It takes a redfish 3 years to reach sexual maturity, and coincidentally (actually, due to the excellent work by fisheries managers working for TPWD) a redfish reaches a length of around 28" by the time they are 3 years old. In fact, after 2 years, most reds are about 20" long. So the "slot" reds are juveniles in their 3rd year of life, who haven't reached sexual maturity.
After 3 years, they mature and move out of the bays and into the gulf, and hence the term "Bull" red or oversized red. Both males and females get very large, just that their growth rate slows after maturity. I believe I read that a 40" red is something like 10 or 12 years old (can anyone confirm this?).
After 3 years, they mature and move out of the bays and into the gulf, and hence the term "Bull" red or oversized red. Both males and females get very large, just that their growth rate slows after maturity. I believe I read that a 40" red is something like 10 or 12 years old (can anyone confirm this?).
