Where Does Red Drum Live?

Red Drum lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Red Drum

Water type

brackish

Depth

Typically found in shallow waters from 1-10 meters (3-33 feet), but large adults can be found in deeper offshore waters up to 60 meters (200 feet).

Environment

Estuaries, tidal creeks, salt marshes, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, sandy bottoms, mud flats, and nearshore coastal waters. Larger adults may inhabit offshore reefs and wrecks.

Geographic range

Western Atlantic Ocean, from Massachusetts south to Florida, and throughout the Gulf of Mexico to northern Mexico. Most abundant from North Carolina to Texas.

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