Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

A large drum of U.S. Atlantic and Gulf estuaries, known for a black tail spot and low drumming sounds during spawning.

Key facts

Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is a carnivore animal classified as Fish · Perciformes · Sciaenidae.
Primary habitats are coast, with a range across Atlantic Ocean · Nearctic.
Activity is cathemeral, sociality is loose group, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A large drum of U.S.
Uses Atlantic and Gulf coasts, estuaries, salt marshes, lagoons, and sandy coastal bottoms.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Uses Atlantic and Gulf coasts, estuaries, salt marshes, lagoons, and sandy coastal bottoms. Juveniles rely heavily on shallow brackish habitats.

The body is coppery to reddish bronze, usually with one or more black spots near the tail base. The mouth points downward for bottom feeding.

Small groups move through coasts and estuaries, while larger adults also use offshore waters. Spawning groups produce drumming sounds.

It eats crabs, shrimp, mollusks, and small fish, often probing the bottom for crustaceans.

Spawning occurs near inlets and estuaries from late summer into autumn. Larvae ride tides into marshes and shallows.

Red drum is a prized recreational fish, and many regions protect large spawning adults with harvest rules.