Author: Guilbeau, Joseph Allen

Cited Reference Literatures are noted by:

(Cited Reference) (page-number)

Date: October 1^st 2002

Scientific Name: Sciaenops Ocellatus (1)

Sciaenops is Greek for perch-like marine fish (1)

Ocellatus is Latin for eye-like colored spot (1)

Common Names:

Redfish, Red Drum, Reds, Spot-Tails, Bronze Bombers, Bull Reds, Rat reds,

Channel Bass, Red Bass, Sea Bass, Pescado Colorado

For the first three to four years of their lives, redfish live in the estuaries or in the surf zones along inlets feeding on the bottom for crabs, shrimp, menhaden, and mullet. Reds are a fast growing fish reaching approximately 11 inches and one pound in its first year, 17-22 inches and 3 1/2 pounds in two years, and 22-24 inches and 6-8 pounds in three years, redfish reach sexual maturity when they are about 28 to 37 inches long (2)(Page-11). As the females mature, they are more frequently found in the ocean but many still use the estuaries and inlets to feed and spawn. Some redfish that are taken have been found to be as much as 60 years old (2)(Page-15). The all tackle record, documented by the International Game and Fish Association (IGFA) is 94 pounds 2 ounces, caught on November 7, 1984 on the Outer Banks of North Carolina by David G. Deuel (2)(page-1)(4). The ages of redfish can be determined by counting the rings of a cross-sectional area of the earbone, called the otoliths (2)(page-9). Currently, Texas has a 3-fish per day slot limit of 20-28 inch lengths imposed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, with one tag that is valid for one Red Drum over 28 inches in length.

As ocean dwelling adults, they may hide and ambush other species, from behind structure, such as pier pilings, submerged drop offs, jetty rocks, sunken wrecks and any other object that creates eddies and pockets. Incoming tides will sweep baitfish through jetties, and there are plenty of Bull Reds that will move from the open Gulf thru the jetties and set up in eddies lying in ambush.  In the surf, feeding schools of trout follow baitfish and shrimp, attacking from below and pushing the terrified bait to the surface. Seagulls, always on the alert for an easy meal, note the commotion and begin to dive into the melee in order to pick up scraps and live bait. Under all of this, may be lurking redfish, scenting and cruising up and down the cuts in the surf awaiting the falling debris as Trout stuff themselves and regurgitate in order to stuff themselves again.

In the bays and estuaries, reds will frequent the tidal flats and back lakes with sub aquatic vegetation, using cuts and troughs as highways. Sometimes milling about these entrances and exits and feeding on current swept baitfish as they move onto the tidal flats on incoming tides. During ebb tides the baitfish will be moving off the tidal flats, so as not to be trapped there. Easing through the cuts from back lakes and tidal marshes to the safety of bay shorelines, grass beds, and oyster reefs, here is where you will also find the redfish, close up against the banks, in the summer months. Colder weather will drive them to warmer waters, holes, channels and river beds during the winter.

In the early summer to late fall (September, October and November), sexually mature female redfish return from the Gulf of Mexico, cruising outside of the tidal passes near back bays and estuaries protected by the barrier island to lay their spawn, while feeding on crabs, shrimp, mullet and menhaden (4). During mating periods, the generally smaller males present themselves to females by darkening their backs to a coppery bronze color and their bellies lighten to white (2)(page-1). Biologists have noted that many fishes can change their color to blend in with their surroundings. The males also broadcast their presence with a drumming sounds and the females respond with a lower drumming sound, thereby earning the handle of “Red Drum” (2)(page-11). Marine bio-acoustical research shows that Redfish may prefer the western banks of inlets and tidal passes while cruising through the barrier islands (8).

In addition, the following paragraph may shed additional light on how members of the Drum family, react to acoustical stimuli themselves…

     “Despite the apparent importance of acoustic signals in spawning aggregations for these species,

     noise from boats, dredges, etc. did not interfere with drumming behavior, even when the source of

     the noise was close by. Certainly, these fish must be acclimated to vessel passage due to the fact

     that the Savannah River is a major port. It is unknown whether fish in a less populous habitat would

     be so impervious to noise. The only response to an acoustic signal was exhibited toward bottlenose

     dolphin, which prey on these fishes; the cessation of drumming was apparently a predator

     avoidance behavior” (9).

