One of my goals for 2015 is to catch a big ole’ nasty black drum (40 lb +). I was wondering if anyone has any experience fishing for them. What is the best time of year to fish for these big ones…a guy down in Jacksonville told me they start catching them in the inlets around Easter. Should I just soak half a crab on a Carolina rig in the same areas I usually fish for bull reds, or is their certain structure or depth I should target? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Connor Malark
Deep (20+ ft.) structure in April/May and then in the Fall (Sept-Nov.) is your best bet with 1/2 blue crab. Deep bridge pilings are a great place to start for the bruisers.
Thank you!
Connor Malark
Get the black mussels you find in the mud and crush them and use them in a small pouch (pantyhose), deep water bridge pilings, Grillage, Dynamite hole, fort Sumter, the dock poles at castle Pinckney, any of the large old docks like the ports that you can find and fishing is allowed hold lots of drum. Also the whole crab with the shell and the claws smashed works to stop the smaller fish and keeps minnows from picking the shell clean but lets out more scent then a normal whole crab. Good luck the biggest black drum I’ve caught was about 28 inches but I’ve heard we do have the huge 50 inchers.
17ft Key west
Thanks man! Great info
Connor Malark
My granddaddy fished for them back in the day. He had four heavy-duty set ups with steel wire on each reel! He landed one over 60#s one time that broke the rod and had all the eyes on a rod broke off on another! The steel wire keeps them from breaking off on the pilings. Low tide break barnacles with a hatchet from old pilings then use blue crab for bait in deepest water around bridge at low tide. He caught some big ones! Good luck!
God Bless,
Capt Buddy Bizzell
Being on the water is a blessing, catching fish is a bonus!
Matthew 4:19
Thanks!
Connor Malark
My biggest black drum have been caught late dec. early jan.
Been wanting to go after the black drum juat been to busy trying to find his cousions the reds. Might have to take a break and try fishing for these…ready to fight a monster!
Keep your lines tight and remember. Respect the fish and your fellow fisherman. Know the Code.
I am the lucky girl who gets to clean the fish. (I kinda like it.) I found the big fish off Bull Island had worms. Nasto. I would check one or two with the knife and if they had them moved on. I did notice the smalller jetties drum 8-10 lb were very good. Very fun with light tackle, shrimp or fiddlers.
Creek Girl
www.Heather-Jordan.com
Vibrant Coastal Artist
I would recommend to book a trip with Captain Fuss, that boy has pulled up alot of giant black drum the last couple years. I would think the tips and techniques that you will learn will help you get them on your own much faster. Good luck on your quest.