North Carolina State Fish
Red Drum/Channel Bass (common name) Sciaenops ocellatus (scientific name) Overview The red drum is a medium-sized saltwater fish that gets its name from both its typical reddish-copper color (even though it also ranges from silver to black) and the drumming sound males produce when they spawn to attract females. The fish produce the noise by contracting a muscle in their air bladders. The red drum has one large black spot on the upper part of the tail base, in addition to other scattered spots. A cousin to the black drum, the two species often interbreed to create a hybrid. The drum is a popular target for recreational fishermen due to its size, proximity to shore, and its fine flavor when cooked. North Carolina designated the red drum the official state saltwater fish in 1971, and the largest red drum caught on record was captured in North Carolina. Close-up STATUS Official State Saltwater Fish PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: Up to 27 in (69 cm); average of 24 in (60 cm) Weight: Up to 94 lbs (43 kg); average of 7 lbs (3 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 37 years HABITAT Temperate oceans. Younger fish live in near-shore bays and channels at depths of 1–4 feet (30–120 cm) where there are muddy bottoms and abundant sea grasses. Range: The Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Florida, and the coast of the Gulf of Mexico from Key West to Tuxpan, Mexico. Water type: Saltwater, brackish water, freshwater Water temp: Approximately 75°F (23°C) Conservation Status: Vulnerable; successful conservation efforts have led to increased populations of the species in recent years. DIET Crustaceans (crabs, shrimp), fish (croakers), worms, and mollusks. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: Mid-August to mid-October Mating behavior: Group Egg laying: The channel bass spawns in shallow river estuaries and lagoons. As the fry grow, they move into deeper water near the mouths of bays and inlets and then, at four years of age, go out to sea. Females broadcast eggs randomly in the spawning grounds and the males fertilize them. A female can lay up to two million eggs a season. USES Game fish, limited commercial fishing OTHER NAMES Channel bass, redfish, spot-tail bass, red bass, red dorse, school drum, puppy drum, red, rat red, bull red TRIVIA The black spot near the red drum’s tail is believed to help the fish fool predators into attacking its tail rather than its head. Red drum will swim and forage in such shallow water that their backs and tailfins are sometimes exposed.
	Click to enlarge an image Illustration of Red Drum Red Drum Showing Size Red Drum CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Subclass: Neopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Sciaenidae Genus: Sciaenops Species: S. ocellatus
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

North Carolina State Fish
Southern Appalachian Brook Trout (common name) Salvelinus fontinalis (scientific name) Overview This speckled trout belongs to the same family as salmon, and is technically a char, not a trout. The fish’s streamlined body is green to brown with lighter dots and marbling, sometimes with some bluish shading on the dots. This pattern often runs the full length of the fish’s body. Its belly has a red blush, and its lower fins are a similar color, edged with white. During spawning season, the fish’s red patches intensify, especially in males. The trout’s sides are always a little lighter-colored than its back. The Southern Appalachian brook trout lives only in fresh water. It is relatively small and a short-lived fish, surviving an average of five years. Fly fishermen in particular are fond of this species as a game fish, though many fishermen prefer to catch and release this fish. It is native to the eastern U.S. and needs cold, clean water to survive, but has been introduced almost worldwide both for sport and food. Southern Appalachian Brook Trout is the only freshwater fish that’s native to North Carolina. It became the state’s official freshwater fish in 2005. Close-up STATUS Official State Freshwater Trout PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: 10–25 in (25–65 cm); record length 33 inches (86cm)Weight: 0.3 to 3 kg (10.5 oz to 7 lbs), record weight 6.6 kg (15 lbs) LIFESPAN 3-7 years HABITAT Range: Native to eastern North America from Newfoundland to Hudson Bay, the Great Lakes and Minnesota south along the Mississippi River basin to Georgia and east to the Atlantic Ocean. Introduced to the western U.S., 20 European countries, and parts of Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America. Water type: Freshwater Water pH range: 5 to 7.5 Elevation: 1,600 ft Conservation Status: In its native range, the brook trout is often threatened by pollution and overfishing. In areas where it has been introduced, on the other hand, it can sometimes be invasive and compete with and displace native species. DIET Crustaceans, frogs, mollusks, insects, smaller fish, worms, and occasionally aquatic mammals such as voles. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: Annual Mating behavior: Distinct pairing Egg laying: Unguarded, in gravel USES Game fish, aquaculture OTHER NAMES Speckled trout, brookie, squaretail, char, sivon, specks, whitefin TRIVIA Presence of brook trout means good water quality and a healthy, working watershed. Brook trout occasionally eat their own eggs at spawning time. This trout is a carnivorous, opportunistic feeder and will snap up anything that looks at all like food.
	Click to enlarge an image Detailed Drawing of Brook Trout Colorful Brook Trout Brook Trout Fingerling Brook Trout Surfacing for Insects Brook Trout Habitat CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Salmoniformes Family: Salmonidae Genus: Salvelinus Species: S. fontinalis
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press