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Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS
Sciaenops ocellatus
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: 51 lbs., 8 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 Department of Environmental Protection's printed
publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current
ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.
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