Weight deductions of half, to as much as a full pound, are assessed if tournament anglers bring in a dead fish. But it’s a delicate process to keep redfish alive in 90-plus degree temperatures in the blistering heat of Louisiana summers.
Best practices for keeping them swimming include:
- Using additives – Rejuvenade is a product added to the water in your livewell. Use it when initially filling the livewell, and then again halfway through the day.
- Clean water – Don’t fill the livewell with water from the pond you’re fishing. Larger water bodies adjacent to the interior marsh tend to be cooler and better oxygenated.
- Oxygen – Use a supplemental supply of oxygen in lieu of a standard aerator. More oxygen in the water makes it easier for the fish to breathe; which puts less stress on them so they’ll be in good shape at the weigh-in.
- Keep the temperature down – Use frozen water bottles as opposed to dumping raw ice into the livewell, which can ultimately affect the salinity.
Read more redfishing tips from tourney vets here: https://www.louisianasportsman.com/contents/redfishing-tips-from-tourney-vets/