Catch More Red Drum: With Their Favorite Prey

Catch More Red Drum

Catch more Red Drum by understanding their diet! Learn the top prey Red Drum can not resist to land more fish every trip. If you understand what Redfish love to eat, or are currently eating, you can bait your hook with that prey or match the hatch with a lure that mimics it.

When you know the diet of The Red drum, or Sciaenops ocellatus, a favorite game fish for many, and you understand what they eat you can study the habitat, and how to use the right baits to successfully target and catch them. If using artificial lures they should mimic their favorite prey, and work the lures in a way that also mimics the actions of that prey.

Red Drum, also known as Redfish, or Channel bass, is a popular game fish species found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. They are predatory fish and feed on a variety of prey, including crustaceans, mollusks, and smaller fish species.

So, what do Red Drum eat? Here’s a list of their favorite food sources:

Crabs

The Red drum, have a varied diet that includes crabs, they have a preference for fiddler and blue claw crabs. These crustaceans form a large part of the red drum’s diet, especially as the fish grow and can handle larger prey. The diet preference for these crabs is largely due to their availability and high nutritional value.

Fiddler Crabs

Red drum commonly feed on fiddler crabs in shallow estuaries and coastal marshes, especially in tidal zones where fiddler crabs burrow. These crabs are abundant in these areas and can be easily ambushed by red drum as they scavenge along the muddy or sandy bottoms. The red drum’s strong jaw muscles and crushing teeth make it particularly suited for breaking through the hard shells of fiddler crabs.

Blue Claw Crabs

Blue claw crabs also play a significant role in the red drum’s diet, especially in areas where they are plentiful. Blue crabs are typically found in brackish and saltwater environments like bays, river mouths, and estuarine channels, which are also favored habitats for adult red drum. Red drum often feed on these crabs in seagrass beds and other submerged vegetation, and structure where blue crabs tend to hide and forage. The red drum’s foraging behavior allows it to sift through the vegetation and muddy bottom to locate and consume these crabs.

Shrimp:

Shrimp is a favored prey for Red Drum, due to its abundance, nutritional value, and ease of capture in shallow waters and river beds. Juvenile Red Drum and smaller adults typically consume more shrimp, as shrimp are readily available and manageable in size. Larger Red Drum may also consume shrimp but will diversify their diet with crabs and bait fish.

Visit your local full service bait shop, one that offers live shrimp. If you decide to catch your own shrimp, Check this post on catching SC Bull Red Drum by targeting and capturing shrimp using Throw Nets .

Catching Bull Reds on Live Shrimp Check Out The Video Here..

Preferred Feeding Grounds for Shrimp:

1. Seagrass Beds and Salt Marshes: These areas are rich in shrimp populations, which use the vegetation for cover. Red Drum, in turn, exploit these habitats for easy access to shrimp, using their downward-facing mouths and sensitive barbels on their chin to detect shrimp hiding in vegetation and mud.
2. Estuarine Mudflats and Tidal Creeks: Shrimp tend to thrive in these nutrient-rich, shallow waters, especially in regions where tidal movements stir up organic matter. Red Drum use these flats and creeks as hunting grounds, often during incoming or outgoing tides when shrimp are most exposed.
3. Nearshore Coastal Areas: Larger Red Drum, especially in cooler months, move closer to coastal areas where shrimp also migrate seasonally. This migration aligns with the movement of shrimp populations, allowing Red Drum to follow this food source effectively.

When targeting shrimp to catch as bait, always use a good quality Throw Net that is equipped with heavy sinkers, and a Foil Skirt.

The heavier lead and foil skirt will help with the net to sink quickly so the shrimp do not evade the nets umbrella. The foil skirt will aid in the faster sinking and will also create an improved barrier when retrieving and cinching the net closed.

Give the net time to land with the widest reach of the umbrella pattern, DO-NOT put pressure on the line, give it slack and time to sink to the bottom.

