Regional Movements and Natural Habitat Associations of Red Drum Offshore East-Central Florida

The function and value of sand shoal habitats for various fish groups are poorly understood. The goals of the study were to assess broad habitat preferences and seasonal movements of adult red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) associated with the Canaveral Shoal complex, east-central Florida. Sixty-two individuals were captured and acoustically tagged in Canaveral waters from December 2013 - February 2014 and October December 2014 for monitoring up to 10 years. To examine space use of shoal habitat in the region, red drum movements were tracked with the Florida Atlantic Coast Telemetry (FACT) Array, including fifty-seven receivers in the Canaveral Region. Red drum were detected over a span of more than 450 km from Georgia to South Florida, and also up to 30km inshore within the lower salinity waters of the Indian River Lagoon. The number of individuals detected nearshore in Canaveral Bight decreased as offshore numbers increased coincident with a rise in water temperature over the summer months. Red drum were mostly absent on shoal habitat during the peak spawning months of August through October. Key metrics examined include association with shoal habitats, changes in residency and spatial use, and seasonal variation in habitat preferences including depth and distance from shore.