Red drum Sciaenops ocellatus

How they feed

• Water65–85°F, best near 75°
• TideIncoming
• MoonEither
• DepthUsually 3–20 ft

Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works

Season by state

• FloridaYear-round
• North CarolinaApr–Nov
• TexasMar–Dec
• MarylandJun–Nov
• VirginiaJun–Nov
• South CarolinaApr–Nov
• DelawareJun–Nov
• LouisianaFeb–Nov
• AlabamaMar–Nov
• MississippiMar–Nov
• GeorgiaApr–Nov

The Maryland, Delaware and Virginia months are the Chesapeake-region season. Everywhere else it is carried over by water temperature: a month counts at a spot when its usual water is in the range that marks the mid-Atlantic season (63°F and warmer), from the spot’s own gauge where it has one and an estimate from air temperature where it doesn’t. Each state lists the months that hold at half or more of its spots. Where the water temperatures come from.

Keep or release

• Alabama16" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a day16–26" slot, 3/person/day.Gulf waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
• Delaware tidal20" minimum · 27" maximum · 5 a dayDelaware tidal waters: 5 a day, only fish from 20 to 27" may be kept. Open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Delaware tidal20" minimum · 27" maximum · 5 a dayDelaware tidal waters: 5 a day, only fish from 20 to 27" may be kept. Open all year.Tidal delaware waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Florida18" minimum · 27" maximum · 1 a day18–27" slot, 1 per person a day; vessel limit 4 in the Northeast Region and 2 in the Southeast Region. Harvest is prohibited in federal waters.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Florida18" minimum · 27" maximum · 1 a day18–27" slot, 1 per person a day; vessel limit 4 in the Panhandle and Big Bend regions and 2 from Tampa Bay south. Harvest is prohibited in federal waters.Gulf waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Georgia14" minimum · 23" maximum · 5 a day14–23" slot, 5/person/day; drops to 3/day on Jan 1, 2027.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
• Louisiana18" minimum · 27" maximum · 4 a day18–27" slot, 4/person/day; none over 27".Gulf waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
• Maryland tidal18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a dayMaryland Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Maryland tidal18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a dayMaryland Chesapeake Bay: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.Tidal bay waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Mississippi18" minimum · 30" maximum · 3 a day18–30" slot, 3/person/day.Gulf waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
• North Carolina18" minimum · 27" maximum · 1 a day18–27" slot, 1 fish/day. Anything over 27" must be released.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
• South Carolina18" minimum · 25" maximum · 1 a day18–25" slot, 1/person/day, 2 per boat (state waters), since Jul 1, 2026. No possession in federal waters; no gigging Dec 1–Feb 28.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
• Texas20" minimum · 28" maximum · 3 a day20–28" slot, 3/person/day. One oversized red drum over 28" per license year with a Red Drum Tag.Gulf waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source · 17 days since checked
• Virginia tidal (VMRC)18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked
• Virginia tidal (VMRC)18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.Tidal bay waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source · 15 days since checked

Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Red drum are fished at spots in 11 states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.