Drum

Black Drum Fishing

Black Drum
Image: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center · CC BY 2.0

The largest drum, found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts in bays, river mouths, and around oyster beds, docks, and pilings. Black drum root out crabs, shrimp, and shellfish, and anglers fish cut bait, shrimp, or blue crab on the bottom.

Waters
18
States
5
Water
Saltwater
Methods
Spin & Bait

Prime Months by State

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Highlighted months are the best fishing; the other months are slower, not empty. States not listed have no prime months from an agency source yet.

What to Use for Black Drum

Fishing In

Black Drum

Spin / Cast

7 ft medium-heavy spinning or casting rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 15 to 30 lb line, fish-finder rig with a circle hook and crab or shrimp.

Rod, Reel and Line

  • RodPenn Battalion II Surf Spinning Rod · 10 ft medium heavy, 15 to 30 lbCheck Price
  • ReelPenn Battle IV Spinning Reel · 4000 or 5000Check Price
  • LinePowerPro Spectra Braided Line · 15 lb, 20 lb or 30 lbCheck Price

Tie On in November

  • Bait for November · Halved, quartered or piecesPeeler or Cut Blue Crab
  • Bait for November · Chunk or stripCut Mullet
  • Bait for November · StripSquid

Picks: general for this fish, each checked against state and federal agency pages, not specific to this water. Ask a local shop what is working.

Gear: rods, reels and lines are starting points, sized from each maker's page. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Where to Catch Black Drum

18 of 18 waters

Black Drum Fishing by State