Coastal Georgia is a fly fishing dream with quiet flats that receive minimal pressure. Chase schools of redfish, jacks, spanish, and tarpon or cast at triple tail, sharks, and trout along the Jekyll Island Georgia coast. Inshore fishing in Jekyll Island Georgia is world class year around.
Also known as:Â Channel Bass, Puppy Drum, Redfish, Spot-tail Bass
Found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. The red drum is a schooling species that occurs inshore over sandy or muddy buttoms. It inhabits both salt and brackish waters and can tolerated fresh water. It is found in inlets and channels, and smaller specimens may be found in shallow estuaries.
The red drum can be distinguished from the black drum (Pogonias cromis) by its lack of chin barbels and more elongated body. The body has coppery red overtones on a silvery gray background. The most obvious and characteristic marking on the red drum is a large black spot about the size of the eye on either side of the caudal peduncle, just before the tail fin. Sometimes there are two spots on each side, and occasionally there may be similar spots on the body.
It is a strong, hard fighter when hooked. Fishing methods include drifting or still fishing on the bottom, jigging or casting from boats or from shore, and slow trolling. In some areas red drum may be stalked on the flats like bonefish. Baits and lures include crabs, shrimp, clams, jigs, plugs, spoons, strip bait, and streamer flies. Large red drum can be taken from just above the breaker line on an incoming tide or near channels, inlets and shell beds.
Very large specimens are often call bull reds, although they are usually females. Red drum up to about 10-15 lb. (5-7 kg) are very fine eating. Larger specimens may be coarse, stringy and unpalatable.
