Often found in schools during the fall, bull redfish must be released in many coastal areas. Anglers can enhance release success by utilizing one of these three short leader circle hook setups.
Capt. Spud Woodward
Thanks to harvest regulations and voluntary catch-and-release practices, anglers now have many chances to catch red drum, especially adult ones, which are known for their fierce and relentless fight, earning them the nickname—bull reds.
Weighing an average of 30 pounds, adult red drum are voracious feeders, preying on various fish and crustaceans by rapidly gulping down their food and relying on crushers in their throats to prepare the meal for digestion. This aggressive feeding can result in deep-hooking and injury when anglers use natural baits with J hooks sporting weights and long leaders.
A seasoned North Carolina angler, Owen Lupton, discovered that positioning the sinker a few inches above the hook causes redfish to hesitate before swallowing the rig past the weight. This weight placement also creates leverage, improving the effectiveness of the inline circle hook.
Inline circle hooks—whose points align with their shanks—outperform offset circle hooks, which typically attach in soft tissues like the tongue or throat, negating the rig’s effectiveness in preventing deep-hooking. This type of short-leader-circle-hook rig generally hooks bull reds in the corner of the jaw or lip, minimally harming the fish and enabling a swift release. Some anglers choose to flatten the hook’s barb for easier removal, though bait retention on a barbless hook can be problematic in strong currents or turbulent waters.
Bull Redfish Fishing Rigs
You’ll need crimps, swivels, snaps, beads, monofilament leader, and a crimping tool (not all items are shown) to prepare these rigs.
Chris Woodward
Here’s a list of materials necessary to create three variations of this terminal red drum rig:
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Mid-wire, non-stainless, inline circle hooks with a gap between the point and shank of at least half an inch.
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Monofilament of 80-pound and 150-pound test.
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Double-barrel sleeves for 80-pound-test mono and .080-inside-diameter (size 4) single-barrel sleeves.
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Plastic beads suitable for 80-pound and 150-pound mono.
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Three-way swivels of 70-pound test.
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Duo-lock snaps, between 1.5 to 2 inches long.
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Barrel swivels at 80-pound test.
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Sinker slides.
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No-roll or egg sinkers, 3 to 6 ounces.
- A crimping tool.
Snell a circle hook to a 10-inch length of 80-pound mono. Feed the tag end through one side of a double-barrel sleeve, a plastic bead, a no-roll or egg sinker, another plastic bead, one side of a second double-barrel sleeve, and through the eye of a barrel swivel.
Basic short-leader rig
The basic short-leader rig consists of an 80-pound leader, a sinker, plastic beads, crimps, a swivel, and a circle hook.
Chris Woodward
Next, reverse the process, threading the end of the mono through the unused side of the closest double-barrel sleeve, back through the beads and weight, then finishing by threading it through the unused side of the double-barrel sleeve next to the hook. The weight and beads are now situated between the two sleeves.
Position the weight so it is no farther than 6 inches from the hook. Pull the mono tag end snug, crimp the sleeves, and trim any excess monofilament. Attach the main line to the barrel swivel at the rig’s top. This basic rig can be modified by substituting the no-roll or egg sinker with a sinker slide equipped with a clip for attaching a pyramid sinker, making it ideal for surf fishing.
Three-Way-Swivel Rig for Bull Redfish in the Surf
The three-way-swivel rig is appropriate for surf fishing and bottomfishing from a boat or pier.
Chris Woodward
Snell a circle hook to an 8-inch length of 80-pound-test mono. Using a double-barrel sleeve, connect the leader to one eye of the three-way swivel so that there are no more than 4 inches between the hook and swivel. Crimp the sleeve and eliminate any excess mono.
Tie the main line to the second eye of the three-way swivel.
Attach a duo-lock snap to the third eye of the three-way swivel and secure it to a pyramid sinker of your desired weight. This version works well for surf fishing and bottomfishing from boats or piers.
The Heavy-Duty Rig for Bull Redfish
When targeting even larger species accompanied by bull reds, this rig variation enhances your chances.
Chris Woodward
This adaptation of the short, circle-hook rig is utilized by Capt. Greg Hildreth, who fishes in the Brunswick-Golden Isles area of coastal Georgia. He often encounters sharks and tarpon while seeking adult redfish for his clients. The longer, heavier leader helps catch and handle fish weighing triple digits, while also minimizing bull red deep-hooking.
Snell or tie a circle hook to a 4-foot length of 150-pound-test mono. Run the end of the mono through a single-barrel sleeve, a plastic bead, a no-roll or egg sinker, another plastic bead, and a second single-barrel sleeve.
Ensure that the distance between the weight and hook does not exceed 6 inches. Lightly crimp the sleeve closest to the hook to secure it without damaging the mono. Pull the plastic beads, weight, and top sleeve snug against the crimped bottom sleeve, then lightly crimp the top sleeve.
Tie off the tag end of the leader with a double-overhand knot to create a loop. Connect the rig to the main line using a 150-pound-test coast-lock snap swivel. You can switch to a sinker slide to attach a pyramid sinker for weight changes.
In most coastal Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions, adult redfish must be released. Consequently, tens of thousands of bull reds are freed each year. Anglers have a responsibility to ensure the survival of these released fish.
The short, circle-hook rig is so effective that many have been provided to anglers and guides as part of the Fish Smart Red Drum Conservation Project. Help preserve the redfish population for the future by utilizing this rig and encouraging friends to do the same.