inshore

Red Drum (Redfish)

Sciaenops ocellatus

Tailing on the flats on low water, sight-fishing pattern.

Peak monthsSep, Oct, Nov

Holds onflats, oyster bars, marsh edges

In our regions

Northeast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBig Bend — GulfNorth Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)South Carolina CoastGeorgia CoastAlabama GulfMississippi GulfLouisiana GulfTexas Gulf

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 31, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.

Showing 11 of 11 regulations

GA_ATLANTIC

Georgia — State waters (0–3 nm) · GA DNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 5 / angler / day
Slot: 14″–23″ TL (total length)

Slot 14-23" TL. 5/person/day. No max number of fish over slot beyond bag limit.

Georgia DNR Coastal Resources.

SC_ATLANTIC

South Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · SCDNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 2 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 6 total / vessel / day
Slot: 15″–23″ TL (total length)

Slot 15-23" TL. 2/person/day, 6/vessel max.

South Carolina DNR.

NC_ATLANTIC

North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Slot: 18″–27″ TL (total length)

Slot 18-27" TL. 1/person/day. Statewide rule.

NC Division of Marine Fisheries.

AL_GULF

Alabama — State waters (0–3 nm) · AL CNR-MRD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Slot: 16″–26″ TL (total length)

Slot 16-26" TL. 3/person/day. 1 fish per day may exceed 26" TL.

Alabama Conservation & Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division.

MS_GULF

Mississippi — State waters (0–3 nm) · MS DMR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Slot: 18″–30″ TL (total length)

Slot 18-30" TL. 3/person/day. 1 fish per day may exceed 30".

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.

LA_GULF

Louisiana — State waters (0–3 nm) · LDWF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 5 / angler / day
Slot: 16″–27″ TL (total length)

Slot 16-27" TL. 5/person/day. 1 fish per day may exceed 27".

Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries.

TX_GULF

Texas — State waters (0–9 nm) · TPWD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Slot: 20″–28″ TL (total length)

Slot 20-28" TL. 3/person/day. 1 oversize tag/license/year allows keeping ONE fish >28".

Texas Parks & Wildlife. Hand-held line, pole-and-line only.

FEDERAL

Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC

Currently CLOSEDClosed

Red drum is closed to harvest in the South Atlantic EEZ (federal Atlantic). State waters (0-3 nm) only.

SAFMC manages closed federal harvest.

FEDERAL

Federal Gulf (9–200 nm) — GMFMC

Currently CLOSEDClosed

Red drum is closed to harvest in the Gulf EEZ (federal Gulf). State waters (0-9 nm TX; 0-9 nm FL Gulf; 0-3 nm others) only.

GMFMC manages closed federal harvest.

STATE

FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 2 total / vessel / day
Slot: 18″–27″ TL (total length)

Slot 18-27" TL. 1/person/day, 2 per vessel max.

STATE

FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 2 total / vessel / day
Slot: 18″–27″ TL (total length)

Slot 18-27" TL, 1/person/day, 2/vessel. Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and Indian River Lagoon regions have additional restrictions — some catch-and-release only. Verify by exact location.