www.fishbase.org, version (07/2009). The black drum is usually found in or near brackish waters. Drum fillets are not bony and the firm texture can be an asset if prepared correctly, but one bad-tasting bite is enough to make most fish-eaters swear off a species for life. Many fishermen prefer to fillet with an electric knife, first removing the fillet from along the backbone, and then using the electric knife to cut the fillet from the skin and scales. It likes clear water but also tolerates murky water. Younger fish are often indistinguishable in flavor from Pogonias cromis, Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Bottom fishing methods are used both in surf fishing and inshore fishing.Black drum are reported to mouth a natural bait, so anglers need to wait a few seconds before setting the hook.An effective strategy for fishing from a boat is to select a spot with a sandy bottom or oyster bed where food is plentiful at a time of day with some tidal movement. Some states, such as Texas (as of summer 2017), allow spearfishing for black drum which often frequent jetties and other near shore structure. Like most game fish, drum fillets have just a few pin bones that you can eat or remove. Master's Thesis, Louisiana State University, p. 6Black Drum. Fish over 15 lb can become tough and have a consistency comparable with chicken, rather than the flakey texture of many species of fish.

Northeast Gulf Science, 10(2):127-137Jenkins, J. USGS National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA, Open-File Report 2004-1323Ken Schultz's Essentials of Fishing, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010, p. 70-71Ken Schultz's Essentials of Fishing, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010, p. 70-71Ken Schultz's Essentials of Fishing, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010, p. 70-71George, Gerald. Editors. It has been found that freshwater drum larger 10 inches will eat zebra mussels in rivers and lakes. They are the only North American fish that inhabits freshwater its entire life. Black Drum Fish Homely Fish Or Overlooked Beauty Weight. Freshwater drum fish, Aplodinotus grunniens, are a native, freshwater fish with the greatest range of any fish in North America. They are tough fighters on the line, and according to … Unlike trash fish like carp and suckers, the drum does not have numerous small Y-bones. 2009.FishBase. Freshwater drum  Small to medium size drum are 10 to 17 inches and have a better texture than larger drum, which have have a tough texture. If attempting to prepare the tougher large drum, cut it into smaller bite-size pieces, then broil or grill it and serve it as a shrimp substitute. 2007. Although they they may not entirely rid a lake or river of zebra mussels, drum do help reduce populations of this damaging mussel.

For the best taste, you should place drum in an ice-filled cooler immediately after you catch them. Larger, older fish are more commonly found in the saltier areas of an estuary (closer to the ocean) near oyster beds or other plentiful food sources. Recent research has been done on the freshwater drum as a possible means of controlling the invasive Zebra mussel in northern lakes and rivers.

2007. Master's Thesis, Louisiana State University, p. 9Massey, Julie Kay, Age and Growth of Black Drum (Pogonias cromis Linnaeus) from Galveston Bay, Master's Thesis, Texas A&M University, 1984, p. iiiMurphy, MD and Taylor RG, Reproduction and growth of black drum, Pogonias cromis, in Northeast Florida. Black Drum is a Gulf fish that is generally considered bycatch. 2007. Ohio State's Sea Grant Program printed the Guide to Utilizing the Freshwater Drum, which includes more information about freshwater drum and detailed instructions for preparation. Acoustic Tagging of Black Drum on Louisiana Oyster Reefs: Movements, Site Fidelity, and Habitat Use. Check locally to see if spearing black drum is legal in your area. With stout tackle, black drum above 10 lb are relatively easy for children to catch because they are not particularly skittish and do not easily come off once they are hooked. Master's Thesis, Louisiana State UniversityGeorge, Gerald. Thе black drum іѕ a saltwater fish ѕіmіlаr to іtѕ соuѕіn, the red drum. US Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service and US Army Corps of Engineers Coastal Ecology Group, Biological Report 82(11.51), 1986Black Drum. Acoustic Tagging of Black Drum on Louisiana Oyster Reefs: Movements, Site Fidelity, and Habitat Use. Thоugh most of these saltwater fish are gеnеrаllу found in the 5-30 lb. Found in waters from the Appalachians in the east to Texas and Oklahoma in the west, and from Hudson Bay in the north to Central America in the south, this freshwater fish prefers river and lake bottoms of clean sand or gravel. When filleting the fish, trim the dark red flesh near the skin (mud line) to improve remove contaminants and improve the flavor. Black drum are edible, with a moderate flavor and are not oily. It can be broiled, baked, fried, smoked, or grilled. Pier or bank fishing should target jetties, structure, or a boat channel near a rapid increase in depth and some tidal movement. Black Drum. Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Gulf of Mexico).

(2–14 kg) range, the black drum fish specie is known well to be the bigger of the bunch. World Wide Web electronic publication. If you cannot find drum, any other firm white fish will do. Anne Henderson-Arzapalo, Robert L. Colura, Anthony F. Maciorowski, Journal of the World Aquaculture Society Volume 25 Issue 2, Pages 289 - 296 The black drum (Pogonias cromis), also known as the drum or drummer, is a saltwater fish similar to its cousin, the red drum.It is the only species in the genus Pogonias.Though most specimens are generally found in the 5-30 lb (2–14 kg) range, the black drum is well known as the largest of all the drum family with some specimens reaching excesses of 90 lb (40 kg).

It can also be made into a bouillabaise or chowder and works well in fish tacos or as fish kebabs. Fish Bioindicators of Ecosystem Condition at the Calcasieu Estuary, Louisiana. 8 (5-ounce) portions of Black Drum, without skin ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper