Species Profiles. Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Gulf of Mexico). RED DRUM.

• Main Author: Reagan,Roland E
• Other Authors: MISSISSIPPI COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1985
• Subjects: Biology; Biological Oceanography; *FISHES; REQUIREMENTS; TEMPERATURE; COASTAL REGIONS; ENVIRONMENTS; DISTRIBUTION; DYNAMICS; POPULATION; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; PROFILES; RANGE(EXTREMES); COMMERCIAL FISHING; SALINITY; LIFE(BIOLOGY); FEEDING; TEXAS; ADULTS; OFFSHORE; LOUISIANA; ESTUARIES; MEXICO GULF; CRABS; MORPHOLOGY(BIOLOGY); *Red drum; Red drum; Sciaenops ocellatus
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA162650; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA162650

Species profiles are literature summaries of the taxonomy, morphology, distribution, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal aquatic species. These are prepared to assist in environmental impact assessment. The red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is an estuarine dependent species. It spends its entire life in estuaries or nearshore coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Red drum spawn from mid-August to nearshore coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Red drum spawn from mid-August to Novermber; peak spawning is from mid-September through October. Larvae and juveniles remain in estuaries and adults live along the coast and in passes. Commercial landings remain in estuaries and adults live along the coast and in passes. Commercial landings remain in estuaries and adults live along the coast and in passes. Commercial landings remain in estuaries and adults live along the coast and in passes. Commercial landings in Louisiana (1971-81) ranged from 723,700 to 2,212,500 lb. Texas closed commercial fishing in 1979. In most Gulf States, the sport catch usually exceeds commercial landings. There are few data on population dynamics of the species. Larval and juvenile red drum eat primarily invertebrates; adults feed on fish, shrimp, and crabs. Red drum tolerate a wide range of temperatures (2 to 37.5 C) and salinities (0.14 to 50 ppt). (Author)