Red Drum (redfish)

Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS
Sciaenops ocellatus

Description: chin without barbels; copper bronze body, lighter shade in clear waters; one to many spots at base of tail (rarely no spots); mouth horizontal and opening downward; scales large. Can live 20 years or longer.

Where they can be found:  Most common in estuaries, lagoons and inlets feeding on oyster beds and grass flats. Prefers water temperatures between 65 and 85 F.  Water in the low 50's for extended periods can be fatal.

Spawning Habits:   Redfish spawn in the fall at the mouths of inlets.  Groups of fish gather in large schools and drop fertilized eggs which drift until hatching.  Once the hatch they swim into estuaries to mature.  Females are larger and take up to 5 years for first spawning.

Size: On Florida's East Coast most fish are between 15 and 35 inches or 3 to 15 lbs. However, it is not uncommon to catch them up to 50 inches or 40 lbs with a few larger. The current Florida Record is 51lbs 8 oz.

Feeding Habits:  Smaller fish feed in schools near shallow water grass flats and oyster beds in the early morning or late evening.  Larger reds often feed on the outside of large grass flats along drop-offs. Their diet consists of clams,  oysters, crabs, shrimp, menhaden, herring, anchovies, mullet, pinfish and croakers. Many times these fish can be seen chasseing  schools of baitfish into shallow water, or  'tailing' in shallow water as they dig holes with their nose searching for food.
 
One of the most popular sport fish in Florida, its popularity almost brought this species to extinction in the early 80's.  After extremely tight management and some stocking, as well as net bans in some areas, the population has again recovered to healthy levels.

Redfish will take a wide variety of flies, lures, and top water plugs. For this reason Redfish are one of the most sought after fish by light tackle anglers. This can be contributed to their reputation of being one of the hardest fighting fish on the grass flats. Because of this reputation and the fact that they spend most of the year in shallow water they are a great fish to sight fish.

Nothing can compare to the excitement of sight fishing tailing reds. Spotting the fish, making the cast, teasing it to strike, setting the hook Redfish one of the most popular sport fish in Florida Red fish school on grass flats feed on crabs, shrimp, mullet, pinfish red drum grow to over 50 lbs redfish red drum red fish ok and fighting your prey. This is the type of memories you will remember for years to come. 

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