such as coves, points, guts, jetties and pilings. In cold spells many move into tidal creeks and rivers.

When is the bull red run in Texas?

In the fall, especially during stormy weather, large adult red drum move to the Gulf beaches and passes. Their spawning season is mid-August through mid-October in Gulf waters near passes and shorelines.

More species: Largemouth bass · Crappie · Catfish (blue, channel & flathead) · White bass · Striped bass · Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) · Southern flounder · Black drum