Red drum or redfish — call them what you will, these trophy fish are making waves in the Gulf of Mexico. Their name comes from their copper-colored bodies, redfish also have one or more black spots just before their tail fin. Redfish are considered a warm-temperature and tropical saltwater fish because of their jaw line, placing them in the same category as stingray and catfish.
Redfish are edible up to about 15 pounds, after that the redfish flesh becomes strong tasting and coarse at heavier weights. The trophy fish weigh up to 90 pounds and are longer than 36 inches.
Redfish were at one point a threatened species because of commercial overfishing fishing operations. They were declared a “restricted species” in 1989. Redfish can live up to 45 or 50 years and have made a comeback. Florida authorizes only one 18- to 27-inch redfish per day. Although redfish aren’t considered fussy eaters, they are easiest to catch with cut bait.
