January is probably one of my favorite months of the year to target redfish. The water is gin clear and the fish are ganged up. Just remember to go slow! These fish sometimes will be sitting motionless soaking up the sun until you get too close. And don’t pressure the same exact schools every time you go. As long as these fish are not pressured they will happily eat an artificial bait. I like to cast around the edges or past the school and slowly bring the bait through them. Cold mornings and warm afternoons can be absolutely magical in January.
In the dead of winter, I like to downsize my gold and copper spoons to 1/8 ounce. I’ll use 1/4 ounce with novice anglers. For soft plastics I am throwing 4” Saltwater Assassin seashad on a 5/0 weedless hook. I’ll go with 1/8 ounce weight and in some situations,weightless. For colors not much changes there, I like opening night, mama’s chicken, fired chicken and grey ghost.
Scent can play a major factor this time of the year. Some cold mornings they really may not be active, but a little scent can and will draw a strike from a sluggish fish. I use Pro-Cure Super Gel, I also like Garlic bloody tuna, blue crab, shrimp and menhaden. It only takes a little drop of Pro Cure but I’ve been known to slather it on a time or two. Work the baits slow, move around stealthily, add a little scent and winter can be magical.
