Redfish

Redfish, name for several types of popular gamefish found off the Atlantic coasts of North America. Known as red drum, channel bass, California sheepshead, red (sockeye) salmon, or by other names, the most popular types of redfish are found in the Gulf of Mexico and adjoining waterways. The gulf species are marked by a distinctive red spot near the base of the tail; they grow to 5 ft (1.5 m) long and usually weigh up to 40 lb (18 kg). Widespread restaurant demand for redfish in the late 1980s resulted in such large commercial catches that federal restrictions were imposed to protect the species.