Black Drum

BLACK DRUM - Pogonias cromis Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS

Description: high arched back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels; gray or black colored body in adults; young have 4 to 6 vertical bars; has cobblestonelike teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales large.
Similar fish: red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus; the vertical bars on juvenile black drum are somewhat similar to those on sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus; and spadefish, Chaetodipterus faber.
Where found: INSHORE fish common to bays and lagoons; bottom dweller often found around oyster beds; also OFFSHORE. Size: common to 30 pounds.
Remarks: largest member of the drum family; spawns nearshore in winter and early spring; feeds on oysters, mussels, oysters, crabs, shrimp, and occasionally fish; longevity to 35 or more years.

Drum won't win a beauty contest, but one thing is for sure. While the fish doesn't possess speed or agility, he will struggle from the time he is hooked until the battle is won or lost. Drum have big crushing teeth way down in their throats. If you look down into a drum's mouth you'll see them down there. They look like half BB's attached to the surface of the pharynx. Called pharangeal teeth, these grinders allow them to crush the shellfish which they prefer to eat. They also grind them together to make the familiar drumming sound, using their air bladders as resonance chambers to amplify the sound. Hooking a large Black Drum is a lot like hooking a bulldozer. Most drum are slow but powerful creatures. One look and you'll see that they appear to be designed for power and stamina. So fighting drum can easily become a long, drawn out affair unless you quickly apply the maximum pressure your tackle will stand. You have to be prepared to go toe to toe with a fish that can easily weigh 30 or 40 pounds, or face a fight which
could certainly last for over an hour. They are caught mostly on natural baits. Shrimp, cut-bait, squid, and crabs are the best baits. Since feeding is done on the bottom, the basic technique is simple - put a baited hook on the bottom and wait for the drum to
swallow it. Drum will often "mouth" the bait for some time before swallowing it, so you must wait until the fish moves off with the bait, and then set the hook.