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 openng
downward; scales large.
Similar Fish: black drum,
Pogonias cromis.
Where found: juveniles
are an INSHORE fish, migrating out of the estuaries at about 30 inches (4
years) and joining the spawning population OFFSHORE.
Size: one of 27 inches
weighs about 8 pounds.
*Florida Record: 5 lbs.,
5 ozs.
Remarks: red drum are an
INSHORE species until they attain roughly 30 inches (4 years), then they
migrate to join the NEARSHORE population; spawning occurs from August to
November in NEARSHORE waters; sudden cold snaps may kill red drum in
shallow, INSHORE waters; feeds on crustaceans, fish and mollusks;
longevity to 20 years or more.
* The Florida records
quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's
printed publication, Fishing
Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are
provided as only as a benchmark.
