Side by Side

Black Drum Pogonias cromis

Typical: 14–30 in, 2–15 lb

Quickest tell: 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.

• 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

Full Black Drum guide — season, gear and rules →

Sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus

Typical: 14–18 in, 2–5 lb

Quickest tell: Forward-set human-like incisor teeth and the absence of chin barbels distinguish sheepshead from the similarly barred but barbeled, blunt-toothed black drum.

• Silvery body with 5-6 bold black vertical bars
• Prominent human-like incisor teeth at front of mouth
• Strong, sharp dorsal and anal fin spines
• Steep, blunt forehead profile
• Small terminal mouth, no chin barbels

Full Sheepshead guide — season, gear and rules →

When Each Is Running July — current month highlighted

Where Black Drum and Sheepshead Overlap

Both run in Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Atlantic — that is where telling them apart actually matters.

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