Fishing tips on how and where to catch Black Drum

Article by: Capt. Rick Bennett

While black drum are good fighters and very good on the dinner table, they are often overlooked by inshore fishermen. Although they can be caught virtually any time of the year, generally speaking they prefer cooler waters, early spring and late fall seem to be peak season. Many fishermen have a bit of difficulty distinguishing black drum for sheepshead. The easiest and most noticeable are the whiskers underneath the black drum’s lower lip. Typically, black drum hold close to heavy structure such as pilings (docks), rocks, bridges and piers. Let’s look at where and how we can catch some hard fighting black drum.

From piers you can fish near the breakers and not too far from the pier. A Carolina rig with an Eagle Claw model 042 size 2 hook or a simple double hook bottom rig should work well. Shrimp, squid or fiddler crabs work well as bait. Cast into the breakers or just behind them and let your rig wash around in the turbulents. If you are not using an egg sinker on a Carolina rig, I recommend a bank sinker on bottom rigs to allow the rig to move with the water flow. A 7’- 8’ medium to medium heavy rod with a 3000 to 4000 series reel with twenty pound braid is a good set up for black drum on the pier.

When fishing on a boat inshore you have a multitude of locations in pursuit of the black drum. Rock jetties are famous for holding black drum. A technique I use is to take a 12’ leader of 25 pound test mono with the Eagle Claw hook (mentioned above) tipped with a piece of fresh shrimp, and with NO weight. Cast it right into the rocks. Let it wash around and you will be surprised when a strong tug on the line lets you know you have hooked up with a nice fish. AND, you rarely get snagged in the rocks!

Other locations include docks along the waterway or in the creeks. In these areas I do use an egg weight sufficient to hold bottom; typically a one to two ounce will do the job. Inshore I prefer a medium heavy rod with a sensitive tip but with plenty of backbone. The size of your fish will usually run between 4 and 10 pounds, which are the best eating. The bigger and older black drum are tougher.
If you are targeting BIG black drum, the ADM dock in the Cape Fear River is famous for such an effort. The state record of 100 pounds one ounce was caught there.

In short, artificials are rarely used for catching black drum. I have caught ONE on a Crippled Herring jig. I have heard of a few caught on scented soft plastics. For me fresh bait is the way to go.

This black drum was caught on fresh shrimp. Check back often for future articles.

Capt. Rick Bennett, Ret.
www.rod-man.com
rodman@rod-man.com

Capt. Rick Bennett

A lifetime fisherman, Capt. Rick Bennett, better known as the Rod-Man,has retired from the day to day activities as a charter boat captain but does offer “ON YOUR BOAT” Guided Fishing Trips. Capt. Rick will show you the when, the where and the how. From rod and reel selection to terminal tackle to bait, Capt. Rick has the know how.