Red Drum

Oceans & Range: Western Atlantic Ocean — from Massachusetts south through Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico to Northern Mexico. The premier inshore game fish of the Gulf Coast and Southeast Atlantic. Found in shallow bays, grass flats, marsh edges, surf zones, and nearshore reefs. A coastal species rarely found far offshore.

Preferred Water Temperature: 58°F–82°F. Highly adaptable. Spawns offshore in fall; juveniles move into inshore grass flats and marsh systems. Adults over 27 inches move to nearshore and offshore structure.

Size & Weight: Slot-size fish (18–27 inches) run 3–8 lbs. Trophy "bull reds" exceed 40–50 lbs. World record: 94 lbs 2 oz from North Carolina. Identified by one or more distinctive black spots at the base of the tail. Outstanding sight fishing on shallow flats.

Best Lures: Gold weedless spoons (Johnson Silver Minnow) are the classic inshore lure. Soft plastic paddle tails under a popping cork are the Gulf Coast standard. Topwater lures at dawn produce explosive strikes. Weightless soft shrimp imitations work in skinny water.

Best Baits: Live shrimp are the universal top bait. Live blue crabs produce trophy fish. Live mullet are excellent. Fresh cut mullet fished on bottom catches fish in all conditions.

Western Atlantic Ocean — from Massachusetts south through Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico to Northern Mexico. The premier inshore game fish of the Gulf Coast and Southeast Atlantic. Found in shallow bays, grass flats, marsh edges, surf zones, and nearshore reefs. A coastal species rarely found far offshore.

58°F–82°F. Highly adaptable. Spawns offshore in fall; juveniles move into inshore grass flats and marsh systems. Adults over 27 inches move to nearshore and offshore structure.

Best Lures: Gold weedless spoons (Johnson Silver Minnow) are the classic inshore lure. Soft plastic paddle tails under a popping cork are the Gulf Coast standard. Topwater lures at dawn produce explosive strikes. Weightless soft shrimp imitations work in skinny water. Best Baits: Live shrimp are the universal top bait. Live blue crabs produce trophy fish. Live mullet are excellent. Fresh cut mullet fished on bottom catches fish in all conditions.

Slot-size fish (18–27 inches) run 3–8 lbs. Trophy "bull reds" exceed 40–50 lbs. World record: 94 lbs 2 oz from North Carolina. Identified by one or more distinctive black spots at the base of the tail. Outstanding sight fishing on shallow flats.