Species · GBIF taxon 2400222
Red Drum
Sciaenops ocellatusAlso known as Redfish, Channel Bass, Puppy Drum, Spottail Bass
Red drum range across shallow coastal bays, estuaries, and ocean surf, where adults forage along muddy bottoms for crustaceans and small fish. Males produce a loud, resonant drumming sound during autumn spawning by contracting muscles against their swim bladders. A prominent black spot near the base of the tail helps confuse predators by mimicking an eye.
CoastalGame FishMarine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Blue Crabs
- Penaeid Shrimp
- Striped Mullet
Predators
- Sharks
- Dolphins
- Ospreys
ThreatsCoastal habitat loss, water pollution, and overfishing
HabitatsCoastal estuaries, salt marshes, bays, and ocean surf
Life spanUp to 60 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySciaenidae
- SpeciesSciaenops ocellatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp fin spines and gill plates can puncture skin if handled.
Responsible observation
- Angling Etiquette: Use barbless circle hooks to minimize harm when practicing catch and release.
- Sound Detection: Listen near calm estuarine waters during fall nights to hear low drumming calls.
- Visual Spotting: Look for distinctive dark tail spots while watching shallow flats or salt marsh edges.
Prey Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Prey no rights reserved, uploaded by Henggang Cui · cc0
Close Relative (c) Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative
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