The redfish: why it has a spot on its tail

The redfish, or red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), is a copper-red coastal fish best known for the black spot at the base of its tail. Scientists believe the spot fools predators into striking the tail instead of the head, so the fish can escape. Its other name comes from the drumming sound males make in spawning season. It is one of the best-loved inshore fish of the western Atlantic.

Why redfish have a spot on the tail

Most redfish have one large black eyespot at the upper base of the tail. A predator aiming at what looks like an eye bites the wrong end, and the fish gets away. Some redfish carry several spots, which tend to fade with age, and a redfish with no spot at all is extremely rare. That spot is the first thing we drew on our embroidered redfish, in copper orange. See the Redfish design.

Why it is called a drum

In spawning season the males contract muscles against their swim bladder to make a knocking, drumming sound that draws in females. That sound gives the whole family its name, the drums, and the redfish its other common name, red drum. It is also called channel bass, spottail bass or simply "red".

How big redfish get and how long they live

A three-year-old redfish usually weighs about 3 to 3.5 kg, but they keep growing for a long time: the largest on record weighed just over 43 kg, caught in 1984 on Hatteras Island on the Atlantic coast, and redfish can live up to 60 years. Males mature at around 71 cm and females at around 84 cm.

Where redfish live

The species is native to the western Atlantic, along the coast of North America as far south as northern Mexico. Young fish grow up in grass marshes, tidal creeks and estuaries; larger adults move to rocky outcrops, jetties and structures, where they feed through the whole water column. In shallow water anglers often see them nosing the bottom, their tails showing above the surface.

Redfish and its inshore neighbours

The redfish shares the marsh and the mangroves with other fish in our Inshore line: the Snook, with its black side line and yellow fins, and the Tarpon, the silver king of the flats. Further out, the Red Snapper lives on reefs and wrecks. All of them are in Inshore.

From marsh nursery to open water

Redfish larvae drift into tidal creeks and salt-marsh nurseries, where the young fish grow among the grass. Fish of three to six years and the big adults move out to rocky outcrops, jetties and man-made structures such as bridge posts. A few redfish have even turned up in the Mediterranean, most likely escapees from fish farms.

Copper orange, and one black spot

Our redfish is drawn in copper orange with its single black eyespot, the mark every redfish angler looks for. It is stitched about 8 cm across on the front of each cap, and at the centre of the chest, within a 10 by 10 cm area, on the tee, crewneck and hoodie. The tee is heavyweight 207 g/m² ring-spun cotton in a relaxed fit from S to 4XL; the crewneck and hoodie are 322 g/m² fleece, from S to 3XL.

A redfish hat

If you searched for a redfish hat, our Redfish is machine embroidered in copper orange on eight caps and hats, from the mesh-back trucker cap to the bucket hat, and at the centre of the chest of a heavyweight tee, a crewneck and a hoodie. Every hat is one size with its measurements on its page; see all the hats.

Every piece is made for you after you order, and shipping is free.