I really prefer the outside of the jetties in Calcasieu. Water 10-16 ft deep. I'll move inside the pass if the water is moving there, but not too fast, otherwise, there is no way to keep the crab anywhere close to the bottom. Belle pass and caminada pass I prefer inside the pass. Beaches are trickier, I like to use either the sonar, past experience, or a slight variation in the wave motion to pick a good spot. I like to throw out three or four lines with cracked crab and make sure the rods are well secured in stout holders.
My brother taught me a trick that works very well to increase hook ups. Keep the drag loose, and when you see the fish running with the bait, count to six before picking the rod up and tightening the drag. We don't set the hook, by the count of six, the redfish has hooked himself. We use J hooks, size 7/0 on normal market size blue crabs. I also like to fish with a bit of shrimp on the bottom also. A 6-12" long sand trout or croaker is better redfish bait under most conditions than cracked crab. I keep some 9/0 to 11/0 hooks handy. My biggest redfish ever was on a 13" croaker. My son's biggest was on a 12" sand trout. We've had lots of fine fish on cracked crab also, but I hope you don't mind some drum mixed in.
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