Black drum Pogonias cromis
17 of 39worth the trip today
Best right now at Venice, Louisiana. Water is inside the 55–85° range black drum like at 37 of the 37 spots with a live reading.
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About black drum
The red drum’s heavier, bottom-grubbing cousin — a deep-bodied sciaenid that roots crabs and shellfish off mud and oyster bottom across the Gulf and South Atlantic. "Puppy drum" in the slot are excellent eating; the giant bull black drum that mass to spawn around passes and jetties in late winter and spring can top 80 lb. A staple of Louisiana and Texas inshore fishing alongside redfish and speckled trout.
Pogonias cromis, family Sciaenidae.
Black drum, spot by spot
All 39 spots with black drum in season, scored for black drum, best first.
74° water · 15 mph wind · incoming tide
59° water · 8 mph wind · incoming tide
60° water · 5 mph wind · incoming tide
74° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
74° water · 10 mph wind · outgoing tide
72° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
69° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
74° water · 15 mph wind · incoming tide
77° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
77° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
60° water · 10 mph wind · incoming tide
80° water · 10 mph wind · outgoing tide
69° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
70° water · 10 mph wind · low slack tide
69° water · 10 mph wind · low slack tide
69° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
69° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
72° water · 5 mph wind · outgoing tide
73° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
67° water · 15 mph wind · incoming tide
69° water · 15 mph wind · outgoing tide
77° water · 13 mph wind · outgoing tide
79° water · 10 mph wind · outgoing tide
77° water · 14 mph wind · outgoing tide
74° water · 24 mph wind · outgoing tide
76° water · 14 mph wind · outgoing tide
75° water · 26 mph wind · outgoing tide
79° water · 10 mph wind · outgoing tide
25 mph wind · incoming tide
The water they want
Black drum feed from about 55° to 85°F and best near 72°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 37 of 37 are inside the range.
How they feed
- Water55–85°F, best near 72°
- TideIncoming
- MoonEither
- DepthUsually 2–40 ft
- Active monthsSep–May
Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works
Keep or release
- Alabamano daily limitAlabama: no size or bag limit on black drum; it is not on the state saltwater creel and size list.Gulf waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Delaware tidal16" minimum · 3 a dayDelaware tidal waters: 16" minimum, 3 a day, open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Delaware tidal16" minimum · 3 a dayDelaware tidal waters: 16" minimum, 3 a day, open all year.Tidal delaware waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Florida14" minimum · 24" maximum · 5 a dayFlorida: 14–24" slot, 5 per harvester a day; one fish over 24" may count in the bag.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Florida14" minimum · 24" maximum · 5 a dayFlorida: 14–24" slot, 5 per harvester a day; one fish over 24" may count in the bag.Gulf waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Louisiana16" minimum · 27" maximum · 5 a dayLouisiana: 16–27" slot, 5 a person a day; no more than 1 over 27".Gulf waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Maryland tidal16" minimum · 1 a dayMaryland Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 16" minimum, 1 a day, 6 per boat, open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Mississippino daily limitMississippi: no size or bag limit on black drum.Gulf waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- South Carolina14" minimum · 27" maximum · 5 a daySouth Carolina saltwater: 14–27" slot, 5/person/day, year-round.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Texas14" minimum · 30" maximum · 5 a dayTexas: 14–30" slot, 5 a person a day; 1 over 52" may be kept and counts toward the bag.Gulf waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Virginia tidal (VMRC)16" minimum · 1 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 16" minimum, 1 per person.Tidal bay waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Black drum are fished at spots in 9 states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.
Fished in the same water
Species people target at the same spots as black drum, and how they’re doing today.
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus15 of 103 spots worth the trip
Best now at Venice, LA100
Bites in 65–85° water
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus51 of 118 spots worth the trip
Best now at Venice, LA100
Bites in 60–85° water
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus16 of 65 spots worth the trip
Best now at Cape Henlopen, DE90
Bites in 60–82° water
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma14 of 44 spots worth the trip
Best now at Orange Beach, AL98
Bites in 58–82° water