"Redfish, or red drum, are one of Florida's most popular fish. They're copper-colored with a black spot on their tail. They fight hard, they're not picky eaters, and they school in big groups. The black spot is thought to confuse predators — they aim for the tail, not the head."
Meet the Redfish
The red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), commonly called redfish, is one of Florida's most popular and recognizable game fish. Redfish are copper-bronze in color with a silvery belly, and most have one or more black spots near the tail (some have many spots, a few have none). The spots are thought to be a defense mechanism: predators like dolphins and sharks aim for the spot, thinking it's the eye/head, and the redfish escapes with a tail grab rather than a fatal head bite. Redfish can grow to over 50 inches and weigh over 50 pounds, though most caught in the lagoon are 18-30 inches. They're found throughout the Indian River Lagoon, particularly in shallow grass flats, around mangrove islands, and near oyster reefs. Redfish are hardy, adaptable, and can tolerate a wide range of salinities and temperatures, which makes them more resilient than snook to cold snaps and environmental changes.
