HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishRed drum Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) Scientific name: Sciaenops ocellatus Linnaeus, 1766 The Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Massachusetts in USA to northern Mexico, including southern Florida, USA. BiologyOccurs usually over sand and sandy mud bottoms in coastal waters and estuaries. Abundant in surf zone. Feeds mainly on crustaceans, mollusks and fishes. Utilized fresh and frozen; can be pan-fried, broiled and baked.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSciaenops ocellatusFamilySciaenidae (Drums or croakers)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length155Common length100.0Depth range10 m (33 ft)EnvironmentMarine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous; depth range 10 - ? mClimateSubtropicalDistributionWestern Atlantic: Massachusetts in USA to northern Mexico, including southern Florida, USA.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.27; tmax=7; Fec~1 million) More other freshwater fishFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusLined soleAchirus lineatusSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026