new fishing areas

Question
Boris, Hello, i have been fishing marco, goodland and everglades city area for a few years. i have located several very good locations for snook and tarpon, but i'm only catching a redfish or two here and there. Do you have a few tips or locations that will help us locate more redfish ?thanks bob  

Answer
Hi Bob:
You don't say how you are fishing for reds, so my answer will take a couple of routes.  If you are using bait, crabs, shrimp, worms, and anything else as well as small bait fishes are what reds eat.  Keep the bait on the bottom of marl-sand areas, and look for edges or bars or holes at low slack tide.  On a flood tide try along sand and oyster bars and mangroves.  If you are using artificials, try some with a rust or gold color.  Spoons are excellent and you should pole slowly and quietly through shallow areas looking for tailing fish, remembering, nevertheless, that sometimes reds just lie along the bottom and one has to blind cast without seeing signs of fish.  When you do find tailers, cast near enough and gently enough so as not to startle the fish, and bring your lure back slowly, letting it bounce off the bottom and stir things up a little to attract fish.  You can also chum with cut-up shrimp pieces, but the trouble with fishing that way is that you don't cover as much territory as when casting artificials.  Good luck!  Boris (see my book for more info)