Red Drum or more commonly called red fish lives in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Drum family contains more than 200 different species. The red fish has a reddish coloration as the name suggests and usually has at least one dark spot at the base of the tail. It is very rare that they do not have dark spots at the base of the tail, but more than one is not unusual. Adults typically weigh less than 40 pounds, but can get larger.
They feed on the bottom and love crustaceans and mollusks, but they also feed on small fish such as mullets. The shallow water near structures and around grass cover provides great habitat, as it is there that small crustaceans and mollusks will seek protection from predators. This same shallow water also works as a kind of protection for red fish. Where any movement or sound from above is more easily detected, making fishing for them a challenge. Sometimes they swim in waters so shallow that their backs are out of the water.
When the tide rises, he brings plenty of food with him for them. On the other hand, when the tide goes out, the best place to find them is in the channels and deeper areas where the tide is drawing feed. When the red drum reaches sexual maturity at three or four years old, the male will attract the females by vibrating a muscle in his swim bladder making a sound similar to that of a drum. Their spawning season is from August to October and occurs on the coast where the eggs hatch in shallow water for 24 hours.
If you are fishing for red fish, they will hit almost any bait, live or artificial, making them quite a popular sport fish. It is said that they will resist a bit when hooked. Once captured it is important to know that there are several different ways to cook them. They cook well on the grill with a western twist for flavor or even spicy southern Louisiana cuisine.