Black Drum fishing in Florida

Black drum live around oyster bars, docks, bridges, seawalls, jetties and channel edges all around Florida, and they are one of the best cool-season targets for shore anglers. Smaller drum, often called puppy drum, feed year-round in bays and backwaters, while big bull drum gather to spawn in late winter and early spring around inlet jetties, deep bridges and passes, especially in northeast Florida. They root along the bottom for crabs, clams, shrimp and barnacles using the chin barbels, so fish natural bait tight to structure and on the bottom. For school fish, 15 to 20 lb line, a knocker or Carolina rig with 1/0 to 3/0 circle hooks and a piece of shrimp or crab is plenty; for bull drum step up to 30 to 50 lb line, 4 to 8 oz of lead and a half blue crab on a 6/0 to 8/0 circle hook. The bite is a steady thump and pull, so let the rod load before winding. Smaller drum are excellent eating, while big ones are best released. Check current FWC rules before keeping one.