Black Drum part5

                                    


Catching Black Drum in the Winter

Winter Black drum fishing means big fish in deep water. They’ll also be found in the backwaters. The deep channels and backwaters are more temperature stable than the shallow seagrass and oyster reefs, and the fish will be less stressed than if they were subjected to constant temperature changes every day.

Where the Fish are in the Winter Months

Most of the fish will be in deeper water, or in the backwaters and rivers where the freshwater inflows make for warmer waters. For deep-water fish, look for the fish along the deepest channels, especially those shipping channels with depths between 40-to-60 feet. In the backwaters, the fish will be near the less saline residential channels along the docks and seawalls.

Catching Black Drum in the Deep Channels

Wintertime Black drum will be residing in the deep channels, especially the deep shipping channels, as they find the water temperatures are more stable throughout the day there. Although the scented soft plastics work fairly well, live bait works much better here, as there is almost no light reaching the bottom of the channels in the dark, tannic waters inshore. In fact, breaking a blue crab in half, or in quarters works even better, because it gets the scent out there better.

Catching Black Drum in the Backwaters

When the greater estuary gets quite cold throughout the winter, the backwaters and rivers stay a bit warmer, because the freshwater inflows are generally warmer than the colder ocean waters. Look for the fish along the seawalls, docks, and bridges back in the back residential canals leading towards the estuaries. A small blue crab or live shrimp works best here. Cast along the long edges of the structures, because the darker tannic freshwater inflows allow less light through for tricking fish with artificial lures. This is why the barbels are used more and smell is important.

An Overview of Catching Black Drum in the Winter

Most of the fish in the winter will be either in the deep channels or more fresh backwaters and rivers. In the deep channels, and in the dark tannic waters from freshwater inflows allow very little light through for the fish to see artificial lures, so live bait works best here, especially if broken to allow additional scent out.

Catching Black Drum in the Spring

Spring is the favorite fishing season for many Black drum enthusiasts. During the months of February through April, the “Drum Run” is on, which is the event in which the largest spawning Black drum from around the estuaries aggregate within the inlets and passes along the coasts during their peak spawning months. Here, these spawning individuals are very large fish, with fish over 50 pounds not uncommon.

Where the Fish Are in the Springtime

Throughout spring, the fish are found within the inlets during the “Drum Run” described above, and are also abundant inshore. Within the inlets, the fish will be right alongside the channels in deep water. They stick just to the side of the channel because there is less current here, and they happily await crabs and other critters passing along the bottom. Inshore, they can be found throughout the grassy flats and oyster reefs inshore, where they will often be seen tailing (tails sticking straight out of the water) just like a Redfish, while they search for small crabs, shrimp, and clams.

Catching Black Drum in the Inlets and Passes

Within the inlets and passes, the fish will be right alongside the deep channels, and near the structures such as the channel markers and jetties at high tide. The fish are more stationary than others, and they essentially sit still waiting for passing prey. The fish’s noses will be facing towards the incoming current water. Therefore, the best method of catching them is to allow your bait (a small blue crab, shrimp, etc.) to drift naturally with the current on the bottom along those channels and right by the structures.

Catching Black Drum Inshore

Inshore fish will be slightly smaller on average during the spring, as the biggest spawners will likely be near the inlets and passes during this time. Look for tailing fish in the open seagrass flats or near oyster reefs on changing tides. Throw live crabs or shrimp, or imitating soft plastics over the tailing school of fish, and slowly drift into view to avoid spooking the fish. This is an excellent opportunity for using lighter gear or trying out your fly fishing skills on a 20-plus-pound Black drum.

An Overview of Catching Black Drum in the Springtime

Springtime is a great season for Black drum. Not only are the fish abundant throughout the inshore seagrass beds and oyster reefs, but they are aggregating in the inlets and passes for the Drum Run. Deepwater fish can be caught using more traditional hook-and-line methods, while the inshore fish can be tackled on light and fly-fishing gear.

Catching Black Drum in the Summer

In the summer, the Black drum that were spawning in the inlets and passes during late spring have all moved back into the estuaries and lagoons they call home. The fish move around a bit to seek a preferred water temperature, and to also find abundant prey.

Where the Fish are in the Summer months

Although a warm-water species, they retreat to the deeper parts of the estuary – namely the channels and bridges – during the middle and hottest part of the day.
In the cool, early mornings and late evenings, they tend to venture out of the deep channels and forage along the more shallow seagrass and oyster reefs for their favorite mollusk and crustacean dinners.

Catching Black Drum in Shallow Water

Shallow-water fish will be found in the seagrass beds and oyster reefs mainly in the early mornings and late evenings, when the fish can find a break from the hot sun. In the seagrass beds, the fish can be seen tailing, much like their cousin, the Redfish. Here, cast a live bait or soft plastic, slowly bouncing along the bottom to catch their eye. This is also a great place to cast a big crab or shrimp fly using a fly-rod. On the oyster reefs, the fish are usually on the deeper side of the reef, where you can use the same gentle bounce technique for big fish.

Catching Black Drum in the Deep Channels and Bridges

As the days drag on, and the hot sun makes the shallow water unbearable, most of the Black drum will retreat into the deep inshore channels. Here, they can be caught by either slowly bouncing baits along the bottom during slack tides, or moving your baits along the natural direction of the current during moving tides. Wherever you can find structures near the deep channels, such as the pilings of a big bridge over-passing the channel, this will be where the big fish will be.

An Overview of Catching Black Drum in the Summertime

Summertime fish can be caught within the estuaries, but in different areas throughout the day. In the cool mornings and evenings, the fish will be in the shallow seagrass and oyster reef areas, whereas during the hot middle of the day, the fish will be in the deeper channels and under bridges inshore.

Catching Black Drum in the Fall

The fall season is prime inshore fishing season for many species, including the Black drum. Plus, fall weather brings lots of heavy winds and rains, making inshore fishing even more desirable. Throughout the season, juvenile crabs and shrimp that were hatched earlier in the year will be prime size for Black drum to eat, and plenty of clams will be dispersed throughout the grass.

Where the Fish are in the Fall Months

The weather is nice, cool, and fairly stable, so the Black drum can enjoy the greater estuaries with pleasure. The largest fish always seem to prefer deep water, and can be found within the channels, but many large fish will be schooling and can be found cruising the seagrass beds and oyster reefs.

Catching Black Drum in the Shallows

Black drum love the fall weather just as much as we do. Look for tailing fish with an incoming tide, as the fish invade the shallows looking for benthic (bottom)-dwelling critters such small crabs, shrimp, clams, mussels and even small fish. Live bait always works best for Black drum, because they use their chin barbels to taste, and great noses to smell to find prey. However, some soft plastics that are scented will work well also. This is also a great time to try your hand at catching a large Black drum on fly.

Catching Black Drum in the Deep Channels

Although many fish can be found in the shallows in the fall, Black drum always love deep water. Fish for them right along the edges of the steepest channels – especially those that are purposefully dredged, such as shipping channels. Live bait works best in the deep channels and under bridges, although a scented soft plastic will produce as well.

An Overview of Catching Black Drum in the Fall

Fall fish will be enjoying the fall weather, spread throughout their estuarine ranges. Look for schooling fish in the shallows, often seen by the “tailing” nature also seen in Redfish, where their tails are sticking out of the water from them feeding nose-down in shallow water. The fish will also be found in the deep channels, especially the biggest of the bunch.