August 11, 2025 — One of the most important questions in the Gulf is also, surprisingly, one that hasn’t had a detailed answer: what exactly do predator fish eat? Species like red drum, southern flounder, and spotted seatrout are important to both the Gulf ecosystem and the recreational fishing economy, and knowing what they eat is key to managing them successfully.
A new study from the University of Southern Mississippi is helping answer that question with one of the most comprehensive investigations of predator diets to date.
Rethinking the Role of Gulf Menhaden
One of the headline findings concerns another important species: Gulf menhaden. Often viewed as the key food source for many of these predators, the study finds they may not be as central to these predator diets as previously thought.
While menhaden are part of the mix, the study found no predator species examined relied on them as a primary food source. Instead, predator diets were found to be incredibly varied and opportunistic, depending on what prey is available at different times and in different places.