Ask ten Florida inshore anglers what their favorite redfish lure is and you'll get ten different answers. But there are a handful of proven producers that belong in every inshore tackle box. Here's our definitive guide to the best lures for redfish in Florida.
1. Gold Spoon — The Classic Florida Redfish Lure
If you only fish one artificial lure for redfish in Florida, make it a weedless gold spoon. The 3/4 oz Johnson Silver Minnow (in gold) and similar spoons have been fooling Florida redfish for decades and remain the most versatile redfish lure in existence.
Why it works: The flash and vibration of a tumbling gold spoon mimics a fleeing baitfish perfectly. On a sunny day, the glint of a gold spoon in shallow water is irresistible to feeding redfish.
How to fish it: Cast past the fish or structure and retrieve at a moderate, steady pace just fast enough to keep it off the bottom. Pause occasionally to let it flutter down — this often triggers strikes.
Best conditions: Sunny days, clear to slightly stained water, grass flats, and oyster bars.
2. DOA Shrimp — The Florida Standard
The DOA Shrimp is as Florida as it gets. This soft plastic shrimp imitation has accounted for more redfish in Florida than almost any other artificial lure. Rig it on a 1/8 or 1/4 oz jighead and work it with short hops along the bottom.
Top colors: Root beer/gold flake, glow/chartreuse, clear/silver flake, and pink
How to fish it: Free-line it near structure, hop it along the bottom in channels, or fish it under a popping cork over grass. It works in almost every inshore situation.
3. Paddle Tail Swimbait — The Versatile Producer
A 3-4 inch paddle tail swimbait on a weedless jighead is one of the most versatile redfish lures in the box. The steady swimming action mimics a small baitfish perfectly and triggers strikes from redfish in a wide range of conditions.
Top colors: Chartreuse (the universal redfish color), white, root beer, and natural mullet patterns
Best size: 3 inch for slot reds, 4-5 inch for bigger fish
Pro tip: Use a weedless hook to fish it through the grass without hanging up.
4. Topwater Plugs — The Most Exciting Bite in Inshore Fishing
Nothing in inshore fishing compares to the explosion of a redfish blowing up on a topwater plug. Early morning on calm, shallow flats is prime topwater time — fish cruise in inches of water looking for an easy meal.
Best topwater lures for redfish:
- Heddon Zara Spook — The original walk-the-dog plug. Bone, mullet, and chrome are top colors.
- MirrOlure Top Dog — Built specifically for Florida inshore species, this is a go-to for many local guides.
- Rapala Skitter Walk — A reliable walk-the-dog style plug that produces consistently.
Best conditions: Calm water, low light (early morning or overcast), shallow flats with visible fish activity.
5. Soft Plastic Jerkbait — The Natural Presentation
A soft plastic jerkbait like the Vudu Shrimp, Z-Man Scented ShrimpZ, or Bass Assassin Sea Shad gives redfish a natural, erratic presentation that closely mimics live baitfish and shrimp. Fish it on a light jighead with a slow, twitching retrieve.
6. Popping Cork Rig — The System, Not Just a Lure
A popping cork isn't a lure itself, but it's one of the most effective redfish-catching systems in Florida. Rig a live shrimp, DOA shrimp, or paddle tail under a popping cork and work it with aggressive pops over grass flats. The surface disturbance attracts redfish from a distance.
Lure Selection by Conditions
- Clear water, sunny day: Gold spoon, natural-colored soft plastics, topwater
- Stained water: Chartreuse, white, or bright-colored lures; noisy options like popping corks
- Shallow flats (less than 1 ft): Weedless gold spoon, topwater, weedless soft plastic
- Creek mouths and channels: Jig and paddle tail, DOA shrimp, free-lined live bait
- Heavy grass: Weedless spoon, weedless soft plastic
Gear Up for the Flats
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