South Carolina and Texas red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) fingerlings were compared to evaluate pond overwintering characteristics. Red drum from each hatchery stock were spawned in September 1987 and fry were reared in outdoor earthen ponds. Red drum fingerlings (mean ± SD total length (TL) South Carolina fish 50.5 ± 4.9 mm; Texas fish 48.3 ± 4.4 mm) were transferred to 6 0.2-ha saltwater ponds in November 1987, and ponds were harvested in March 1988. The lowest water temperature encountered was 3.00 C on 10 January 1988. Survival was similar between Texas (91.7% ± 13.9%) and South Carolina (83.5% ± 6.6%) fingerlings. Production (kg/halday) was also similar between the 2 stocks. Fish grew at equal rates over the production period; at harvest, mean TL of South Carolina fish was 87.7 ± 11.9 mm, TL of Texas fish was 83.7 ± 11.2 mm.
