Fish · GBIF taxon 2400222
Red Drum
Sciaenops ocellatusAlso known as Redfish, Channel Bass, Puppy Drum, Spottail Bass
Red drum produce distinct drumming or croaking sounds during the autumn spawning season by contracting specialized muscles against their swim bladders. Juveniles mature in shallow brackish estuaries and salt marshes before moving into ocean waters and coastal surf zones as adults. A prominent black spot near the base of the tail fin serves as a false eye, tricking predators into attacking the wrong end of the fish.
MarineCoastalGame Fish
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Blue Crabs
- Penaeid Shrimp
- Menhaden
Predators
- Sharks
- Bottlenose Dolphins
- Osprey
ThreatsCoastal development, habitat loss, water pollution, localized overfishing
HabitatsEstuaries, bays, salt marshes, coastal surf zones, ocean waters
Life spanUp to 50 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
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Tailing Signs: Look for dark tails breaking the surface in shallow mudflats as fish root for crabs.
- Acoustic Detection: Listen for low vibrating drumming sounds near boat hulls during autumn spawning runs.
- Gentle Handling: Use wet hands or a rubber net to protect their delicate protective slime layer.
Prey Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Quinn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Quinn · cc-by
Close Relative (c) NOAA Photo Library, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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