Redfin Pickerel

Body Type & Identification: The smallest of the North American pickerels — typically 8–14 inches. Distinguished from Chain Pickerel by fully scaled cheeks and gill covers, a shorter and more rounded snout, and a more reticulated (chain-like) pattern with less distinct markings. Reddish-orange fins give the species its name. A stream-adapted pickerel unlike the lake-oriented Chain Pickerel.

Preferred Water Temperature: 58°F–72°F. Found in small streams, swamps, and vegetated backwaters of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain. More of a stream specialist than Chain Pickerel — found in shallower, slower, more vegetated habitats.

Habitat: Small streams, swamps, and vegetated ponds of the Atlantic coastal plain from Maine south to Florida and across the Gulf coast to Texas. Closely associated with aquatic vegetation in slow, dark-water stream systems. Often found in habitats too small and shallow for Chain Pickerel.

Best Lures: Small spinners work well near vegetation. Tiny swimbaits produce strikes. Small spoons near weed edges are effective.

Best Baits: Small live minnows are the top bait. Small nightcrawlers work well. Small live frogs produce results. Light tackle with small hooks near vegetation in shallow coastal streams and swamps.

Top 5 Destinations: Coastal plain streams of New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida — a seldom destination-fished but widely distributed species.

The smallest of the North American pickerels — typically 8–14 inches. Distinguished from Chain Pickerel by fully scaled cheeks and gill covers, a shorter and more rounded snout, and a more reticulated (chain-like) pattern with less distinct markings. Reddish-orange fins give the species its name. A stream-adapted pickerel unlike the lake-oriented Chain Pickerel.

Small streams, swamps, and vegetated ponds of the Atlantic coastal plain from Maine south to Florida and across the Gulf coast to Texas. Closely associated with aquatic vegetation in slow, dark-water stream systems. Often found in habitats too small and shallow for Chain Pickerel.

58°F–72°F. Found in small streams, swamps, and vegetated backwaters of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain. More of a stream specialist than Chain Pickerel — found in shallower, slower, more vegetated habitats.

Best Lures: Small spinners work well near vegetation. Tiny swimbaits produce strikes. Small spoons near weed edges are effective. Best Baits: Small live minnows are the top bait. Small nightcrawlers work well. Small live frogs produce results. Light tackle with small hooks near vegetation in shallow coastal streams and swamps.

Coastal plain streams of New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida — a seldom destination-fished but widely distributed species.