The turkey coma has passed, the holiday lights are going up, and the calendar is quickly flipping to the new year. For the dedicated angler, this is not a time to pack up the gear; it’s a call to action! Late November and early December bring one of the most exciting fishing opportunities on the Topsail Island coast: **stacked Redfish**.
The waters surrounding Topsail have cooled significantly, signaling a major shift in the feeding patterns of the mighty Red Drum. Gone are the days of sight-casting tailing fish in the sprawling grass flats. Instead, the Reds are grouping up, or “stacking,” in predictable winter hideouts, making a charter trip with a local captain your best bet for a monster catch before 2026 arrives.
Finding the Winter Redfish: Where the Heat Is
Topsail’s Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the deeper creek channels feeding into it become the prime real estate for winter Redfish. Their motivation is simple: survival. Redfish seek thermal refuge where the water temperature is most stable. This means targeting:
- Deep Bends and Holes: Look for sharp turns and deep depressions in the main channels or larger creeks. The current is often slowed here, allowing the fish to rest and conserve energy.
- Dark Bottoms: Dark mud or shell bottoms absorb and retain sunlight better than sand. On a sunny day, even a slight temperature difference can attract a huge school of fish.
- Docks and Structure: Deep-water docks, bridge pilings, and oyster beds offer both cover and a break from the current.
A good captain knows these specific, almost secret, holes like the back of their hand. While these fish are grouped up, they can be finicky, making local knowledge essential.
Tactics for the Cold Water Bite
If you find the stack, you still need to tempt them. The cold slows down a Redfish’s metabolism, so you must slow down your presentation. Aggressive retrieves and flashy colors from summer fishing will be ignored.
Here are the essential winter tactics:
- Slow and Low: Use a very slow, subtle presentation. A gentle hop or dragging motion along the bottom is far more effective than a fast jig.
- Small Baits: Downsize your lures. Smaller, two- to three-inch soft plastics like Gulp! shrimp or simple scented jerk shads rigged on a light 1/4 or 3/8-ounce jig head are irresistible when twitched slowly.
- Natural Colors: Stick to natural, darker colors. Root beer, dark chartreuse, or even black/blue combinations work well, especially in the often murky winter water.
- Live Bait Option: If using live bait, a simple piece of fresh shrimp or a small mud minnow fished dead-stick on the bottom in one of those deep holes is a guaranteed producer.
Don’t Miss the Last Opportunity of the Year
With the holiday rush looming and the new year just weeks away, your chance to fish this fantastic Redfish bite is dwindling. Charter spots are limited, especially as captains juggle their own family schedules for the holidays.
Before you get tied up with Christmas shopping or New Year’s Eve plans, give yourself—or the angler in your life—the gift of a final, glorious Topsail fishing adventure. Booking your **Last Cast** trip now is the only way to ensure you hook into one of these massive, stacked Redfish before the calendar resets. Don’t wait for spring; the bite is hot right now!
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