Tarpon Springs Big Redfish: Fishing Adventures Florida Season 3 Episode 9

Tarpon Springs Big Redfish – Cut Bait Changes Everything

Tarpon Springs Big Redfish delivers the sort of inshore action Florida anglers dream about. Captain Sergio Atanes is joined by Captain Ron and Captain Michael Dawson for a day that starts slowly with live sardines but changes dramatically once the team switches tactics. With the trout bite proving quieter than expected, the crew moves into productive redfish water around docks, rocks, oyster beds and mangroves, where the action quickly comes alive.

Big Redfish Action

The key to this Tarpon Springs Big Redfish session is adapting to the conditions. Early in the day, the anglers work deeper pockets while the tide is low and try live sardines, but the fish show little interest. Once there is enough water to move into a more promising area, Michael explains why the location is so well suited to redfish: current, structure, oysters, mangroves and docks all combine to create ideal feeding habitat. The first good fish show just how powerful these reds can be. One hard-running redfish breaks a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader after stripping a large amount of line, while other fish charge towards the docks and force the anglers to fight them from difficult angles. Sergio demonstrates how changing rod position and pulling against the direction of a fish can help keep it away from structure.

Cut Bait Changes Everything

The turning point comes when the crew switches from live sardines to cut bait. The response is immediate. Big redfish begin picking up the baits almost as soon as they hit the water, producing several strong fights, multiple hook-ups and even a double hit. Sergio, Ron and Michael land a succession of quality fish, with many measuring roughly 22 to 30 inches and some running over the legal slot size. There is plenty of variety too. Alongside the Tarpon Springs redfish, the crew encounters a small snook taken on shrimp, a jack and even a lizardfish that tries to swallow a large sardine. However, the redfish remain the stars, repeatedly bulldogging towards cover and testing tackle, leaders and angling skills.

Big Redfish Around Tarpon Springs

By the end of the session, the anglers have found a sizeable school and enjoy sustained action in an area packed with classic redfish features. Captain Michael Dawson reckons they could easily have landed around 30 fish had every take stayed connected, showing just how productive the spot becomes once the right bait and tide come together. Watch Tarpon Springs Big Redfish to see Captain Sergio Atanes, Captain Ron and Captain Michael Dawson turn a slow start into a memorable day of Florida inshore fishing. From broken leaders and powerful runs to big cut-bait hook-ups, this episode is full of practical fishing insight and hard-fighting redfish action.