The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Black Drum Pogonias cromis
Black Drum Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 14–30 in, 2–15 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to about 5 ft and 113 lb on rod and reel |
| Lifespan | up to about 60 years |
| Range | Atlantic coast from New York and the Chesapeake south through Florida and all along the Gulf of Mexico. |
| Habitat | Shallow estuary bottom — oyster bars, mud and sand flats, jetties, bridge and dock pilings, with big fish holding in passes and out to 100 ft of nearshore water. |
| Diet | Oysters, clams, crabs, shrimp and worms crushed with heavy throat teeth — a bottom fish that roots nose-down. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Black Drum
- High-backed gray to silvery body, brassy sheen
- Several chin barbels under the lower jaw
- Young show 4-5 dark vertical bars (fade with age)
- Cobblestone-like crushing pharyngeal teeth, no canines
- Subterminal mouth
- No black spot on the tail
Tell it apart: Chin barbels under the lower jaw are present on black drum and absent on both redfish and sheepshead; black drum also lacks the redfish tail spot and the sheepshead's incisor teeth.
Easily confused with: Redfish, Sheepshead
Side by side: Black Drum vs Redfish, Black Drum vs Sheepshead
How to Catch Black Drum
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- Late winter into spring — half a blue crab on a bottom rig over hard bottom and around bridges in 8–15 ft.GearFish-finder rigs6/0 circle hooksBank sinkers
- Best late winter through spring as big drum school to spawn near passes; fish fresh crab or shrimp on a bottom rig.Gear6/0 circle hooksFish-finder rigsMedium-heavy surf rod
When & Where Black Drum Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Atlantic Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Gulf of Mexico Inshore |
Black Drum Regulations
GeorgiaGeorgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources DivisionSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources DivisionNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), Division of Marine FisheriesSouth Atlantic Fishery Management CouncilSAFMCAtlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionASMFCFloridaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)AlabamaAlabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division (Outdoor Alabama)MississippiMississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR)LouisianaLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)TexasTexas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council)GMFMC
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.