We are right in the middle of a really fun time of year as fishing goes. Spring brings on the mating call for all creatures, including fish. One of my favorite rituals is the annual Black Drum spring spawning run. The run happens all up and down the East Coast, beginning in Florida and moving north all the way to New England.
The Drum Beat
These overgrown relatives to a redfish (red drum) make there way into inshore rivers, creeks and passes in March and April to begin their amorous escapades, and they can be caught if you know where to look and how to fish for them. One favorite way to find these behemoths is to go at night and be very quiet in the boat. Their name comes from the deep guttural drumming sound they make, and in an aluminum boat on a quiet night, you can hear them on the bottom!
{h3]SizeAlthough these fish are common up to 30 pounds, each year large numbers in the 70 to 80 pound range are caught. This means heavy tackle if you ever plan on landing one. I like a seven foot medium action conventional rod and a Penn Jigmaster 500L reel. The Jigmaster gives me enough guts and line to handle a bigger fish, yet it is still lightweight enough to be easy to handle.
Terminal Tackle
I use an 18 inch mono leader with about a 5/0 hook. The weight, a teardrop or pyramid sinker, is clipped onto the swivel. Depending on the water depth, current and bottom structure, the weight may vary from 2 ounces to over 8 ounces.
Bait
The bait I use is almost exclusively blue crabs. Fresh crabs hooked in the side of the shell work great. If the crabs are running large, I will use a half a crab. Actually, I think the half works better, because the drum can smell and find the bait easier. Occasionally I will use whole clams, if I can find some really large ones. Open the clam, remove the meat, and work it onto your hook. There is an art to keeping clam baits on your hook that only practice and experience can teach!
When to Fish
I fish the incoming tide right up to high for these drum. They move in on the tide and will stay in an area for several days looking to mate. The method is quite simple; it is classic bottom fishing. Drop your bait to the bottom, set the rod in a rod holder with the clicker on, and sit back and wait.
Hard Fighters
Some say these fish are like dead weight. While they don't fight like a tarpon, they are dogged fighters that like to stay on the bottom. If there is a current, they head right with it, making your task even harder.
Please Catch and Release!
Once caught, these fish are all released by me and anyone fishing with me. They are edible, but once you clean one and see and smell the layers of fat in the meat, you may change your mind about future meals of Black Drum! These fish live as long as 35 years, and the large ones we catch during the spawn are all getting up there in age. They are the providers of future stocks of drum. So once we have enjoyed the fight, we take a picture and release them to continue their designated springtime duties.
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