Does a tailing red always mean a feeding red?

I always heard that. But you have disproven that old tale. Or, tail.

Did you throw a top water? Sometimes that will get them. Frog, rat, she dog.

quote:

---

a feeding red

---

Is there any other kind?

Tailing red usually means they are digging on the bottom for crustaceans etc. They are looking down and not up. So if you throw a fast moving bait like a spoon a lot of times they won’t hit it. Also if that bait hits them without them seeing it will spook them and they take off. What I found that works well is a crawfish fished weedless and minimal weight. Pitch it out in front and reel toward them and let it sink just in front. You can jig it slightly and many times they will crush it.

quote:

---

The tide was flat so there was essentially no water movement.

---

Guide buddy of mine explained it best. “Reds feed on the tide, imagine eating all you can eat steak and walking outside and someone throws you a bologna sammich”
A few hours later that same sandwich would get smashed..

No water movement was the problem. For the most part a tailing (moving) redfish is hunting for his meal.

Not here to help with tailing aspect but the 7 year old. Bring some dead shrimp and let him catch a few, then switch over to chasing on the flats. it is hard enough to get kids into the outdoors but it is real hard to keep them interested if you continue to strike out. Good luck on getting it figured out.

quote:

---

 it is hard enough to get kids into the outdoors but it is real hard to keep them interested if you continue to strike out

---

That is what's making it the worst for me right now.

Fishing out of a canoe in Buras by Joshua's. I kayak (ride 135) mostly but have a 2 person canoe that I've taken my boy in twice in the last 2 weeks. I've never struck out twice in a row by Joshua's. That marsh is full of reds. I've definitely been noticing a lot more garfish and otters around there too.

Starting to feel like I'm gonna need to invest in a boat soon, especially once my 2 year old comes of age.

quote:

---

Seeing some of a tail out of the water does not 100% of the time mean a red is eating. I've seen them countless times slowly cruising shallow flats with only a tip of the tail sticking up as it patrols. Reds get lock jaw like any other fish, but just not nearly as often.
A red feeding in one spot with tail up and nose pointed down means you need to drop a bait in front his nose

---

This. ^^

Once you learn the fish's body language, you'll learn to distinguish with a pretty good degree of certainty between a tailing fish that's not feeding, and a tailing fish that's feeding. If you a see a redfish sporadically tailing, flicking his tail, and moving erratically, then he's probably feeding. If you see a redfish with his tail (or dorsal fin) out of the water consistently swimming, then he's probably just cruising around, not "tailing."

While a true "tailing" fish is most likely feeding, it doesn't mean they're easy to feed. As others have posted, in order to get a truly tailing fish to eat, you pretty much have to get a lure right in front of their nose without spooking them. This is difficult, particularly where there is grass involved. When a redfish (or any other shallow water fish) is actively tailing and eating, a lure 1' away might as well be a mile away.

eta: Are you trying to get him to sight fish? Or is he just coming along? You probably already know this, but sight fishing is definitely not the best pursuit for younger ones. The level of rod control, casting accuracy, and overall skill required to sight fish redfish is a bit beyond what most kids that age have. I say this not to be preachy but really just because I learned that the hard way and I regret not taking a more measured approach at getting a particular young kid involved in fishing.