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Red Drum

Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus · Drum family

  • 2lakes
  • 117logged catches
  • 108.8 kg heaviest logged

Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is a game fish with a habitat from Massachusetts to Key West, Florida, and along the Gulf Coast to Mexico. Sometimes called Redfish or simply Red, these fish mostly prefer shallow areas of bays and estuaries with submerged vegetation and soft mud bottom. Red Drum are usually distinguished by a dark red color on the back, white belly and with one large black spot on the upper part of the tail. These fish grow fast, ranging in size from 3 to 10 kg, with trophies weighing up to over 20 kg and some specimen even up to 40kg. As for their diet, Red Drum are mostly bottom feeders that eat small crustaceans like shrimp but will also feed on small fish.

What actually catches it ranked by real logged catches

Baits

Large Cutbait 11 Crawfish Cut 4 Shiners 4 Shrimp 3 Crab 2 Medium Cutbait 2 Large Minnows 2

Lures

Buzzbait 28 g, #5/0 5 X-Series Single Spoon 42 g, #4/0 3 Buzzbait 28 g, #5/0 2 Crankbait 1 m, #3/0 2

Best setups by lake 2 lakes with data

Blue Crab Island — 66 catches , best 38.74 kg

  • Buzzbait 28 g, #5/0 Spinning 5×
  • Large Cutbait Hook #7/0 Feeder bottom Shore 3×
  • Crab Hook #8/0 Feeder bottom Shore 2×
  • Large Cutbait Hook #8/0 Feeder bottom Shore 2×

Everglades — 51 catches , best 108.8 kg

  • Crawfish Cut Hook #4/0 Float 4×
  • Shrimp Hook #4/0 Float 99 m 3×
  • X-Series Single Spoon 42 g, #4/0 Spinning Shore 3×
  • Large Cutbait Hook #6/0 Feeder bottom 2×

How to catch

How to catch a unique Red Drum? You can catch this fish either with bait or lures.

If you prefer to use natural baits, then the best way to catch Red Drum would be to use Large Cutbait on a size #6/0 hook.

If you are more into artificial lures, you should go for some Buzzbaits. The most successful lure is White Buzzbait 28 g, #5/0.

Where to find it

Blue Crab Island Mississippi Everglades Florida

Also listed as effective documented, but not seen in the catch log

Crawfish Scaled Sardines Sand Fleas Finger Mullets #135#139#124#122#123#126#128

Data compiled from fp-collective and the Fishing Planet Wiki . Snapshot taken 2026-08-20. Game content and imagery © Fishing Planet LLC.