Redfish vs snapper & red drum
One of the most common questions we hear is whether Acadian redfish is the same as snapper or red drum?
The answer is simple: it’s not.
Gulf redfish (red drum)
Sciaenops ocellatus has a streamlined body and a signature black spot near the tail. It’s native from Massachusetts down to the Gulf of Mexico and is a popular sport fish—prohibited from commercial sale in U.S. federal waters.
Red snapper
Lutjanus campechanus is a reef-dwelling species with firm texture and a nutty flavor, caught in the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic reefs—primarily using hook-and-line or traps.
Side-by-Side Differences
Side-by-Side Differences
| Feature | Acadian Redfish (Ocean Perch) |
Red Drum | Red Snapper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat Depth | Deep rocky bottom | Coastal shallows | Reef |
| Region | Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank | East Coast, Gulf | Gulf of Mexico |
| Flavor/Texture | Mild, flaky | Mild, firm | Firm, nutty |
| Harvest Method | Trawl nets | Recreational rod | Hook & line, traps |
| Status | Sustainably managed, rebuilt | Prohibited from commercial sale in U.S. federal waters | Harvested commercially |
| Scientific Name | Sebastes fasciatus | Sciaenops ocellatus | Lutjanus campechanus |