Redfish

A Little about Redfish

Redfish, also known as Red Drum or simply Reds, are close cousins to the Black Drum and are found in close proximity with the similar species. Like their name suggests, Redfish possess a dark red coloring on the back that fades into white on their underbelly. Along their streamlined body, the Redfish is distinguishable for its unique false eyespot located on the tail. At the adult age of three, the fish usually weigh between six and eight pounds. If the Redfish is near or more than 27 inches, anglers refer to them as “Bull Reds.” Although the record in Florida is 52 lbs. and 5 oz., the largest recorded fish from the species was caught in 1984 on Hatteras Island at just over 94 lbs.

The popular game fish species is naturally found in the Atlantic Ocean, along the coastline from Massachusetts to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. It is particularly found in large populations on the coasts of Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, and Florida. Immature redfish prefer to swim along grassy marsh areas in bays, inlets, and estuaries if possible. Mature redfish, between the ages of 3 and 6 years old, tend to congregate in schools along rocky outcroppings of jetties and other manmade structures.

Feeding Patterns and Unique Characteristics of Redfish

Redfish possess a conical-shaped that is designed for vacuuming along the bottom of the ocean floor for feeding. The species also are gifted with keen senses of touch and sight, which helps them to navigate easily through dark, murky waters for hunting its prey. During the summer and fall seasons, crabs and shrimp are the biggest staples to the redfish diet. For the other times of the year, they feed on menhaden, pinfish, mullet, sea robin, flounder, and Atlantic croaker.

Near the shorelines from mid-August to mid-October, mature redfish spawn in the shallow waters. Males produce various drumming sounds that vibrate the swimbladder with muscular contractions to help attract the female redfish. The females lay between 200,000 and 3 million eggs per spawning season, which incubate for just 24 hours before hatching. Young redfish grow around 0.6 millimeters each day and are between 271 and 383 millimeters in length by their first year. Unless the redfish are caught, they can have a tremendously long life span up to 60 years.

What You and Your Guide Are Looking For

In the Florida Keys, redfish are often found within the channels and flats in the backcountry, as well as along the shallow reefs. Since they are schooling fish, it is quite simple to catch a large number of them once the school has been located. Be on the lookout for flocks of birds that could signal a school of redfish swimming through the waters beneath the surface. They can sometimes be seen tailing on the flats or in the mud of basins where they feed on mullet. In shallower waters around reef, it is even possible for the fish to change the color of the water to a darker tan shade when schools are in the area.