After the arrival of spring, saltwater anglers along the Eastern Seaboard and in the Gulf of Mexico begin getting ready for the bevy of productive seasonal fishing opportunities that will present themselves in the months to come. While spotted trout and red drum will be high on their list of preferred species, another member of the latter family, the black drum (Pogonias cromis), will most likely also be found in the mix.


As a matter of fact, many black drum are caught by anglers who may actually be targeting other fish such as striped bass, sheepshead, tautog, red drum and trout.

While black drum fillets are enjoyed as table fare and are even served up by a number of coastal eateries, the fish used for this purpose are almost exclusively under 5 pounds in weight. The larger they grow beyond that point, the coarser and tougher the flesh becomes. They also tend to taste better when taken from cooler waters than from shallow water during the peak of summer. But, while the smaller ones may catch the interest of those with a culinary focus, the large ones can offer a real challenge to the anglers who hook them. 

The current world record black drum weighed in at over 110 pounds, and it is not uncommon to catch ones weighing 30 pounds or more. It is always important to match your tackle to the size of fish that you will be going after. For bigger black drum, use a medium to heavy rod and reel combination, a 6/0 to 8/0 hook and a fluorocarbon leader that is between 40 and 80 pound test.

Spinning gear may be alright for catching smaller drum, but a conventional set up is much more reliable when targeting fish over 15 pounds or so. The best baits by far are whole or sectioned blue crabs, peeler crabs and fresh clams. You can also use Berkley GULP! crabs and shrimp if natural baits are not available. Slowly trolling a shiny chrome spoon near submerged structure can also be effective.

Once your weight is on the bottom, take in any extra slack, set a light drag and put on your clicker. In most cases this will be a waiting game; securely place your pole in a sturdy and securely attached rod holder and pay attention. Black drum may test a bait with a few nibbles before making a solid commitment. Chumming the area with crushed clams will also increase your chances of attracting the interest of hungry fish in the immediate vicinity.   

Some of the best places to find black drum are around oyster shoals, mussel beds, encrusted pier pilings and submerged rock piles. Black drum are easily spooked, so it is best to fish in areas where boat traffic is extremely limited or better yet, nonexistent. They also like to group up and migrate through deeper channels and inlets.

The larger they grow, the harder they are to land; not because of any blistering runs or aerial acrobatics, but due to their stubborn brutish resistance. Some anglers have compared fighting a big black drum with trying to haul up a log that is stuck on the bottom.  But once a huge fish of this magnitude is successfully landed, its primary value is as a photo prop for the future bragging rights of a happy angler.  After which, the most responsible thing to do is to quickly release it so that it can leisurely swim away and then foster another broad grin on the face of someone else in the future.