Did you know that the American star drum (Stellifer lanceollatus) is a close relative of two of Georgia’s most popular sport fish, the red and black drum? However, despite being one of the more common residents in coastal Georgia waters they often don’t share the same recognition as their larger, more popular cousins.

Star drum’s namesake come from the tiny star-like spots typically found on their bodies that contribute to their “shiny” appearance (Its genus, “Stellifer” translates to “star-bearing”, which is derived from the Latin word “stella” meaning star). These robust silvery fish, characterized by a short blunt bulldog-like head and pointed caudal fin inhabit shallow coastal waters with sandy bottoms where they feed on a variety of crustaceans. They, in turn, serve as prey for several larger predators (including red drum) that also inhabit local waters. Juvenile star drum prefer to live in more brackish waters within the estuary and will migrate to water with higher salinity, such as the open ocean, as they mature.

Star drum rarely reach 8 inches in length and are not commonly encountered by recreational anglers due to their small size, which contributes to the species not being a common household name for most; however, these schooling fish can end up as bycatch in some shrimp trawls due to their preference for sandy habitats where trawling often occurs. During one of our recent sampling trips in Doboy Sound, we caught almost eleven thousand star drum (the majority were an inch or less in length) in a single five-minute trawl!!

Fun Fact:

Star drum, like other drum species, have the ability to produce a vocal drumming sound using their swim bladder, which is used during spawning.