Capt. Tim Whitfield


*The Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) is similar to its cousin, the Red Drum. Most specimens are generally in the 5 to 30lb range. The black drum is known as the largest of all the drum families with some reaching more than 90lbs and four feet in length. Juvenile fish have distinctive dark stripes over a gray body and often can be mistaken for sheepshead. The world record black drum was just over 113lbs. It is recommended that black drum over 15lbs pounds be released, as the flesh is very coarse and tough. Black drum are capable of producing tones between 100 Hz and 500 Hz when performing mating calls.

Targeting Black Drum is not difficult, all you need is some live shrimp or some scented soft plastic artificial baits.  The equipment that I use for black drum includes a 7’6” medium action Ohero Platinum rod and a 3000 Penn Sargus series reel spooled with 20 lb Ohero braid, and a 20 lb Ohero leader. At times locating a school of Drum can be as easy as just looking for the boats, it can be like a mini Boca Grande. If the fleet has not located the school or is not around you may find the fish by just idling around an area known to hold a group of them. Once you hook one, the only way to describe the tug of war with the big beast is like trying to reel in a freight train. They pull, and slowly bull their way away from you, you gain a little, lose a lot! Every year around the end of March the massive schools invade the lower end of Tampa Bay and by April their presence is known! 


Once the fleet has been located approach on the outside edge, do not run right into the middle of the boats. Try to figure out which way the fish are going and get ahead of them and wait for them to come your way. Once you have hooked a fish try to stay close to or on top of your fish while you motor away from the school and fleet. Be courteous and keep your distance from boats that are hooked up! These fish often range from 30 to 60 lbs.


Last year Capt. Billy Turney, his son Reese, My son Jake and I were looking for redfish and running across a flat to another location when we witnessed a massive school of Drum “hump up” and start moving. We worked the boat into position and quickly were all four hooked up using Scented baits! Talk about mass confusion, Jake is in the back, Reese’s fish is moving right, mine is moving left, Billy’s fish is moving back and forth, lines are crossing, we were all tangled with each other, we eventually managed to get everything undone and got all 4 to the boat!!  Billy and I had our fill, but the boys…..not enough for them. We followed the school for about 2 hours, and hooked up each time they passed by. Our tally for the day was 8 drum, ranging from an estimated 40 lbs to 60+ lbs. 


Black drum are edible, but fish over 15 lbs should be released as they can become tough and have the consistency of chicken rather than the flaky texture of most other species. The smaller drums often taste very similar to redfish.


So spool up you reels with fresh line, get a stout jig head, and a back brace! Big Black drum……. get you some of that!
*Information gathered from Wikipedia

Captain Tim Whitfield is a Florida native and fishes the waters of Tampa Bay, Tarpon Springs and Boca Grande. And can be reached at 813 714 0889. Tim runs out of a 22 foot Blue Wave bay boat named Incommunicado   Fishing is more than a passion…it is an obsession! Check out www.slotlimitradio.com on Thursday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.


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