Name/Relations || Range/Sizes || Habitat & Habits ||  Notes

	Spot(s) on the tail, no teeth (raspers can scrape skin however)

Common Name:  Red Drum
Other Common Names:    Redfish, puppy Drum, drum, Channel Bass
Scientific name: Sciaenops ocellatus
Family: Sciaenidae (Drums)
Related Species:  Black Drum, Atlantic Croaker, Southern Kingfish

Sizes: Possible to 85lbs, common 1lb-20lbs.
 
 

Habitat:  Estruaries, Bays, marshes, inlets, oysterbeds and weedbeds in inshore and nearshore salt and brakish waters to 200 feet deep.  Prefers water in the 70's and lower 80's F.  Water in the low 50's for extended periods can be fatal if the fish cannot seek deeper water.

Spawning Habits:   Spawns  fall in shallow open water to 200 feet.  Groups of fish gather in large schools and drop the fertilized eggs which drift until hatching.  The young swim into bays and estuaries to grow.  Females are larger and take up to 5 years for first spawning (like many drums).

Feeding Habits:  Smaller fish feed in schools near shallow grassbeds and oyster beds on tide changes, especially in the early morning or late evening.  Commonly feeds in schools and packs in and near the surf, around shallow reefs, and in bays and inlets.  Large reds often hide behind pillings in channels, poping out to pounce on any edible tidbit.  Feeds on molluscs (squid, clams, mussels, oysters), crabs, shrimp, and minnows (menhaden, herrings, anchovies, mullet, pinfish, croakers), even as large fish.  Will chase schools of baitfish into shallow water, and also often can be seen 'tailing' in shallow water when it pokes its nose into the sand in search of food.
 
 

Notes: Very omnivourous and popluar for sport and table, its popularity almost brought this species to extinction.  After extremely tight management and some stocking, as well as net bans in some areas, the population has again recovered to healthy levels.  Commonly stocked in Texas and Florida in a marine hatchery program.  The red will take a wide variety of flies, lures, and baits, but can be both very picky and very aggressive.  A common surf fisher's target from Maryland to Florida and around the Gulf to Texas.  It is also caught off piers and bridges, in the flats of bays, bayous, near oysterbeds and grass flats, in deep channels in passes and bays.  Good flies include clousers, streamers, and poppers; lures such as plugs, poppers, twitchbaits, and spoons are effective; baits such as live shrimp, fresh squid, clams, crabs, mullet, croakers, and pinfish are effective either freelined or fished near the bottom. Watch the tide changes for prime actions.