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Legendary Species · Saltwater and flats

Redfish

Sciaenops ocellatus[1] · also Red drum

Red drum have a copper-bronze body that fades to a lighter belly, with one or more dark eyespots at the base of the tail (occasionally none).[1]

  • 75waters list it
  • 5states and regions
  • 5agency sources
Illustration of a red drum in side view: a long, copper-red body with a slightly downturned mouth
Red drum or redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Artwork: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Identification

  • Red drum have a copper-bronze body that fades to a lighter belly, with one or more dark eyespots at the base of the tail (occasionally none).[1]
    What the source says
    “Body is copper-bronze, fading to a lighter belly One or more dark, ocellated spots at base of tail (occasionally without spot)”
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife says the key mark is one large black spot on the upper tail base; several spots are not unusual, but no spot is extremely rare.[2]
    What the source says
    “The most distinguishing mark on the red drum is one large black spot on the upper part of the tail base. Having multiple spots is not uncommon for this fish but having no spots is extremely rare.”
  • Black drum look similar but have chin barbels and no tail spot.[1]
    What the source says
    “Similar Species: Black drum, P. cromis (has chin barbels and lacks spot on tail)”

Habitat and range

  • In Texas, red drum prefer shallow water 1 to 4 feet deep along bay edges with submerged vegetation such as seagrass.[2]
    What the source says
    “Red drums prefer shallow waters (1-4 feet deep) along the edges of bays with submerged vegetation such as seagrasses.”
  • On the Atlantic coast, red drum historically ranged from Massachusetts through Florida, though few have been reported north of Chesapeake Bay in recent years.[3]
    What the source says
    “The historic distribution of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) on the Atlantic coast is from Massachusetts through Florida, though few fish have been reported north of the Chesapeake Bay in recent years.”

Life history

  • In Florida, red drum spawn from about August through December in passes, inlets and lagoon estuaries, making a drumming sound with muscles against the air bladder.[1]
    What the source says
    “Spawning season is from about August through December, in passes, inlets and lagoon estuaries around the state. During spawning season, redfish use special muscles rubbing against their air bladder to produce a "drumming" sound for which they are named.”

Status, protections and rules

Legal status and rules as the agency stated them on the date read. Rules change: check the current regulations for the water.

  • Florida (FWC rule, Big Bend region shown): open year-round, 18- to 27-inch total length slot, 1 fish per person per day and 4 per vessel.[4]
    What the source says
    “Season: Open year-round Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish vessel limit”
  • Florida (FWC rule): the Indian River Lagoon region, from New Smyrna Beach south to the Martin-Palm Beach county line, is catch-and-release only for redfish.[4]
    What the source says
    “The northern boundary is located at Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach and extends south to Martin-Palm Beach County line. Does not include the Loxahatchee River or its tributaries. Catch-and-Release only.”
  • Texas (TPWD rule): red drum daily bag of 3, minimum 20 inches and maximum 28 inches.[5]
    What the source says
    “Red drum Daily Bag: 3 Min Length: 20 inches Max Length: 28 inches”
  • ASMFC: a 2007 harvest moratorium and Presidential Executive Order bar any harvest or sale of red drum from federal waters.[3]
    What the source says
    “A harvest moratorium and Presidential Executive Order, enacted in 2007, prevents any harvest or sale of red drum from federal waters.”
  • ASMFC's 2024 benchmark assessment found the northern Atlantic stock (New Jersey to North Carolina) healthy, while the southern stock (South Carolina to Florida's east coast) is overfished and experiencing overfishing.[3]
    What the source says
    “The 2024 Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report indicates the northern stock of red drum (New Jersey through North Carolina) is not overfished and not experiencing overfishing, while the southern stock (South Carolina through the east coast of Florida) is overfished and experiencing overfishing.”

Fishing for it: what the agencies say

What agencies and extension services say about catching it, with the source for each line.

  • Fly anglers sight-cast small poppers, baitfish streamers, or shrimp and crab flies to cruising or tailing red drum, using 8.5- to 9.5-foot rods with 6- to 9-weight floating lines.[2]
    What the source says
    “Flyfishers sight-cast small surface popping plugs, baitfish type streamers or shrimp and crab imitation flies to "cruising" or "tailing" red drum. Rod lengths range from 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 feet casting weight forward, floating line from six to nine weight.”
General advice (ours, not an agency's)
  • Saltwater rules (slots, seasons, tags, handling) are set by the state or country and change often: read the current rules before each trip.
  • A local guide will know the tides and where the fish are feeding this week.
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Where to fish for redfish

Our 75 water pages whose agency species list names redfish (each list links to the agency page it comes from). A species missing from a list does not mean it is absent: many agencies publish no list for a water.

United States 75 waters

Destination hubs

Hubs that list one of these waters, or that a water page is near: each has guides, shops, licences and trip planning for the area.

Sources

Every fact on this page is our paraphrase of the page cited beside it, read on the date shown. Rules and seasons change: check the agency's current regulations before you fish.

  1. Red Drum (Redfish) | FWC (species profile) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, read Oct 24, 2026.
  2. Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, read Oct 24, 2026.
  3. Red Drum - Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, read Oct 24, 2026.
  4. Red Drum (Redfish) | FWC (recreational regulations) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, read Oct 24, 2026.
  5. Drum Bag & Length Limits Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, read Oct 24, 2026.

3 states and regions have a page of redfish waters of its own (five or more waters).