• Neil Taylor, Times Correspondent

Redfish are approaching peak activity for autumn, gathering in schools. Catching them on lures is a great challenge. They fight hard and they are one of our most sporting fish to tangle with. If you can catch a redfish here, you can catch one anywhere. The No. 1 theme for approaching redfish is “stealth.” Eliminate unnecessary noise. Extremely sensitive to noise, Tampa Bay redfish are tuned in to human activity. Approach them in a manner where they have no idea you are there. Find the fish that are feeding and entice them with lures moved at a slow pace — 3-inch paddletail plastics are a great choice. Other subsurface lures will also get their attention. Concentrate your efforts in areas that are 2 feet deep or less. At the highest tides, look for redfish right up against the mangroves.

Neil Taylor charters kayak fishing trips in the Tampa Bay area and can be reached at strikethreekayakfishing.com and (727) 692-6345.