November Red Drum Fishing on Florida’s Nature Coast

Captain Pete France
October 28, 2025
6:07 pm
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As cooler weather rolls in and the tides shift, November Red Drum Fishing on Florida’s Nature Coast comes alive. This is one of the most exciting months for targeting redfish—also known as red drum—as they feed heavily before winter’s arrival. Whether you’re wading the flats, poling a skiff, or casting from shore, the redfish action along the Nature Coast in November is as good as it gets.

Let’s dive into the seasonal behavior, prime techniques, and tackle tips that will help you hook into these bronze bruisers this fall.

Understanding Red Drum Behavior in November

When the water temperature starts to dip into the 60s and 70s, redfish behavior changes. They move from wide-open flats and grass beds toward slightly deeper troughs, oyster bars, and channels where the water stays warmer.

During November Red Drum Fishing, you’ll notice:

Schooling behavior: Reds often group up tightly, especially smaller slot fish.
Aggressive feeding: They feed heavily on crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish ahead of the cooler months.
Predictable movement: Reds travel with the tides, following bait into shallow water at high tide and retreating to deeper pockets as the tide falls.

Redfish are opportunistic feeders, and their copper scales make them easy to spot in clear water when the sun is high. Sight fishing opportunities can be incredible this time of year.

Where to Find Redfish on Florida’s Nature Coast

The Nature Coast’s unique mix of rocky shorelines, oyster bars, mangroves, and grass flats offers perfect redfish habitat in November. You won’t need to travel far—just pay attention to water temperature, tide flow, and bait presence.

Productive locations include:

Oyster bars and rocky points that hold heat during cool mornings.
Creek mouths and channels where shrimp and crabs flow out with the tide.
Flooded grass flats during high tides, when reds tail and feed aggressively.
Warm spring-fed areas that provide stable temperatures after cold fronts.

Captain's Tip: When a cold front hits, reds move deeper into mud-bottom channels or springs where the water warms faster. Find these thermal pockets, and you’ll find fish.

Tactics for Successful November Red Drum Fishing

1. Slow and Steady Wins the Bite

Just like with snook, November’s cooler water means slower metabolisms. Redfish will still eat, but they won’t chase a fast-moving lure.

Adjust your approach:

Retrieve your lure slow and smooth.
Focus on presentation, keeping your bait in the strike zone longer.
Use lighter tackle to make delicate, quiet casts in clear water.

Redfish are notorious for spooking easily this time of year, so stealth and patience are key.

2. Best Baits and Lures for Red Drum in November

The most effective baits in November mimic what redfish are already feeding on—crustaceans and small baitfish.

Natural baits:

Live or cut shrimp on a light jig head.
Crabs or pieces of crab fished near oyster bars.
Small pinfish or mullet on a circle hook for targeting larger bulls.

Artificial lures:

Soft plastics like paddle tails or jerk shads rigged weedless for shallow flats.
Scented baits such as Gulp! Shrimp, which can trigger strikes in sluggish fish.
Topwater plugs during warm, calm mornings—watch for explosive surface hits.

For lure rigging and technique tutorials, check out Salt Strong’s inshore fishing resource

3. Tidal Strategy and Water Movement

In November, tides dictate everything when it comes to redfish behavior. Understanding how to fish the moving water can make or break your day.

Incoming tides: Focus on redfish pushing onto shallow flats chasing shrimp and crabs. Cast ahead of their movement for a natural presentation.
Outgoing tides: Target ambush points—creek mouths, oyster bars, and drop-offs where bait is flushed out.
Slack tides: Slow things down. Use live bait or lightly weighted soft plastics and let them soak.

Captain’s Insight: Keep an eye on the moon phase—bigger tides mean more movement, which often translates to better fishing windows.

Gear Setup for November Red Drum Fishing

You don’t need heavy offshore tackle for redfish. A medium setup offers both finesse and control.

Recommended gear:

Rod: 7’–7’6” medium or medium-heavy spinning rod.
Reel: 2500–4000 size reel with smooth drag.
Line: 10–15 lb braided line paired with 20–30 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Hooks: 2/0 circle hooks for bait, or 1/8–¼ oz jig heads for soft plastics.

Pro Tip: Use natural-colored lures like new penny, root beer, or gold flake in clear water. Switch to darker colors when the water turns murky.

Reading the Weather and Water

Fall weather on the Nature Coast can change overnight, especially with cold fronts. These shifts directly impact redfish activity.

Pre-front conditions: Reds feed aggressively as pressure drops. Great time for topwater and fast-moving baits.
Post-front conditions: Fish move deeper and slow down—this is when finesse tactics shine.
Sunny afternoons: Shallow rocks and oyster beds warm up, drawing reds into shallower water to feed.

Always check local weather and tide charts before heading out. Sites like NOAA Tides & Currents can help plan your trip.

Conservation and Redfish Management

Red drum populations along Florida’s Nature Coast are healthy, thanks to responsible management and conservation-minded anglers. Handle all fish with care—especially those outside slot limits.

Best practices:

Use circle hooks to reduce deep hooking.
Keep the fish in the water when releasing.
Support the belly when lifting larger fish for a photo.
Always follow FWC regulations found on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website.

Responsible angling ensures that future generations will experience the same incredible redfish action.

Final Thoughts from Captain Pete

November Red Drum Fishing on Florida’s Nature Coast is all about timing, patience, and understanding the seasonal rhythm. Cooler water means clearer conditions and smarter fish—but with the right tactics, you can still find steady action all month long.

Whether you’re poling across a glass-calm flat or working the mouth of a creek with live shrimp, there’s nothing quite like watching a redfish tail break the surface in the golden November light.

So grab your gear, tie on your favorite soft plastic, and hit the shallows—because November might just be the best time of year to experience the true beauty of redfish season on Florida’s Nature Coast.

Ready to Book Your Trip?

Booking your first Florida fishing charter with me is simple. Just click here to book online or call me at 727-218-7969 if you’ve got questions.

Let’s go Nature Coastin’—and make your first trip one you’ll never forget.