Red Drum
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also called redfish, red, puppy drum
A popular inshore gamefish known for its copper-bronze coloration and distinctive black spots near the tail. Also commonly called redfish, these drum are prized for their strong fighting ability and excellent table fare.
Red Drum at a glance
- Scientific name
- Sciaenops ocellatus
- Typical size
- 18-30 inches
- IGFA world record
- 94 lbs 2 oz
- State record
- 52 lbs 5 oz
- Water
- Saltwater
- Habitat
- Inshore
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Uncommon
Habitat
Shallow flats, mangrove shorelines, docks. School fish. Tail in shallow water.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a red drum through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksWhat to throw for red drum
The lure classes that produce for red drum, drawn from the same species map Cobia reasons about. Each one opens a full page on what it is, when it works and how to fish it.
Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the water in front of you today. That part is the app.
Red Drum questions people ask
Red Drum is Sciaenops ocellatus. Anglers also call it redfish, red, puppy drum.
A typical red drum runs 18-30 inches. The IGFA all tackle world record stands at 94 lbs 2 oz. Cobia records the length and weight of every red drum you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Shallow flats, mangrove shorelines, docks. School fish. Tail in shallow water. It is a salt water species, filed under inshore in the Fishdex.
The IGFA all tackle world record red drum weighed 94 lbs 2 oz. The standing state record on file is 52 lbs 5 oz.
Soft swimbaits and paddletails, spoons, jigheads, topwater walkers and flies and jig flies all produce. Which one, in which color and which weight, depends on the season, the water temperature and the tide on the day, which is the part Cobia works out against the lures you already own.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.