Black Drum
Appearance: Black Drum are very similar in shape to Red Drum (Redfish), but are deeper bodied and have a flatter tail. Drum also are easily identified by the barbels below their chin. They are typically silvery-grey, with a darker back, but larger drum may be coppery in color. Juvenile drum also sport vertical black stripes.
Size: Black Drum average about 3 to 5 pounds in the bay. However, they can grow up to 70 or so pounds. During the winter and spring, larger black drum in the 15 to 35 pound class are common in the bays across Texas.
Where it's found: Black Drum are found in the surf as well as in the bay. Inside bay waters, they are most commonly found in channels or shallow flats adjacent to deeper channels.
What it eats: Black Drum feed primarily on crustaceans, with crabs and shrimp being their primary food sources.
Top lures & baits: Live or dead crab and shrimp are best bets, although the occassional drum does take an artificial lure.
How it tastes: Smaller black drum make for decent dining.
Texas Bag & Size Limits: 5 fish bag/14 to 30 inch slot size limit
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