The encounter of sexually active fishes can lead to violent chases with the eggs being released just after dusk. In the laboratories, males nudge the females in the belly with their head during courtship. Contractions of the muscles adjacent to the swim bladder cause it to vibrate and produce a drumming sound. Eggs are released and the males release the sperm (size of the eggs are 0.04 inches in diameter), It would take about 625 fertilized eggs to fill in a one-inch square (2)(page-11).

Once the eggs are fertilized they will float to the surface, and be swept by currents into the bay systems, while most unfertilized eggs will sink to the bottom. Females will prefer areas adjacent to muddy vegetated tidal flats protected from strong currents. The eggs will hatch about 24 hours later (2)(page-11).  Within about 48 hours of hatching, the larva will form mouths and digestive tracks and soon begin to feed upon copepods, which are aquatic crustaceans (smaller relatives of crabs) (4). Larvae are carried by tidal currents to the back bays and estuaries, otherwise survival is probably less than 1% (2)(page-13). These larvae hang around shallow water tidal flats and grass beds, with little or no current and mudflats with appropriate salinity levels (2)(page-11). The optimal temperature is 25 degrees C the optimal salinity is 30 parts per thousand (3). Juvenile’s (1/2 to 3-1/2 inches) (2)(page-6) frequent backwater protected flats with muddy bottoms with grassy clumps as they feed on amphipod shrimp, decaying crabs, copepods, small mussels and other bivalves (4). Fish in the 3-1/2 to 7 inch range have shrimp as their predominate diet (2)(page-6). As they grow, they school together and hunt, and as they reach 7 to 11 inches studies have shown that well over 90% of the food items found in the stomachs were crustaceans (crabs and shrimp), with fiddler crabs making up over 50% of the volume contents (2)(page-7).

Another interesting fact discovered during tagging of redfish is that about three quarters of the fish tagged and caught, traveled less than 5 miles from their release point (2)(page-17).

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Note the following paragraph has been included in order to give credit to the TPWD. The bold text has been copied directly from the cited study, as it truly is a breakthrough for researchers.

The Texas redfish populations were found to be declining during the 1970’s, so there were efforts undertaken by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to study the feasibility of brood stock in order to enhance the natural fisheries of the Texas Gulf Coasts (5). According to census studies taking place in 1967, it was determined that the redfish population had jumped to an 8 year high. Biologists attributed this to the recent hurricanes and the openings of 3 fish passes on the barrier islands, thereby increasing the chances of larvae ingress into the bays (5). Over 2 million brood stock redfish were released in St. Charles Bay between 1979 and 1981 (5). To date, a total of 115 million hatchery-reared fingerlings released in our targeted bay systems, have resulted in a documented 150% increase in catches by recreational anglers in those bays that the stocking program was initiated (5). Adjacent bays, with no stocking efforts showed an increase of 50% (5). At least 20% of all red drum caught in upper Laguna Madre bag seine samples in both 1991 and 1992 were positively identified as stocked fish (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unpublished data)(5).

“For the first time, researchers can follow stocked fish throughout their 4- to 6-year life in the bay. Second, the Optical Pattern Recognition System (Biosonics 1987) is being used to distinguish differences in scale annuli patterns between hatchery and wild fish caught in TPWD samples. Third, oxytetracycline (OTC) marked fish will be stocked to distinguish stocked fish from wild fish during fall and winter. OTC lays down a mark on otoliths and other calcified structures that will fluoresce under UV illumination”(5).

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Now, knowing all of this, and putting some common sense in the mix, we can pretty well target this species. I think that redfish are like most humans, in so much as home to them, holds a special place in their hearts, as it does ours, and much like us, they may not be able to reason this out on their own.

My rod is an All Star 96% Graphite (IM6) 7-foot blank, the action being Popping Rod Light (PRL) whose “design use for species guide” includes Redfish, Trout, Walleye, and Small Mouth Bass (6). Lure weight for this rod has been set up for 1/8 to 3/8 Oz lures (6). This rod is long enough for those long distance casts, and strong enough to turn that big shouldered redfish, before she spools you, yet sensitive enough to feel a flounder pick up a spoon and light weight enough to give me the perfect ache in my back (pleasantly stiff and tiring), to remind me that I have just had a full day of casting on the water.

