Black Drum Limit???

[BowSlayer]

I am going to the coast in a couple of weeks so I was on TP&W trying to figure out the limits for all the fish I MIGHT catch. On the Black Drum I'm a little confused. This is from the TP&W website

"No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag limit and possession limit.

Daily Bag:
5
Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)
14 - 30"

Does that mean I can only keep them from 14-30 inches long and 1 longer than 52"? So if I caught one that was say 40 inches long I couldn't keep it, correct? I'm just a lowly Crappie Fisherman that wants to try my hand in the salt without breaking any laws.

[Mike Javi Cooper]

Correct

[muzzlebrake]

Yep. Slot fish just like black bass.

[BowSlayer]

Correct

Yep. Slot fish just like black bass.

Ok, thanks. I noticed some of the other fish allowed for keeping 1 oversized fish but this one is the only one that I saw that had an illegal slot above the legal slot if that makes sense.

[panhandlehunter]

You wouldn't want to keep one that big anyway.

[BowSlayer]

You wouldn't want to keep one that big anyway.

Are the normal slot sized fish good to eat?

[panhandlehunter]

Are the normal slot sized fish good to eat?

Yeah they're good eating. When those drum get big they get full of worms and just dont taste good. I kept a big redfish one time and never again. Reds and black drum are about the same.

[Mike Javi Cooper]

Are the normal slot sized fish good to eat?

Smaller ones are good, not as good as specks and flounder or reds but still tasty.

[JTRichardson]

Are the normal slot sized fish good to eat?

I'm a firm believer in the 16" drum are the best tasting. I'm not a fan when they get over 20"

[Man]

I kept a 23" one time....cut it open and tossed it. worms were all weaved through it like a wicker basket.

[Mike Javi Cooper]

Spaghetti worms" are common in larger drum, speckled trout and even red drum (red fish) and, while unappetizing, they are not harmful to humans. Skin the fish rather than scale it, cut it's throat instead of letting it die on the stringer and it will taste much better. I just pull the worms out and throw them away, the meat is still good.

Many of the restaurants use black drum for their fish platters.

[jds247]

I wouldn't eat them but I don't like trout either. Like with all fish the smaller ones taste better .

[M16]

Are the normal slot sized fish good to eat?

Best tasting fish there is. I rather have black drum over reds and trout any day.

[CastAndBlast]

I'm a firm believer in the 16" drum are the best tasting. I'm not a fan when they get over 20"

X2


Black drum is great if under 20". Personally I like it just as much, if not more than redfish.

[refugioco]

Best tasting fish there is. I rather have black drum over reds and trout any day.

x2 or 3.