Where’s The Fish?Logo for Where's The Fish?

Black Drum fishing in Hillsborough County

9 rated shore spots in Hillsborough County hold black drum — ranked below with today's live forecast score for the species.

Black Drum forecast map for Hillsborough County

Every spot colored by how it fishes for black drum right now. Scrub the timeline, tap a pin for its forecast, or go full screen.

When to go

In season now
JFMAMJJASOND

🌊 Fish the flood tide.

Size, bag and season rules in Hillsborough County

Open: keep up to 5 a day between 14 in and 24 in

Hillsborough County

Rules set by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Minimum size
14 inMeasured nose to tail, tail pinched
Maximum size
24 inMeasured nose to tail, tail pinched
Bag limit
5 a day

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · checked Sep 30, 2026

A summary of the rules these authorities publish for anglers, checked on the dates shown. It is not legal advice: the authority's own page is the rule, and rules can change.

Check FWC rules

Best black drum spots in Hillsborough County

1Williams Park, RiverviewFair · 58Worth a tryCooler months near the pilings; shrimp or crab on the bottom.2Apollo Beach Nature PreserveGood · 73Worth a tryCool months on the bottom; crab or shrimp.3E.G. Simmons ParkGood · 73Worth a tryCooler months on the channel bottoms; shrimp or crab.4Gandy Boat RampFair · 60Worth a tryCooler months near structure; shrimp or crab on the bottom.5Courtney Campbell CausewayGood · 70Worth a tryCooler months near the bridges; shrimp or crab on the bottom.6Ruskin Commongood Boat RampFair · 59Worth a tryWinter fish near pilings; shrimp or crab on the bottom.7Upper Tampa Bay Conservation ParkGood · 70Worth a tryCooler months near oyster bars and in the creek; shrimp or crab on the bottom.8Davis Islands BeachGood · 71Worth a tryCool months on the bottom in the deeper water.9Domino Park Boat RampFair · 59Worth a tryWinter fish on the bottom near structure; shrimp or crab.
Open the full map

Tactics for black drum

Top baits, best first

  1. Blue Crab
  2. Clams
  3. Dead Shrimp
  4. Live Shrimp

Rigs that work, best first

  1. Fish-Finder Rig
  2. Knocker Rig
  3. Carolina Rig

Black Drum fishing elsewhere

Brevard CountyPinellas CountyVolusia CountySt. Johns CountyDuval CountyIndian River CountyPalm Beach CountyFlagler CountyLee CountyEscambia CountyMartin CountyManatee CountyBay CountyFranklin CountySarasota CountyCharlotte CountyLevy CountySt. Lucie CountyCollier CountyNassau CountyBroward CountyCitrus CountyPasco CountyWakulla CountyWalton CountyOkaloosa CountySanta Rosa CountyTaylor County