South Carolina and Texas red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) were compared to evaluate long-term growth characteristics of the two geographic populations; this paper summarizes the first 2 years of a 4-year study. Red drum from each group were spawned in spring 1986, and fry were held in either outdoor earthen ponds (summers) or indoor recirculating tanks (winters) through spring 1988. No consistent difference in growth was found between the two groups over the 2-year test period. By April 1988, mean (+- SD) standard length and width of Texas fish were 422 +- 21.4 mm and 1,612 +- 237.8 g, respectively; South Carolina fish averaged 440 +- 21.4 mm and 1,612 +- 237.8 g, respectively; South Carolina fish averaged 440 +- 20.0 mm and 1,641 +- 311.1 g.