What is sciaenids?

Sciaenids are a family of fish that includes drums, croakers, and sea trouts. They are known for their distinctive "croaking" or "drumming" sounds that they make by vibrating their swim bladder muscles. Sciaenids live in both freshwater and saltwater environments and are often found in estuaries, bays, and nearshore waters.

Some common species of sciaenids include the red drum, black drum, spotted seatrout, and Atlantic croaker. Many sciaenid species are commercially important for both their food value and sport fishing popularity.

Sciaenids tend to be bottom-dwelling fish and are often caught using bait or lures that mimic small crustaceans or other bottom-dwelling prey. They are also known for their strong fighting ability, which makes them a popular target for recreational anglers.

Overall, sciaenids play an important role in coastal ecosystems and are valued by both commercial and recreational fisheries. However, overfishing and habitat degradation have led to declines in some sciaenid populations, highlighting the need for sustainable management practices.