Redfish vs Black Drum: Key Differences

Redfish vs black drum? They are cousins in the drum family, but easy to tell apart once you know what to look for. A redfish (red drum) is copper colored with one or more black spots near the tail. A black drum is gray to black, with no tail spot and, when young, vertical stripes. Black drum grow bigger, while redfish are prized for speed in the shallows and are usually rated the better meal.

Below is a side-by-side table, how to ID each fish, where and when they bite, and which one is better to eat. Fishing the flats? Browse our redfish shirts.

Redfish vs black drum at a glance

Sizes, habitat and seasons follow FishingBooker's comparison (Red Drum vs. Black Drum: The Full Rundown).

Redfish vs black drum: how to tell them apart

Both fish have large scales, broad faces and flat tails, and both have a triangle-shaped first dorsal fin. Check these points:

• Tail spot: redfish are known for their "copper color and signature black spot(s) near the tail." Black drum have no tail spot.
• Color: black drum are "usually gray or black."
• Stripes: young black drum have vertical stripes, which "make them look a lot like Sheepshead." Adult black drum lose the markings.
• Sound: male black drum make "a deep, rhythmic sound" in spawning season; redfish sound more like a croak.

Is black drum the same as redfish?

No. They belong to the same family, Sciaenidae, named for the drumming sound their swim bladders make, but they are different species with different habits.

Which grows bigger?

Black drum. FishingBooker notes that redfish "usually measure 18–30 inches long" and bull reds may top 50 pounds, while black drum often pass 60 pounds and trophies may reach 90 pounds.

Where and when to fish for red and black drum

Both share inshore waters along the U.S. Atlantic coast and the Gulf, from Texas to Florida and up to the Mid-Atlantic. You can often catch both on the same trip, but they use the water differently:

• Redfish cruise shallow flats, bays, estuaries and the surf. In clear, skinny water you may see them "tailing" while they root for food, which makes them a top sight fishing target.
• Black drum like deeper inshore water with hard or muddy bottoms, where they dig for crabs, clams and shrimp. Big fish hold around bridges, jetties, oyster beds and channels.

Neither species is migratory, so you can fish for them year round. Black drum spawn first, from late winter into early spring, often schooling in deep bay channels. Redfish spawn in late summer and early fall just outside bays, when big schools of bull reds push bait to the surface. Fishing the Texas coast? Read what is a Texas Slam in fishing.

Is red drum or black drum better to eat?

Most anglers pick redfish, thanks in part to the popularity of blackened redfish. Black drum can be a good meal too, but FishingBooker says black drum "under 10 pounds make a decent meal, but bigger ones are often too coarse and wormy." Always check your state's size and bag limits before keeping either fish.

What to wear for inshore drum fishing

Flats and jetty fishing means long hours in sun, glare and wind. Our redfish fishing shirts come in long sleeve UPF, hooded long sleeve UPF and face shield styles with a custom name, and one design shows a full Texas inshore slam. Check each product page for exact styles and sizes. For a full sun plan, see how to avoid sunburn while fishing, and for tide timing read the best time of day to go fishing.

FAQ

Does black drum taste better than redfish?

Most anglers prefer redfish. Small black drum under about 10 pounds eat well, but large black drum are often coarse.

Is black drum the same as redfish?

No. Both are drums in the family Sciaenidae, but red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and black drum (Pogonias cromis) are different species.

How do you tell a redfish from a black drum?

Look for color and the tail spot. Redfish are copper with a black spot near the tail. Black drum are gray to black with no tail spot, and young ones have vertical stripes.

Which is better, black drum or red drum?

For sport, many anglers rate redfish higher for their speed and sight fishing in shallow water. For pure size, black drum win.