Once you are sure the net is on the bottom retrieve the net in a slow herding pattern so the shrimp move towards the middle and not towards the edges of the net. This will insure you maximize your catches when using a Throw Net to Catch Shrimp or any other prey.

And most importantly, Practice Throwing The Net, a clean area of your lawn is an excellent area to train on, so you do not snag the net on anything that may compromise the webbing. When you get to the shrimping grounds you want to load up and take off to the fishing grounds, so perfectly tossed throw nets will increase your catch and shorten your time targeting bait.

Nothing is cooler or more satisfying than tossing a perfect umbrella into the water and hauling in a bucket of shrimp in one or two tosses.

Red Drum’s preference for shrimp reflects both their adaptability to tidal zones and their reliance on prey that is easy to find in estuarine and coastal ecosystems. The fish’s feeding behavior and habitats align closely with shrimp movements, making shrimp an ideal food source that sustains their energy needs.

Squid

While squid isn’t a primary food source for Red Drum, it serves as an opportunistic meal, especially for larger Red Drum that venture into deeper waters. Squid are nutrient-rich and provide an energy-dense meal, which can be beneficial for Red Drum during migrations or periods of heightened activity.

Preferred Feeding Grounds for Squid:

1. Nearshore Reefs and Deeper Coastal Waters: Mature Red Drum, especially those moving between inshore and offshore habitats, may encounter squid more frequently in these areas. Squid in such environments are often in schools, which can be advantageous for Red Drum as they forage.
2. Open Coastal Waters During Seasonal Migrations: Red Drum engage in migrations along the coast, particularly during spawning periods. During these offshore movements, they may encounter squid populations, especially in the late summer and fall, aligning with squid migrations.
3. Estuarine Inlets Leading to Coastal Areas: Juvenile and younger adult Red Drum are more likely to encounter squid in inlets or channels leading to the ocean, especially if the squid are moving into estuarine areas. Here, Red Drum take advantage of any available prey while transiting these zones.

Sand Fleas

Sand fleas are a favored prey item for Red Drum due to their abundance and high protein content. Red Drum, like other drum species, use their sensitive barbels and specialized pharyngeal teeth to detect and crush these crustaceans. Sand fleas provide essential nutrition that supports growth and energy, making them a common target in the Red Drum’s diet.

Preferred Feeding Grounds for Sand Fleas:

1. Surf Zones Along Beaches: The primary location for Red Drum to hunt sand fleas is in the surf zone along beaches, especially near sandbars and troughs where wave action displaces sand fleas, making them more accessible. Red Drum are known to forage in shallow water where sand fleas congregate.
2. Estuarine Shorelines and Mudflats: In addition to the surf zone, Red Drum often forage for sand fleas in estuarine habitats, especially in areas with muddy or sandy bottoms. Estuaries, in particular, provide a variety of prey for Red Drum, including crabs, shrimp, and sand fleas, which thrive in these sheltered coastal waters.
3. Intertidal Zones Near Inlets: During high tides, sand fleas become more active and accessible in the intertidal zones of inlets. Red Drum capitalize on this increased prey availability, particularly when tides bring nutrient-rich water to sandy areas.

Menhaden:

Menhaden are an especially critical food source for Red Drum due to their nutritional density, especially when these fish are preparing for spawning or winter migration. Red Drum feed on menhaden by hunting along coastal waters, estuaries, and nearshore areas where menhaden gather in schools. The energy-rich oils in menhaden flesh make them highly valuable to Red Drum, supporting growth, spawning, and long-distance travel. Using menhaden for bait will help you catch more Red Drum.

