They have a very powerful jaw that is capable of crushing oysters and other shellfish. These fish rely on taste and smell, so the best lure are going to be the soft plastic that are scented with natural flavors like a Gulp! Fishing from piers, docks, bridges, or anything close to the shore should net you some black drum if you scout around and test various areas. Anything from blue crab to clams, in general if it smells bad, it’ll usually work well! On occasion, they will take a slowly moving jig such as a bucktail, but you’ll have better odds with live bait. Want to know the truth about bananas being bad luck on boats? Black drum is one of those fish that we fishermen refer to as a 'By Catch!' 21.1k Views. Black drums require basic tackle on a rod and reel. The larger drum can be found near deep channels where there is also some structure. The bigger black drums will often come into very shallow water searching for shrimp, crabs, oysters, clams and … Joe: Good recommendations. You will still need to occasionally check your bait to verify it hasn’t been … Rods and Reels for Black Drum. How to Catch Black Drum. Rarely taken on artificial baits, black drum feed primarily by feel and smell. Juvenile Red Drum, called puppy drum are usually aged 1 to 4 years and are a great fish. My hats off to you. The Black Drum is often overlooked as a primary game fish by sport fishermen, but is highly valued as table fare by many locals. Simply begin reeling in quickly until fully hooked. Anyone can catch a drum, whatever their skills or finances. Unlike some fish that suck in the bait and then swallow, black drum typically grab and go. Catching Black Drum in the Fall. I’ve caught a few in the 25-27″ / 10-12lb range on New Penny Gulp Shrimp, rigged on Trout Eyez jig-heads. My buddy caught another 2 more as we finally caught some sheepshead. Tie the leader to a barrel swivel, on the main line add enough weight to hold bottom and a bead between the weight and the swivel, This rig will allow the bait to be on the bottom, where black drum feed, and allow the bait to move fairly naturally. Catching Black Drum in the Spring. Anglers fishing near piers and docks might report sightings. Natural fresh bait is going to be the best way to catch black drum. In the summer time, when the water turns warm they typically move to deeper water and are harder to catch inshore or off piers. 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook to prevent gut hooking the fish. Offshore near deep channels and around structure, Nearshore around structure such as rocks, marker posts, debris and even on the flats, Onshore around piers, docks, posts, other structure, All year round with influx February and March, When the tide begins to move, they will feed, Light spinning or bait casting tackle preferred, Enough weight to keep the bait near the bottom, Will sometimes take a slowly moving jig such as a bucktail. “Set and forget” patience is usually required for black drum. Recommended Bait To Catch Black Drum. I got hungry for crab watching all that crabmeat ! Cast and wait. Black drum fishing can be good on either tide, though they will often be most concentrated in areas on a extreme low tide (which we get negative tides in the winter) and when the water is very cold (under 70 degrees). Catching a black drum is quite an easy process. Ex. For anglers wanting to make a meal from their catch, the most desirable size to keep is generally under six pounds. How to Catch Big Black Drum. The Bait. Enjoy! The most impactful strategy for fishing from a boat inshore is to select a spot that has a sand-filled bottom structure or oyster bed where baitfish are plentiful at a time during the day with some tidal movement. Subscribe to continue reading. Though black drum can be found year round, they come inshore in larger numbers. Feel free to contact us. I really enjoy pitching blue crabs to black drum on the flats or any waters less than 4 feet deep. If you are looking for large schools of … 8.5k Views. A Carolina rig with an Eagle Claw model 042 size 2 hook or a simple double hook bottom rig should work well. Using this is similar to live bait, by casting into large schoolings or drifting along the bottom of deep channels and in the back waters. Use a longer rod and a little more weight if you’re surf fishing. Trending . Much like we will follow the wafting fragrance of a newly cooked apple pie right to its source in the kitchen, black drum are known to follow scent trails in the water. Questions? Don't rush when the drum swallows the hook because sometimes it assumes as its trapped. Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club. Check with local marina personnel who can tell you where anglers are finding them. Then you’ve got to see this private fishing club! Black drum can live more than 40 years and the current world record weighed in at more than 110 pounds! Many fisherman will prefer to fillet with an electric knife at first, removing the fish meat from along the backbone, then using an electric knife to cut the fillet from the skin and scales. Black drum fish typically host 5 to 15 worms at a time, which can usually be found around the tail. Because of this, a bait presented on the bottom will be the most productive. Let’s look at where and how we can catch some hard fighting black drum. It has many advantages but abrasion resistance is not one of them. On this catch and cook episode I went out to target black drum. Large black drum (over 30 inches) lose taste and texture, and may also contain worms. Tackle can be rod and reel, trotline, hand line or cane pole, and bait is inexpensive. A Carolina rig with 8 to 12- inch fluorocarbon leader. They also tend to congregate around dock pilings, bridges and at the edge of sandbars. Spinning reel with 12 to 15 lb. Consider a good book, great conversation or fine music to help while away the time waiting for that rod tip to bend. braid is not more abrasion resistant than mono. 10 Black Drum Tips and Tricks. Their teeth are rounded and they have powerful jaws capable of crushing oysters and other shellfish. Black drum fishing shares plenty of similar aspects with red drum fishing, it has its own specifics. Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land). Just reel in and he will hook himself. Sign up for FREE to receive the latest saltwater fishing videos, tutorials, product reviews, and fishing product discounts! Of course, if you do get wrapped and then manage to get the line free, check the braided line for weaknesses where it may have scraped against anything sharp below. 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook to prevent gut hooking the fish. A seven-foot spinning rod is fine to use in most cases with 15lb test line. They are often black and/or gray in color with juvenile fish having distinctive dark stripes over a gray body. Use just enough weight to keep the bait near the bottom where black drum typically look for their food. This means you are most likely going to catch them while fishing for something else. They are a great fight. They are commonly found in the muddy bottoms, in the shallows of the Cherry Grove Inlet and the Murrells Inlet areas. Bait: shrimp, crabs, bipeds. Drum are not avid lure-chasers, but can be taken on slowly worked jigs in deep water, and by carefully presented streamer flies and jigs on the flats. Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip, Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area, Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else. Sorry this content is for subscribers only. Great job! Black drum will pretty much hook themselves. You can also catch black drums using a trotline, handline, and even a cane pole. The best kind of drum to eat are typically going to be the smaller ones that you catch. Catching black drum in Islamorada is mostly done with plain old live shrimp. Black drum are going to be in the water all year long, however they are hungry during specific times of the year and more timid during other times of the year. They are white in color and usually between 1 to 3 inches in length. It is a relaxing outing compared with other types of fishing which require experience, expensive tackle, boats and related equipment. 130 W. Central Ave, Winter Haven, FL, 33880. Try using slow moving jigs tipped with bait. How to Catch Black Drum. Artificial lures can sometimes be a successful way of catching black drum, it just take a little bit of skill to work the bait using short jigging or reeling actions. They can wrap around structure very quickly. Catch Black Drum On The Beach. This is the size of fish you should plan on catching. Already a subscriber? Talk to other anglers at the launch and also at the piers. The best time to target them is in February and March when they come inshore in large numbers. According to Capt Jack McGowan the rivers and sounds are full of black drum averaging from 1 to 3 pounds. 14-24 inches are best eating. Let the fish set the hook. They travel in and around structure when tide is moving. It’s why we use leaders or top shots in many cases. Crabs, cut bait, or squid will catch Drum but for many anglers dead smelly shrimp often produces fish. While Black Drum can get up to around 100 pounds fully grown that’s not typical for in the Myrtle Beach Area. