There are two methods used in the production of food-sized red drum. The more conventional method is semi-intensive culture in ponds. The other method, intensive indoor raceway culture, is unproven from an economic standpoint. This publication focuses on pond production.

General information about techniques used in hatcheries to produce hybrid striped bass are covered by this publication.

Production of fingerling and stocker red drum is normally practiced by hatchery producers. At the same time, these are completely different operations and require different areas, practices and expertise. Usually the larvae are secured at an age of about 3 days, and one of two methods of production is used. Only pond culture production methods are presented here.

Fingerling culture ponds are usually smaller than ponds used for grow out. The advantages to this practice, as well as food, water quality and harvesting requirements, are outlined in this publication.

The hybrid striped bass has becomea highly desirable substitute for the declining striped bass seafood industry. Aquaculturists have found these hybrids well-suited to pond culture,and current research is helping to improve culture techniques.

This publication was designed to serve as a guide to aquaculture-related red drum (redfish) literature. References are organized by subject. Publications that fit into more than one of the categories or that did not fall under any particular heading were placed under the General category.

This publication features a sample enterprise budget showing annual cost and return information and capital investment requirements for raising hybrid striped bass. It is based on recommended management practices and conservative estimates of hybrid yield, prices and cost for pond production in the southern region.

Striped bass and hybrid striped bass, in particular, have potential for culture in the United States as foodfish. Before embarking into this area of aquaculture, producers should know the biology and history of this fish.

The securing of brood stock, inducing them to spawn and caring for the eggs until hatching require the most technical expertise of any phase of fish production. Red drum are no exception.

Most fish grown in ponds, floating net pens or raceways can be reared in commercial-scale recirculating systems, but the economic feasibility of doing so is not certain. The challenge to designers of recirculating systems is to maximize production capacity per dollar of capital invested.

Recirculating systems are mechanically sophisticated and biologically complex. Management of these systems takes education, expertise and dedication. This publication addresses the problems of managing such a system so that producers can make informed decisions.

Recirculating aquaculture production systems may offer an alternative to pond aquaculture technology. Through water treatment and reuse, recirculating systems use a fraction of the water and land required by ponds to produce similar yields.

Information on recirculating production systems, fingerling sources, stocking and harvest management, regulatory considerations, economics and markets are included in this publication.

Recirculating aquaculture systems can handle large quantities of fish in relatively small volumes of water. The water is reused after its treated to remove toxic waste products. Plants are an ideal secondary crop in integrated systems because they respond to the high levels of dissolved nutrients generated from the microbial breakdown of fish wastes. (PDF Format Only)

The red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is a marine fish that naturally ranges from Central Mexico on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. Red drum have been taken in small numbers by commercial fishermen on the Atlantic Coast for many years, but the species is important only on the Gulf Coast.

A well-designed recirculating aquaculture system offers a number of advantages over pond systems. This publication and accompanying spreadsheet are designed to help prospective recirculating system operators examine the economics of proposed systems.

Efforts to collect wild broodfish for hatchery production of red drum fingerlings are usually most successful during or just before the fall spawning period, although some success may be realized at other times.

These studies show that diets for Morone hybrids may be refined by decreasing the dietary protein level, using alternate protein sources, and increasing carbohydrate in the diet.

Nine aquaculture research projects recently received nearly $293,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grants will be used to support research with catfish, crawfish, hybrid striped bass, alligator and freshwater drum.