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Red drum in North Carolina
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Hatteras' Captain Doug Martin and client with red drum.
Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) are game fish found throughout North Carolina’s coastal waters. The world record fish, which weighed over 94 pounds, was caught in Avon, North Carolina, on Hatteras Island. These fish are closely related to black drum, croaker, and spot, they and are in the same family as weakfish and spotted seatrout.
Red drum are also known as channel bass, redfish or reds, and spot tails. Smaller fish often travel in large schools, and larger fish tend to cruise in small pods or alone. Red drum are found along the coast of the Atlantic states, particularly from the Chesapeake Bay, south, and also along the Gulf coast.
Red drum feed on just about anything that they can find. Smaller fish, such as baitfish like mullet, menhaden, sardines, anchovies, and forage fish, as well as larger fish like croaker, spot, and pinfish are all part of the diet of redfish. Shrimp, crabs, and squid are also preyed upon by reds. Artificial lures and flies that mimic these creatures, as well as cut bait are great items to use for drum. They may be caught on the same lures that work for sea trout.
The best places in the state to catch red drum are usually inshore waters, such as the eastern side of the Pamlico Sound, and the Cape Lookout area, although larger fish are often found in the surf, particularly in the Outer Banks. Anglers are only allowed to keep fish that are between 18 and 27 inches in length, and one fish is allowed per angler per day.
There are many different ways to fish for red drum. Fly fishing for drum is a popular sport in many areas, as the fish are great fly rod targets. Flies that look like minnows, crabs, or shrimp are great ones to use. Soft plastic lures are also great, but spoons may be the best lures to throw. Drum will also eat cut shrimp, squid, baitfish, and live minnows and crabs.
For other inshore fishing articles, click here.
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