Red drum
Sciaenops ocellatus
Regular slot: 20–28 inches. One fish over 28 inches per license year may be kept with a Red Drum Tag, plus one with a Bonus Red Drum Tag, in addition to daily bag and possession limits. Follow current paper or digital tagging requirements.
Texas recreational state waters · Regulation reference 2026-09-01–2027-08-31. General license, gear and area restrictions still apply.
TPWD rule source ↗
Identify your catch
Usually bronze or copper above with a pale belly and a dark spot near the upper tail base. Some fish have more than one spot.
Habitat & biology
Young red drum use bays, tidal creeks and shallow coastal areas. Larger adults also use Gulf waters. Juveniles feed on crustaceans and small fish; feeding can occur along the bottom or higher in the water column.
Fishing knowledge
TPWD describes shrimp, crabs and small fish as prey. Treat those prey references as general species knowledge, not a report of today’s bait or location.
Species-level knowledge, not current fishing activity or a bay-specific catch forecast.
TPWD species reference ↗Not Listed in Advisory for this named bay in the reviewed DSHS index. Nearby water may have different restrictions; this is not a safety guarantee.
Exact areas & meal guidance →Source scope
Aransas Bay system, including Copano Bay; record evidence is system-level
Recorded occurrence is historical evidence, not an abundance estimate or a promise of a common local catch.
Official species record evidence ↗Before you go
Sources & coastal evidence
Coastal reference review 2026-10-14. Record evidence: Aransas Bay system, including Copano Bay; record evidence is system-level. Historical records establish recorded occurrence, not current abundance. Artwork is illustrative scenery, not a geographical survey or a conditions feed.