Black Drum

Under appreciated, This Shallow Water Superstar Is Surely Worth More Alive Than Dead.

I eased my skiff up to a dock which had been a reliable source for redfish in the past. My cast was perfect, just under the decking and between the pilings.

As my shrimp sank into the shadow, I noticed the line twitch as the bait tried to flicker away from something which it didn’t seem eager to confront. In an instant, my line tightened, the rod bent into a deep arc and the tug-of-war was on! After skillfully persuading the fish from under the weathered dock, I confidently predicted the identity of my adversary to my fishing partner. Based on my experience, this was about a ten pound redfish - maybe eleven - and it was a stubborn one, too. The fish continued to make short but powerful bursts that stripped line from my reel. Finally, I turned the culprit and could see its dark silhouette appear deep in the water. This was no redfish! 

I saw not the bronze-golden sides and the dark spot near the tail that I expected. Instead, what came into view was a dark-sided fish with pale vertical strips. My “redfish” was actually its close cousin - a black drum - and it didn’t come close to the ten pound mark I had guessed. This fish would be lucky to break six pounds. My partner looked at my catch and sneered, ”That’s just an ol' black drum - they’re worthless!”

Well, maybe black drum aren't on the top of the-most-glamorous-species-to-catch-list or aren't in the top ten of palate pleasing targets; however, any shallow water fish that pulls as hard as these whiskery-chinned battlers deserves a little credit. Read on and learn how our panel of experts beat black drum at their own game.