RED DRUM/REDFISH

Latin Name

Sciaenops ocellatus

Common Names

Other names include red, redfish, red drum, spottail, red bass, bull reds, puppy drum, channel bass.

Description

Redfish have a coppery bronze color with a tinge of red, color will vary depending on water clarity. Normally redfish have one spot on the base of their tails but often there are several or many spots.

Other Species Info/Taxonomic Groupings

The widely distributed Drum family contains over 200 tropical and warm-temperature saltwater marine species, including Black Drum, Croaker, Seatrout, Seabass, and Weakfish.

Range/Distribution

The range of the Red Drum is from the Gulf of Maine to Tuxpan, Mexico and all throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

Habitat

Most popular fishing areas are along shell bars and rocky or grassy shorelines and on shallow flats, where they are usually fished by sight. Reds also forage in the surf of outside beaches nearly everywhere on the Gulf Coast and along the upper half of the East Coast, especially in the fall. Adults move offshore to spawn and are sometimes encountered in open water in large schools. They roam into coastal rivers and creeks at any time of year, and in winter swarm into them, seeking warmer water.

Spawning Habits/Reproduction

Red drum are estuarine dependent -- that is they spend at least part of their life in the bays. Life for a red drum begins as an egg spawned during late summer and fall, usually from August into November. Adults gather in near-shore waters on the Gulf side of barrier islands near passes and channels to spawn. Each female can produce from 20,000 to 200,000 eggs per spawn and can spawn over a dozen times during a season. Females broadcast their eggs into the current where they are fertilized by the male and start their life cycle.

After hatching, the larvae are carried by tidal currents into the shallow waters of bays and estuaries. As the larvae enter these waters, they seek quiet grassy areas where they are protected from both predators and currents that could carry them off-shore. The larvae remain in these areas, feeding on small invertebrates and zooplankton until they are about an inch long -- usually a few weeks. Red drum ranging from an inch to 30 inches are considered juveniles.

As juvenile red drum grow and mature, they disperse through the bay system and are found in a wide variety of habitats. They grow rapidly reaching 12 inches (3/4 pound) by the end of their first year and 22 inches (4.1 pounds) by the time they are two years old. While they prefer shallow protected open waters of bays and estuaries, they are occasionally found in the surf along Gulf beaches. They remain in these areas feeding on small fish, shrimp and crabs until they are three or four years old and about 30 inches long.

Feeding Habits/Diet

Juvenile drum feed on zooplankton and invertebrates such as small crabs and shrimp. Adults primarily feed on fish, crabs and shrimp.

Eating Quality

Red portions of flesh do not have objectionable taste when fresh. Once considered poor table fare, the Red Drum gained popularity as a food fish in the early 80's, due largely in part to the Cajun specialty dish "Blackened Redfish" developed by Chef Paul Prudhomme. Utilized fresh and frozen; can be smoked, pan-fried, broiled and baked.

Conservation

Commercial harvesting of red drum is prohibited throughout the gulf coast states with the exception of Mississippi, which has a very limited inshore fishery. The red drum is an extremely popular Florida game fish due to its ability to fight for extended periods of time and to its popularity as a food fish.

Age, Size, Lifespan

The life span of a red drum can exceed 40 years. In Florida waters, red drum can reach lengths up to 45 inches and weights up to 51 pounds.

World Record

94 lbs., 2 oz

Certified Florida Record

52 lb, 5 oz

Other Notables

Redfish are very wary and will spook very easily. This is especially true in shallow or very clear water. Approach quietly with a push pole taking extra care not to make any unnecessary noises.

Much like hooking a runaway frieght train, this stubborn fish is truly one of the most exciting to catch. Some anglers like to steathily stalk large fish in very shallow water. While others have found that livebaiting over the flats and along island shorelines to be productive.

The fish called “drums” often produce drumming sounds, sometimes rather loud. The sound is produced, usually by males, by vibrating special muscles near the swim bladder. The drumming can be heard when the animals spawn or when they are taken out of the water.

HOW TO RELEASE BIG REDFISH

After an hour fight on light tackle in shallow warm water most anglers are pretty worn out. Imagine how worn out the fish is!  In normal conditions, redfish are very hearty fish that survive being caught and released. However when water temperatures get in the mid 80's and above... anglers need to take more precautions than normal. Captain Richard Bradley has a few tips on releasing redfish to be caught again.

·Don't land a big redfish, keep them in the water. If possible, get in the water for your photographs and don't lift the fish totally out of the water. A big redfish has alot of weight in the internal organs, keeping them in the water helps them survive.

·Grab their tails and move slowly back and forth until the fish is motivated to swim on their own. This could take some time for larger fish in warm water.

·Keep handling to the minimum. Try to not rub the slime off the fish it protects them.

·If possible, use higher pound test in warmer water to shorten the fight-time.

·Don't stick your hands in their gills.

·If the hook is in the throat of the fish or "gut hooked", cut the line and don't play doctor. (Don't use Stainless Steel hooks).