Preferred Feeding Locations for Menhaden:

1. Estuaries and River Mouths: Red Drum commonly hunt menhaden in estuaries and near river mouths, where tidal currents concentrate schools of menhaden and other baitfish. These areas are often rich in nutrients, attracting menhaden and, consequently, Red Drum.
2. Inshore Coastal Waters: During seasonal migrations, menhaden travel along inshore waters, making them easily accessible to Red Drum. This is particularly evident along the Gulf Coast, where Red Drum often forage near shorelines, bays, and flats to hunt menhaden.
3. Nearshore Reefs and Wrecks: Red Drum also feed on menhaden near structures like reefs and shipwrecks, where smaller fish often seek shelter. This strategy allows Red Drum to ambush schools of menhaden and other prey in these nutrient-rich waters.
4. Channels and Passes: Menhaden commonly gather in channels and tidal passes where water movement brings food particles, creating ideal hunting grounds for Red Drum, who use these areas to capture large, energy-packed meals.

Due to menhaden’s schooling behavior, large Red Drum are known to capitalize on dense groups of menhaden, taking advantage of the fish’s dense body oils and high caloric content, especially during peak feeding periods. This preference for menhaden reflects the Red Drum’s adaptability to available prey while meeting its energy needs across varied habitats.

Mullet in the Red Drum’s Diet:

Red Drum are opportunistic feeders and rely heavily on the availability of mullet for their seasonal diet. Since mullet are generally available in large quantities in Red Drum habitats, they’re a primary food source, contributing to the fish’s energy reserves, particularly during spawning or winter preparation.

Preferred Feeding Locations for Mullet:

1. Shallow Coastal Waters: Red Drum often hunt mullet in shallow waters along the coast, especially near marshes, grass flats, and mangrove areas where mullet spawn and seek shelter. These areas allow Red Drum to ambush mullet efficiently, especially during lower tides when prey becomes concentrated.
2. Estuaries and Tidal Creeks: During high tide, mullet move into estuaries and tidal creeks, where Red Drum eagerly pursue them. These areas provide Red Drum with opportunities for hunting in confined spaces, which improves their chances of capturing the fast-moving mullet.
3. Inshore Flats and Bays: In bays and inshore flats, Red Drum often hunt by “tailing,” where they pursue schools of mullet, pinning them against shallow banks. This behavior is common as it allows Red Drum to maximize their foraging in open yet relatively shallow waters.
4. Surf Zones and Beaches: Red Drum also feed on mullet along surf zones, especially during seasonal migrations when mullet move along the coastline. These areas provide high-energy hunting grounds for Red Drum due to the abundance of migrating mullet.

The high caloric content and large size of mullet make them a particularly valuable prey item for Red Drum, who leverage their agility and ambush tactics to capture mullet in these diverse habitats.

For “Bull” Reds, the bigger fish, fresh cut or live Menhaden or mullet (6–8 inches) and blue crab work best on single or double-drop rigs. Use a heavy grab sinker to keep bait steady in the surf floor or float rig when targeting from a boat near structure and sticky bottom areas.

When fishing from the surf or pier, use rods over 10 feet with sturdy tackle. Choose reels that hold several hundred yards of 25-40 lb. test line and have a solid drag system, shorter stout rods when fishing from a boat.

When it comes to determining the best baits to use for Red Drum, it’s essential to understand their food preferences. Here are some baits that align with the Red Drum’s diet:

• Crabs: Use live or fresh dead crabs as baits to attract Red Drum.
• Shrimp: Fresh or frozen shrimp is a great option to use as a bait.
• Squid: Cut bait or whole squid can be used as well.
• Sand fleas: Are a popular option for Red Drum, especially in the surf.
• Menhaden: Or bunker is a common bait used for larger Redfish.
• Mullet: Fresh or dead mullet can be is a great bait to attract Reds as well.
• Matching the Hatch: When using artificial lures, Insure they mimic the above Redfish prey as they will prove productive.

By understanding the diet of Red Drum, you can use the right baits to target and catch them successfully. Keep in mind that Red Drum have a diverse diet and are opportunistic feeders, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different baits, by being aware of what they are eating.

Never forget that when fishing with artificial lures always match the hatch (match what they are eating), and watch your catch ratio skyrocket, and catch More Red Drum.

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