Redfish vs. Black Drum: How to Tell Them Apart
Redfish (red drum) and black drum are close relatives that share the same waters, and small ones can look alike. The rules for each are different, so it is worth getting right before you decide what to keep.
The quickest check: the chin
Turn the fish over and look under the chin. Black drum have short whiskers (barbels) on the lower jaw. Redfish have none. If you can feel or see a fringe of little whiskers, it is a black drum.
The tail spot
A redfish usually has one or more dark, eye-like spots near the base of the tail. Black drum do not. Some redfish have just one spot, and a few have none, so use this clue together with the others.
Color
Redfish are copper, bronze or reddish, fading to a white belly. Black drum are gray to dark silver or nearly black. Young black drum often show several dark vertical bars that fade as they grow.
Body shape
Redfish are torpedo-shaped with a long, gently sloping head. Black drum have a more steeply arched, humped back and a deeper body.
Why it matters
The two species have different size and bag rules, and a few places restrict one but not the other. In Florida, see our verified pages for redfish and black drum, with the date each was checked against the state agency.
Not sure what you have? CatchCheck can suggest the species from a photo. CatchCheck uses AI to identify fish from photos, and the ID can be wrong. Always confirm the species and the current rules with your state fish and wildlife agency before keeping any fish.