from north carolina south the redfish (red drum) is one of the most targeted fish by surf anglers. fishermen use rods 10 to 13 feet to cast to drum using baits like cut mullet, bunker (cut menhaden, or pogies as carolina anglers call them), and cut bait from spot, croaker, or bluefish. red drum hit a bait aggressively and are a much beloved surf fishing species. the overfished status of this fish for many years due to the blackened redfish craze of the 1980s led to strict recreational size and creel limits, however, so surf anglers must learn the local rules.