Your Redfish adventure awaits
Experience expert-guided Redfish charters with SwiftFish’s professional guides: Family-friendly trips, unforgettable action, and local expertise.
About the Redfish
Redfish, also known as Red Drum, are one of Tampa Bay’s most sought-after inshore species. Our SwiftFish guides have decades of combined experience navigating the Bay’s estuaries, flats, and mangrove shorelines to find these prized fish. Redfish are known for their strong fight and acrobatic leaps, making them a thrilling target for anglers of all skill levels.
Whether you’re an experienced angler or a first-timer, our guides tailor each trip to your needs, providing expert instruction and all gear required. Tampa Bay’s Redfish are abundant year-round, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action. Families, groups, and solo anglers alike will enjoy the combination of great fishing, stunning scenery, and a safe, memorable experience.
Strong fighters providing thrilling action
Abundant in Tampa Bay estuaries and shallow flats
Caught year-round, peak activity in spring and fall
Best time to catch Redfish
Redfish can be caught year-round in Tampa Bay, but the most action happens in spring and fall. Our guides schedule trips around tides, moon phases, and seasonal fish movements to maximize your chances.
Spring: March–May – moving into shallow flats, great for inshore action
Summer: June–August – hot days, deeper flats, excellent for trophy fish
Fall: September–November – peak feeding activity, excellent bite
Winter: December–February – slower, but still productive in sheltered bays
How we target redfish
Using live bait like shrimp or crabs, soft plastics, and topwater lures, our guides tailor techniques to your skill level. Beginners get hands-on guidance, while experienced anglers enjoy advanced tactics for landing trophy fish.
Mangroves, oyster bars, and flats are top locations
Guided tips ensure productive and safe fishing
Bait & Lures: Live shrimp, greenbacks, pinfish, and soft plastics are highly effective.
Tackle: Light-to-medium spinning rods for flats; heavier gear for targeting larger fish.
Techniques: Sight fishing, drifting, and casting to structure are all commonly used by our guides.
For Beginners: Our guides provide full instruction, making it easy for first-time anglers to catch their first Redfish.
For Experienced Anglers: We target trophy Redfish and offer advanced tips to maximize success.pinfish
Popular spots to catch redfish in Tampa Bay
Hillsborough Bay Flats – Areas just north and south of the Alafia River are excellent for sight fishing, especially during spring and fall.
Weedon Island Preserve – Lush grass flats, oyster bars and pot holes that line up along mangrove ambush points are historical redfish areas
Cockroach Bay Mangroves – Shallow Protected waters, ideal for families and beginners.
Old Tampa Bay Flats – Great for mid-sized Redfish and scenic fishing trips.
Shell Key Preserve – Seasonal feeding grounds, often produces strong action.
Fort Desoto – Redfish use The vast grass flats of This area to school up before and after spawning. Be on the lookout for big pushes and a bronze” colored water, and you may have a redfish trip of a lifetime.
Manatee River – The Manatee River has been a historic year-round place to catch redfish around docks, structures, and at the mouth of the river.
Redfish can be caught year-round, but the most action happens in spring and fall. Our guides schedule trips around tides, moon phases, and seasonal movements to maximize your chances.
No experience is required! Our expert guides provide all gear and instruction, making trips enjoyable for beginners and seasoned anglers alike.
We provide rods, reels, tackle, and bait. Just bring sunscreen, a hat, and your enthusiasm!
Absolutely! Our trips are family-friendly, with guidance to help young anglers hook their first Redfish.
We offer 4 hour,6 hour and 8 hour trips targeting Redfish. depending on tides, targeted species, and your preferences.
Yes, we follow sustainable fishing practices to protect Tampa Bay’s ecosystem while ensuring a fun experience. We do follow all Florida Regulations with regards to keeping redfish.
The slot is 18″ to 27″ and you may keep one per person.
