Red drum (redfish)

Sciaenops ocellatus · Sea

Bronze drum with a spot near the tail; large bulls are caught offshore.

Red drum (redfish) (Sciaenops ocellatus)

Photo: Noaa, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Facts

Best months

Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov. Northern hemisphere; shift by six months south of the equator.

FeedsDawn and dusk
Water temp16–28 °C
Typical size40–70 cm · record about 150 cm
DietCrabs, shrimp, mullet
RegionsNorth AmericaCentral America

How conditions affect it

Moon

Sensitive to the moon: favour the major solunar periods.

Tide

Tide matters: fish moving water.

Pressure

Sensitive to pressure: fish a steady or slowly falling barometer.

Catching tip. Cut bait or soft plastics in marshes and surf.

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Related species

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