Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1766)

The Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is an important game fish, popular with surfcasters, that is found from Massachusetts (U.S.A.) to northern Mexico. Red Drum travel in schools during their spring and fall migrations. They are known as Redfish in Florida and along the Gulf Coast and as Channel Bass in many other regions. Large specimens (which are usually well under 1.5 meters) are knowsn as "bullreds", while smaller ones are known as "ratreds". (Boschung et al. 1983; Robins and Ray 1986)

Western Atlantic; introduced in Réunion (Mascarenes).

In a study of Red Drum in Florida, Murphy and Taylor (1990) found that males matured at smaller sizes than females. Some Gulf coast males were sexually mature after they reached 400 mm, and some on the Atlantic coast were mature after they reached 350 mm (Interpolated lengths at 50% maturity were 529 mm and 511 mm, respectively). Some Gulf coast females were sexually mature after they reached 600 mm, and some on the Atlantic coast were mature after they reached 550 mm (interpolated lengths at 50% maturity were 825 and 900 mm, respectively). The authors note that based on previous studies in Mississippi and Texas, there is geographic variation in the size and age at which Red Drum mature (Murphy and Taylor 1990 and references therein). Spawning peaked on both coasts of Florida from about September through October. According to Murphy and Taylor, Red Drum apparently spawn not only in nearshore areas close to channels and passes, but also over the nearshore continental shelf and in estuaries.

Wilson and Nieland (1994) studied the reproductive biology of Red Drum in the northern Gulf of Mexico. They inferred an 8 to 9 week spawning season extending from mid-August to early October. Both sexes achieved >50% maturity at age 4; however, at 50% maturity males were somewhat smaller than females (males 660 to 670 mm versus females 690 to 700 mm, males 3.4 to 3.5 kg vs. females 4.0 to 4.1 kg).

In a study of Red Drum taken off North Carolina (Ross et al. 1995), maximum observed age and size were 56 years and 1,250 mm fork length (FL) for males and 52 years and 1,346 mm FL for females (fork length is the length from the most forward part of the jaw to the middle of the tail between the lobes). Fifty percent maturity was attained among males by age 2 at 621 to 640 mm FL and among females by age 3 at 801 to 820 mm FL. Spawning occurred from August through early October in estuarine waters of Pamlico Sound and nearshore ocean waters close to barrier island inlets. Ross et al. report that the relative abundance of 20 to 55-year-old Red Drums has declined 90% since 1968-1972.

Length max (cm): 160.0 (S)