General information about techniques used in hatcheries to produce hybrid striped bass are covered by this publication.

Fingerling culture ponds are usually smaller than ponds used for grow out. The advantages to this practice, as well as food, water quality and harvesting requirements, are outlined in this publication.

The red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is a marine fish that naturally ranges from Central Mexico on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. Red drum have been taken in small numbers by commercial fishermen on the Atlantic Coast for many years, but the species is important only on the Gulf Coast.

Efforts to collect wild broodfish for hatchery production of red drum fingerlings are usually most successful during or just before the fall spawning period, although some success may be realized at other times.

There are two methods used in the production of food-sized red drum. The more conventional method is semi-intensive culture in ponds. The other method, intensive indoor raceway culture, is unproven from an economic standpoint. This publication focuses on pond production.

Production of fingerling and stocker red drum is normally practiced by hatchery producers. At the same time, these are completely different operations and require different areas, practices and expertise. Usually the larvae are secured at an age of about 3 days, and one of two methods of production is used. Only pond culture production methods are presented here.

Nine aquaculture research projects recently received nearly $293,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grants will be used to support research with catfish, crawfish, hybrid striped bass, alligator and freshwater drum.