Many times i post photos of,like, 34 inch reds on facebook and some of my friends leave comments such as, “nice bull”. To me 34 inches isn’t a bull. I would like to think that a bull red is 40 inches. However, I just dont think you can determine a bull by length alone. I think this because when they get big like that some of them seem to stop growing as much length wise and they get more girth and huge heads. So a 38 incher may be shorter but weigh more and have that big ole bull head. Clearly, everyone has a different opinion. I have pics of two fish that clearly demonstrate my view. What do you think? If you want to see the pics I think I can track them down and post.
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well, found the pics but they dont clearly demonstrate my view.
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People’s opinions will differ, I usually think of one in the mid 30’s and above as a bull. The weight will add to that description as well.
I’m pretty sure the term “Bull Red” means the fish are of breading age, 3-5 years. Which puts them in the 28"-33" range. ( male-female). So for me anything in that range up is a Bull.
jimmy I think you got it. When that head gets big and fat and your hands dont fit around it so you have to give it a bear hug to take a pic. Thats a bull.
Number wise I’d say 3ft. 36" and up are bulls.
If you want to keep bulls in an exclusive club, make it 40" and up.
I know my definition has changed over time as I’ve caught bigger and bigger reds. I used to think 34 was big, then I pulled a 44. Now 44 is my benchmark.
Charter Capt’s dont hate but, if I was to hire a charter specifically to target “bull reds” I would expect 40" fish.
My definition is over 32" or so. That’s when they are a little more rare to find inshore and they start to become offshore fish
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I would think a Bull anything over slot?
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Must be bigger than this
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For me, it’s any fish I put in the boat. 
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"Bull red" is a reproductive male. Sorry, that it isn't more exciting than that.
My thought exactly. A reproductive female is a cow, not a bull.
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So,in other words, there really is no way to tell other than scientific analysis?
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A bull and cow red mate and you get a rat or puppy:wink: im even more confused than when I first posted:smiley:
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maybe we should call a little one a calf
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I think these fall into the “Bull Red” category…
Those are Bull reds for sure. A Bull Red 3’ plus or minus but you have to have the girth and thickness to the fish along with a broom tail like the second one there. That’s a BULL
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I learned that the standard for “Bull” status was weight, not length. I have a 42" spottail on my man cave wall(caught when it was legal to kill as many as you wanted to)that weighed in at 28#. I don’t consider it a “Bull”. I’ve caught 50" spottails that went 50#'s +…Those are “Bulls”. You don’t pull those in the boat by yourself with a boga grip dudes…not after he kicks your butt for 15 minutes anyway.
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