1. **Live Bait**:
- **Crabs**: Blue crabs are particularly effective, especially in the summer months. You can either use them whole or cut them into pieces.
- **Shrimp**: Live shrimp is a classic bait that works well year-round. You can rig them on a hook or use a popping cork to keep them suspended.
- **Menhaden**: These oily baitfish are a favorite of Red Drum. You can use them live or cut into chunks.
2. **Cut Bait**:
- **Mullets**: Cut mullet is an excellent choice, especially in the fall when Red Drum are feeding heavily.
- **Pinfish**: These are also effective when cut into chunks. They are a natural prey for Red Drum.
3. **Artificial Baits**:
- **Soft Plastics**: Paddle tail swimbaits in natural colors like white or chartreuse can mimic baitfish effectively. Brands like Z-Man or Berkley Gulp! offer great options.
- **Topwater Lures**: In the early morning or late evening, topwater lures like the Zara Spook or Skitter Walk can provoke explosive strikes from Red Drum.
- **Jigs**: Use jig heads with soft plastic tails to bounce along the bottom where Red Drum often feed.
4. **Scented Baits**:
- **Scented Soft Plastics**: Products like Gulp! or other scented baits can be particularly effective, especially when the fish are finicky.
When fishing for Red Drum, remember to match your bait to the local forage and the time of year. Experiment with different baits to see what works best on the day you’re fishing. Happy fishing!
This answer doesn't make sense or isn't related to the question. Mark it as a probable hallucination of the AI model.