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Species Guide

Red Drum

Corvina Roja
  • Spanish Name: Corvina Roja
  • English Name: Red Drum
  • Scientific Name: Sciaenops ocellatus
  • Type of specie: Fish
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Sciaenidae

Habitat

  • Natural: Estuaries, bays, and shallow coastal waters, typically over sandy or muddy bottoms.
  • Farming: Ponds, tanks, and marine cages in warm, well-oxygenated waters.

General Description

  • Body shape: Elongated, fusiform, and slightly compressed.
  • Distinctive features:

    Coppery or reddish body with a white belly; it has one or more black spots at the base of the tail, a hallmark of the species.

Size and Weight

  • Average length: Generalmente entre 40 y 100 cm; en estado silvestre puede alcanzar hasta 155 cm.
  • Average weight: Comúnmente entre 1,7 y 22 kg; algunos ejemplares pueden llegar a pesar hasta 45 kg

Life Cycle

Rapid growth in aquaculture, reaching market size in 1 to 1.5 years.

Adaptations

Mainly in coastal ponds, marine cages, or land-based tanks.

Juveniles farming systems

Raised in land-based ponds or recirculation systems (RAS).

Grow-out farming systems

Mainly in coastal ponds, marine cages, or land-based tanks.

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  • Geographical distribution
Coastal waters of the Western Atlantic, from the southern United States to northern Mexico.
  • Main producing countries
United States, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador.
  • Commercial value

Highly valued for its white, tender flesh and delicate flavor, making it a key species in warm-water aquaculture.

  • Additional uses

By-products: Occasionally used for fish meal and oil.

  • Common preparation methods
Excellent for grilling, frying, baking, or in soups and stews.