Food Habits, Length-Weight Relationship, and Condition Factor of the Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellata) in Southeastern Louisiana

Abstract

A total of 349 adult red drum (Sciaenops ocellata) were collected from the coastal marsh below Hopedale in southeastern Louisiana, between October, 1967 and October, 1968. A total of 286 fish (82%) contained identifiable food items which were analyzed as to frequency of occurrence and percent of total volume. The main food items in order of occurrence were fish, shrimp, and crabs. Blue crabs, mud crabs, and penaeid shrimp were the crustaceans most frequently eaten, and at least 14 different species of fish were utilized to some degree. Food habits varied substantially from season to season. Fish was the main food item during winter and spring months. Crustaceans, crabs and shrimp combined comprised the bulk of the diet during the summer and fall months. Only slight differences in food habits were detected due to size or sex. Gonadal examination of eight adults indicated that spawning took place between September and December. The length‐weight relationship and seasonal condition values were determined. Red drum of a given standard length were generally heavier than previously reported. Condition values from this study represented fish in overall good condition.

Metabolic programming mediated by an essential fatty acid alters body composition and survival skills of a marine fish

“…In the western Gulf of Mexico adult red drum reside offshore for much of the year and migrate to coastal inlets for spawning in late summer. As a result of this migration, their diet shifts from approximately 55% fish and 38% crustaceans in winter and spring (offshore) to 28% fish and 65% crustaceans in late summer (inshore), principally replacing DHA-rich menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) with white shrimp [26,27] at the time when oocytes are being supplied with yolk. Thus despite containing somewhat less DHA, the shrimp (together with blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, which does not vary seasonally in the diet) represent an important source of DHA for red drum eggs.…”

Aspects of the Biology of the Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, in Mississippi

“…Comparative values also occur for fish in different stages of maturity ( By calculating K identically to that described here, Boothby and Avault (1971) calculated for adult fish in "good condition" as K = 1.3 (1.2-1.6) in winter, 1.4 (1 -2-1.6) in spring, 1.4 (1.2-1.6) in su"er,and 1.5 (1.2-1.7) Log W = -4.7358 + 3.0053 (Log SL).…”

Food of the Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellata, from Mississippi Sound

“…Shrimps and crabs comprised the most frequently encounted crustaceans, and the frequencies of those organisms varied considerably. Gunter (1945) implied that crabs were eaten more in bay waters, whereas shrimp dominated the diet in and near Gulf water; Pearson (1 929) considered the blue crab most important as food when small or in molting condition; Miles (1950) thought fishes and crabs became important when shrimp became scarce; Yokel (1966) found shrimp most important in South Florida from July to September, but crabs most important during the other periods; Yokel also found the red drum to eat proportionally more crabs as it grew larger, with xanthid crabs gaining in importance and portunids losing in importance; and Boothby and Avault (1971) considered crabs and shrimp of equal importance in the diet.…”

“…Boothby and Avault (1971) found fish in 75% of the Ftomachs constituting 35% of the food's volume in a southeastern Louisiana marsh. All other studies found fish of less importance to drum except that of Inglis (1959) who examined small drum and possibly Breuer (1957) and Simmons (1957) who did not provide data.…”