How to identify Red Drum?

Identifying Red Drum

Red Drum, also known as Redfish, are a popular target for sport fishermen due to their fighting ability and delicious taste. Here are some key features to help you identify them:

1. **Coloration**: Red Drum typically have a copper-bronze body with a lighter underside. They can vary in color depending on their habitat and age.

2. **Black Spots**: One of the most distinctive features of Red Drum is the series of black spots located near the tail. Adult Red Drum usually have 1 to 13 spots, while younger fish may have more.

3. **Body Shape**: They have a robust, elongated body with a slightly flattened head. The mouth is large and pointed, which is useful for capturing prey.

4. **Fins**: The dorsal fin is long and can be divided into two sections. The first part has spines, while the second is soft. The tail fin is deeply forked, which helps them swim quickly.

5. **Size**: Red Drum can grow quite large, often reaching lengths of 20 to 30 inches and weights of 10 to 30 pounds. However, some have been recorded at over 50 inches and more than 90 pounds!

When fishing for Red Drum, look for them in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and around structures like jetties and piers. They are often found in schools, especially during their spawning season.

Happy fishing!

This answer doesn't make sense or isn't related to the question. Mark it as a probable hallucination of the AI model.

Topics covered in this question:

Fish Identification Sport Fishing Red Drum