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Bield:Fish
Single-region spawn timing

Red Drum spawn timing in Chesapeake Bay (Lower).

Sciaenops ocellatusSeptember – November

Chesapeake Bay bull red staging peaks September; offshore spawn peaks October.

Calendar & temperature

JanJan — Outside spawn windowFebFeb — Outside spawn windowMarMar — Outside spawn windowAprApr — Outside spawn windowMayMay — Outside spawn windowJunJun — Outside spawn windowJulJul — Outside spawn windowAugAug — Pre-spawn — water rising toward 70°FSepSep — Peak spawn (75–84°F)OctOct — Peak spawn (75–84°F)NovNov — Peak spawn (75–84°F)DecDec — Post-spawn — water at 88°F+
Typical window: September – November
32°37°42°47°52°57°62°67°72°77°82°87°Peak 75–84°F
Pre-spawn — best fishingPeak spawn — conservationPost-spawn — recovery feeding·Dashed line = peak spawn boundaries

Phase-by-phase

Pre-Spawn

Trophy fishing window
68–70°F

Pre-spawn red drum form massive schools (bull red schools) at inlet mouths and along beaches in late summer and fall, staging for offshore spawning.

Fall bull red schools at Outer Banks inlets, Lowcountry passes, and Gulf coast beaches are iconic — peak season for trophy reds (40+ inches).

Spawn

Conservation window
70–88°F (peak 75–84°F)

Active spawning behavior. Broadcast spawners. Adults move offshore for spawning; juveniles and sub-adults remain inshore year-round.

Federal commercial harvest of red drum has been closed in federal waters since 2007. Recreational harvest is state-managed with slot limits — keeping reds within slot, releasing oversized bull reds is

Conservation context

Federal commercial harvest of red drum has been closed in federal waters since 2007. Recreational harvest is state-managed with slot limits — keeping reds within slot, releasing oversized bull reds is the standard.

Post-Spawn

Recovery feeding
88–96°F (~21 days)

Post-spawn reds return to inshore habitat through winter and spring. Females may produce multiple egg batches per season.

Winter back-bay reds are the post-spawn pattern for many southern inshore fisheries.

Summer Pattern

Standard patterns
Above 96°F

Fish disperse to summer habitat and feeding patterns. Spawn cycle complete until following year.

Standard summer fishing tactics apply.

Full Red Drum spawn guide →Full Chesapeake Bay (Lower) spawn calendar →