The reel is a Shimano Calcutta 100 bait-casting reel, with a 10 lb. test line capacity of 140 yards. The gear ratio is 5.8:1 with a weight of 8.8 oz.  She is currently spooled with 10-pound Trilene XT Xtra Tough monofilament (7).

I wade the cord grass shorelines, in tidal flats, along estuaries. Sometimes free lining a fingerling mullet on a No. 5 Long-shank hook, other times using live shrimp. Mostly though, ¼ oz gold spoons, or “swimming shad” plastics in red w/white tails on 1/8 oz jigs thrown just outside where the redfish are milling around, will do the trick. Other great bets are Texas Red Killers (pick your color), top-waters, and mirrorlures combined with a nice loop knot. With each of these artificials, a good bet is to cast past the fish, either to the shore, or just outside where the fish is milling around, and slowly work the lure past the fish. If the “bite” is on, the fish will most likely pick up the lure as it passes, if not, they might follow the bait. Your job is to help them make up their minds. Herein lies the challenges of the anglers who have adopted this purist approach, and to my way of thinking, pursue the pinnacle of the bait casting art.

Old timers speak of stalking the flats in the dusk as the Harvest Moon rises, casting shimmering hued moonbeams on the tides, whisperings and sighs, bringing the magical faint drumming of spawning redfish, reminding you of far off Harley Davidson’s, fading in and out of the wind, as it softly caresses and bathes you in it’s crimson spell

References:

(1)”Red Drum, Sciaenops Ocellatus: Channel Bass, Puppy Drum, Redfish”

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Marine Fisheries

<http://www.ncfisheries.net/resource/red_drum.htm> Accessed Tuesday Oct.1^st, 2002

 (2) “Red Drum: Natural History and Fishing Techniques in South Carolina

Educational Report No. 17” by Dr. Charles Wenner Marine Resources Research Institute, Marine Resources Division South Carolina Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 12599 Charleston, SC 29422

< http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/marine/mrri/insh_fish/reddrum.pdf> Accessed Tuesday Oct.1^st, 2002

(3)”(DRAFT) – Taxonomy Species drum, red Species Id M010023 Date 27 AUG 96”

Marine and Coastal Species Information System, Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange VA Tech

<http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/WWW/macsis/lists/M010023.htm> Accessed Tuesday Oct.1^st, 2002

(4)”Summary Table of Red Drum, (Sciaenops ocellatus) life history for the Gulf of Mexico: Associations and interactions with environmental and habitat variables”

 Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Publications

 <http://www.gsmfc.org/pubs/Habitat/tables/reddrum.pdf> Accessed Tuesday Oct.1^st, 2002

(5) “Successful Enhancement of the Texas Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) Population”

by Lawrence W. McEachron, C.E. McCarty, and Robert R. Vega

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 702 Navigation Circle, Rockport, Texas 78382

 <http://www.lib.noaa.gov/japan/aquaculture/report22/mceachro.html > Accessed Tuesday Oct.1^st, 2002

(6) “All Star Graphic Rods-Classic: Technical Data and Rod Model Comparison Chart”

<http://www.allstarrods.com/classic1.htm> Accessed Tuesday Oct.1^st, 2002 

(7) “Shimano Fishing Home Page, 2002 Shimano American Corporation”

<http://www.shimanofishing.com/baitcasting/calcutta/calcutta.html# >Accessed Tuesday Oct.1^st, 2002

(8) “Using Passive Acoustics to Monitor Spawning of Fishes in the Drum Family (Sciaenidae)” Joseph J Luczkovich and Mark W Sprague, Institute for Coastal and Marine Resources, Department of Biology, Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA 27858

< http://web.mit.edu/seagrant/acoustics/exsum/luczkovich/extended.html> Accessed Tuesday Oct. 1^st, 2002

(9) “Locating sciaenid spawning aggregations in anticipation of harbor modifications, and reactions of spotted sea trout spawners to acoustic disturbance” Mark Collins, Bridget Callahan, Bill Post, and Amanda Avildsen SC Marine Resources Research Institute, SCDNR, Charleston, SC

http://web.mit.edu/seagrant/acoustics/exsum/collins/program.html Accessed Tuesday Oct.1st, 2002