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Black drum in Texas: where, when & how to catch them
Black drum are the most approachable fish on the Texas coast: TPWD says they live in more kinds of habitat than any other important Texas food fish, and anyone can catch one with a piece of shrimp on the bottom. Small ones are good eating, and the late-winter bull drum run brings 30–40 pound fish.
Also called Texas drum, sea drum, gray drum, butterfly drum (small), bull drum (big).
How to identify black drum
- Chunky, high-backed body with many barbels (whiskers) under the lower jaw.
- Young fish have four or five dark vertical bars on their sides that fade with age.
- