Black Drum fishing
About Black Drum
The black drum is a heavy, deep-bodied bottom feeder of warm Atlantic coasts, estuaries and brackish lagoons, named for the drumming sound it makes with its swim bladder. Anglers catch it on the bottom with crab, clam, shrimp and cut bait near oyster bars, pilings, channels and shell bottom, where it roots out shellfish with crushing throat teeth. Big drum pull hard with slow, stubborn power, and the bigger fish are usually released as the small ones make better eating.
Typical size: Usually 2-10 kg; trophies over 25 kg, to about 1.2 m. Record (approx.): approx. 30 kg (varies by region).
Season, time and habitat
Darker cell = more active that month. Based on the species' usual yearly rhythm.
Common questions
When is the best time to catch Black Drum?
Black Drum fishing is usually best around Jan-Mar, Nov-Dec. The best windows in the day are usually dawn, dusk.
Where can you catch Black Drum?
Black Drum is most often found in coast, lake. Napp shows the nearest waters and the live odds on the bite right now.