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Plan your fishing trip - get information on what's biting in Myrtle Beach. We fished on a wreck/structure. Another tip is to place your lure in front of their face while they’re nosing in the mud and grass to increase your chances of hooking up. There are plenty of other fish, such as snapper, trout, and ladyfish that hang out in the same locales and would be more than happy to have your bait. While they may not want to divulge secret spots for other species, they are not as stingy with black drum. I first started … Few Anglers Fish for Drum. How to catch a black drum--Oyster Bars and Mud Flats One of my favorite ways to target black drum is sight fishing for them on the mud flats and oyster bars at low tide. Here are the Top 6 Myths about having No Bananas On Board Your Boat while fishing. Break off part of the shrimp to leave a scent trail. Once it's trapped in the hook, pull out the bait instantly and store it in an ice stuffed container. Once the black drum is on, make sure to keep the rod tip up and the drag set so that it cannot wrap the line around structure as they tend so often to do. Black drum hit shrimp hard. 14,000 anglers can't be wrong, can they? Shrimp and crabs are like dessert to these fish, and pinching off the shrimp’s head or cracking open the crab will help create the perfect scent trail to lure these tasty delicacies to your bait. What is the best shrimp scent for spottails and trout. Trail these fish. We reccomend the Little River Jetties for black drum fishing or along the stone walls in the opening of the Little River Inlet. Use circle hooks and don’t set the hook when a black drum bites. Our Myrtle Beach fishing … View Report, Copyright • © 2020 • MyrtleBeachFishing.org • Site by Click Charters • Privacy Policy. A good trick is to break your bait open or pinch it so when you put it in the water that scent will be released so the black drum can smell it easier. Slack tide is probably not your best bet. Ask A Captain Part V. 10.3k Views. Black Drum is a small to medium size member of the drum family commonly caught in inshore and near shore waters in Myrtle Beach. Good question, Michael. When fishing for black drum you might want to wait a few seconds before setting the hook as they mouth the bait. Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land). The black drum is sluggish and does not strike quickly or with force, but when hooked, it puts up an exceedingly tough fight. Black drum fishing can be done from a boat, pier, or even … Previous article Black Drum; You May Also Like. These fish can put up a pretty good fight, so using a net to take them out of the water is a pretty good idea. Drum are bottom feeders and, as they nose down to forage, their broad tails often wave above the surface in shallow water. I have had a few big ones break my line. When angling for Black Drum, bottom fishing is one of the popular fishing methods. In December of 2014, these two brothers shocked their clients, friends, and family by quitting their 6-figure jobs to start their dream focused on helping saltwater anglers: 2. Grab your rod, let’s go fishing! The largest black drum caught with this method was 72lbs. Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join: Save 30% And Put An End To Your Monthly Charges. If you are fortunate enough to catch one of these members of the “Croaker” family, as soon as you pull this black and white striped fish out of the water, and you hear it “croaking,” you’ll understand why it’s called a black drum. A versatile cousin to the red drum, black drum fishes are caught inshore in bays and lagoons and offshore in Florida waters along the coastline. Pinch the head of the shrimp or break open the crab bait to release its scent and flavor in the water and entice the fish into biting. Let the tide take your bait toward the structure, not away from it. Create memories that matter through fishing, Email: fish@saltstrong.comToll-free: (855)888-6494130 W. Central Ave, Winter Haven, FL 33880. When you hook one they put up a fierce fight. Unlike redfish and speckled trout that can be vicious ambush predators, the black drum tends to mosey along looking for snacks. While black drum can reach over 100 pounds, we’ll focus on the 14 to 24-inch size since these are the best fit for the table. Don’t jerk to set the hook. The world record black drum was just over 113lbs! But be warned that targeting black drum is not as easy as it sounds. Anything from blue crab to clams, in general if it smells bad, it’ll usually work well! If you are fishing on a pier or bank fishing you should target the jetties, structure or boat channels near a rapid increase in depth and some tidal movement. Monday Fish Pics (53 Colorful Images for the Start of the Week) 20.2k Views. They travel constantly through and around docks and piers. ... (48 Hot Fishing Pics) Trending . Trending . Top 6 Myths About “Bad Luck Bananas” On Fishing Boats (2020 UPDATE), Why 14,000+ Anglers Have Joined This Online Fishing Club…, HeadlockZ Jig Head Review: Pros, Cons, & Rigging Tips, Structure: docks, piers, marker posts, rocks, artificial reefs, February and March are excellent for Florida. 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