Barracuda-gigante vs Red Drum

Sphyraena barracuda comparado com Sciaenops ocellatus

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Barracuda-gigante	Red Drum
Nome Científico	Sphyraena barracuda	Sciaenops ocellatus
Ordem	Perciformes	Perciformes
Família	Sphyraenidae	Sciaenidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Barracuda-gigante	Red Drum
Comprimento Máximo	200,0 cm	155,0 cm
Peso Máximo	50,0 kg	45,0 kg
Cor	Steel-gray to dark gunmetal-blue back with a pale silvery-white belly; scattered irregular dark blotches on the lower flanks; tail fin is grayish with whitish tips on both lobes.	Coppery-bronze to reddish-orange flanks with a characteristic black eyespot at the upper tail base; back is darker bronze-olive; belly pale to silvery; fins match body tone with dusky margins.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Barracuda-gigante	Red Drum
Tipo de Água	Saltwater	Freshwater & Saltwater
Faixa de Profundidade	0-100m	10-?m
Distribuição Geográfica	Circumtropical in shallow coastal waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Frequents coral reefs, seagrass beds, and estuaries from Florida and the Caribbean to …	Western North Atlantic from Massachusetts south through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Adults favor open nearshore reefs and coastal surf zones while juveniles inhabit …
Habitat	Pelagic, coral reefs, estuaries	Estuaries

Informações de Pesca

Atributo	Barracuda-gigante	Red Drum
Peixe Esportivo	Sim	Sim
Classificação de Resistência	7/10	7/10
Recorde Mundial	—	—
Nível de Mercúrio	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Barracuda-gigante

Firm, lean white flesh with a mild flavor when small; larger individuals risk ciguatera fish poisoning and are generally avoided. Smaller fish eaten grilled or fried in the Caribbean.

Red Drum

Firm, white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor and moderate fat; smaller fish (under 27 inches) are the best table size. Famous as 'blackened redfish' — a Louisiana Cajun culinary classic.

Species Overview

Barracuda-gigante

The great barracuda is a fearsome-looking predator found in tropical and subtropical oceans. With its torpedo-shaped body, pronounced underbite, and fang-like teeth, it can strike prey at speeds exceeding 58 km/h.

Red Drum

The red drum, or redfish, is an iconic inshore game fish of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Identified by the distinctive black spot at the base of its tail, it feeds by tipping head-down in shallow water, exposing its copper-colored tail.