FAMILY: Sciaenidae
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NAME: Sciaenops ocellatus - Red Drum |
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Data provided courtesy of Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff - (Dr. Peter Perschbacher) |
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DISTRIBUTION:
Northern Mexico to Cape Cod. Found in oyster bars, mud and grass flats. HABITS: The drums are so called because of the deep, reverberating sound they make, especially when flopping about on a deck or a pier. The "grunts" or "croaks" are a product of a taut, resonating gas bladder, strummed by muscles especially developed for such a function. Actually, the males are the best noise makers, and in many species the females are quiet. Abundant in surf zone. Feeds mainly on crustaceans, mollusks and fishes. SPAWNING: Large female lays 1 million eggs/spawn. They are spawned artificially at age 4 (maturity). GROWTH: Vary considerably. In Texas, when fed tilapia they reach 2-3 lbs in the first year, 8 lbs in the second, 14- 15 lb in the third, and 20 lb in the fourth. USES: Sport fishery and aquaculture uses. CULTURE: They can be raised to market size in about one year. Under controlled conditions red drum will spawn. They are sensitive to rapid drops in temperature, their normal range is 50 - 96o C. REFERENCES:
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