Black Drum(Pogonias cromis)
Quick Facts
- Size Range: Black drum can reach weights of over 100 pounds, but the most common would be 3 to 20 pounds.
- Native Species?: Yes
- Food Value: Black drum are very good eating, though the smaller fish are said to be much better. Large black drum can be riddled with parasitic worms and not much to eat.
State Record
- Louisiana State Record: 79.5lbs
- State Record Date: 5/1/2007
- State Record Holder Dylan Gonzales
This member of the drum family is a large grey to silver fish with four to six black bars that are more prominent when the fish is young. They have a high arched back and a down-turned mouth. They have small barbels or whiskers similar but shorter than a catfish’s. They have large scales and make a drumming sound by vibrating muscles against their swimbladder. This can be heard both in and out of the water.
The black drum is a bottom feeder, rooting about for crabs, mollusks and shrimp. They live in coastal and inshore waters and can travel into brackish waters at times.
Black drum are normally caught using crab, shrimp or clams for bait. Soaking a bait on the bottom is the best method. Black drum will often enter shallows where they may be sight-fished and sometimes fooled with lures and flies.
Black Drum Rules and Regulations
| Size Limit : | 16” min total length |
| Bag and Possession Limit : | 5 per person daily, but only one can exceed 27 inches. |
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Related Fishing Methods
Bottom Fishing
Bottom fishing is normally about fishing bottom structures in order to target benthic or bottom dwelling fish. There are a wide variety of techniques, but the common element is the targeting of species who dwell around or hide in natural and man-made structures. Fish like grouper, snapper, amberjack and catfish would be considered bottom fish. It is very popular amongst anglers and success is often determined by the fishermen's ability to crank a fish away from the structure before the fish can duck into it and cut the line. Anchoring or drifting the boat over the structure is key to having success. There are many versions, and many of the bottom fish are prized eating.
Dead Bait
Dead bait consists of many different types of bait that is no longer alive. Dead bait is still attractive to many fish as they are normally feeding by smell and dead bait is the ticket for smell. Fresh cut fish, dead shrimp, half crab, shucked clam, cut squid and all popular examples of bait that will catch a wide variety of fish. Many sport fish that are predators, will gladly take the opportunity to slurp up a fresh dead bait. A redfish is equally happy to chase down a baitfish or slurp up a dead shrimp on the bottom. Dead bait has the benefit is being easy to obtain, maintain and transport, as opposed to live bait which takes livewells, quality water control and can be harder to obtain.
Live Bait
Live bait is a term given to many different types of fish, crustaceans, insects and worms that are popular food items for fish and used by fishermen for bait. There are many benefits to live bait as well as a few cons. The pros normally out weigh the negatives, and live bait is widely used. The biggest benefit for fishermen is that they are using the real thing and often puts a fish's guard down. Small fish, crabs, shrimp, clams, crickets and the good ole earthworm are all used to entice a fish to the hook. The only negatives to live bait is just that, keeping it alive. Sometimes catching it can be a challenge, as only some species can be bought as live bait. No matter how you get it, live bait is a great way to target many types of fish.
