2016 Tailing Redfish Dates

The Redfish have been tailing pretty good for a few weeks now here in Coastal North Carolina.  I couldn't be more happy to see those golden tails waiving in the spartina grass after not seeing them all winter.  Tailing Reds are one of my favorite targets.  For one, it's such a visual way of fishing, where a lot of stalking is involved, it's as close as you can get to hunting with a fishing rod.  Secondly, these fish are there to eat.  Some low tide fish can be completely spooked out or lock jawed, and it doesn't matter what you do, you won't get an eat.  A fish tailing in the Spartina Grass is there to eat, so it completely comes down to whether you can pull off the shot or not.  If you do, you will be rewarded with an epic eat and a battle in the grass.  If you don't, then you get the pleasure of watching your target speed off the flat, leaving a long trail of "you blew it" behind him.

Chris Thompson with his first tailing Redfish on fly.

Below are the tailing tides for this season.  I've broken it down into the times of day, and I've rated the quality of the tides on a scale of 1 to 3.  The ratings are based on several things such as time of season, time of day and height of the tide.  I'll be happy to discuss any of these dates with you as far as why I've rated it as I did.  An average tailing tide can be fished fully in a 4 hour half day trip, but we can combine other types of fishing with it if you would like a longer trip.

Date                                                      Time                                      Rating

May  3                                                   late evening                        *
May 4                                                    late evening                        ***
May 5                                                    late evening                        **
May 6                                                    late evening                        *
May  21                                                 late evening                        *
June 1                                                   late evening                        **
June 2                                                   late evening                        ***
June 3                                                   late evening                        **
June 4                                                   late evening                        *
June 19                                                 late evening                        *
June 30                                                 afternoon                           **
July 1                                                     late evening                       ***
July 2                                                     late evening                       ***
July3                                                      late evening                       **
July 4                                                     late evening                       *
July 18                                                   late evening                       *
July 19                                                   late evening                       *
July 28                                                   afternoon                           *
July 29                                                   afternoon                           **
July 30                                                   late evening                       ***
July 31                                                   late evening                       ***
August 1                                               late evening                       **
August 2                                               late evening                       *
August 15                                             late evening                       *
August 16                                             late evening                       *
August 17                                             late evening                       *
August 20                                             morning                             *
August 21                                             morning                             **
August 22                                             morning                             **
August 23                                            afternoon                           **
August 24                                            afternoon                           **
August 25                                            afternoon                           **
August 26                                            afternoon                           **
August 27                                            afternoon                           **
August 28                                            late evening                       ***
August 29                                            late evening                       ***
August 30                                            late evening                       **
September 13                                    late evening                        **
September 14                                    late evening                        **
September 15                                    late evening                        *
September 16                                    morning                              **
September 17                                    morning                              ***
September 18                                    morning                              ***
September 19                                    morning                              ***
September 20                                    morning                              ***
September 21                                    morning                              ***
September 22                                    afternoon                           ***
September 23                                    afternoon                           **
September 24                                    afternoon                           **
September 25                                    afternoon                           **
September 26                                    late evening                       **
September 27                                    late evening                       **
September 28                                    late evening                        *
September 30                                    morning                              *
October 1                                           morning                              *
October 2                                           morning                              *
October 3                                           morning                              *
October 4                                           morning                              *
October 12                                         late evening                        *
October 13                                         late evening                        *
October 15                                         morning                              *
October 16                                         morning                              *
October 17                                         morning                              *
October 18                                         morning                              *
October 19                                         morning                              *
October 20                                         morning                              *
October 21                                         afternoon                           *
 
 

I'd love to get you out on the water to experience the excitement of Tailing Redfish, so don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you'd like to go!