How much fun can you have catching rats? Plenty, as long as you’re fishing on Charlotte Harbor. I have no idea why, but for some reason redfish that are under the slot are referred to as “rats.” (If you know why, please — please! — tell me.)

Winter is the time of year when anglers see a lot of rat redfish in Southwest Florida. It’s not too much of a stretch to go out and catch 75 reds in a day, but 90 percent of them will be under the slot — often way under the slot, like in the 12- to 14-inch size range. Most of the slot fish you’ll find are in the bottom of the slot, maybe 18 to 22 inches. A 27-inch red is a rarity in winter — if you catch one of those, consider it a gift from the fishing gods.