How-To: Large Hogy Soft Baits for Coastal Bull Redfish

We spent 15 minutes on the phone with Shawn G. of Cape Canaveral, Florida to discuss jigging for coastal bull redfish with the Hogy HDUV Jiggin' Eels. Here's what we learned... 

Location:  Cape Canaveral, FL

Tides: Outgoing tides concentrate fish into tight schools feeding on Menhaden.

Approach: These fish are holding on 20′ – 30′ of water. It’s been easiest to locate them by looking for churned up or dirty water where the fish are rooting around along the bottom searching for forage. These areas are highly contrasting to the normally green water around Cape Canaveral.

Rigging Selection: Hogy 10/0 Barbarian Jig Heads

Bait Selection: Hogy 10″ HDUV Bone Jigging Soft Baits

Why This Bait? These large soft baits are perfect at imitating large coastal menhaden. The serpentine action of the eel tail stands out in a school of feeding bull redfish and rarely goes unnoticed.

Colors: Bone, Bubblegum

Retrieve: Let the jig sink to the bottom, then use very quick erratic jigging motions to get the bait dancing. While creating lots of action is important, the jig must stay close to the bottom where the redfish are feeding. Strikes are often very aggressive and hard to mistake. Make sure to get a solid hook set in the fish.

OUTFIT

Rod: Medium Heavy – Fast Action 7′ Penn Ambassador

Reel:  Quantum Cabo 40

Line: 20lb Suffix 832 Braid 

Leader: 40lb Seaguar Fluorocarbon Leader using a J-Knot.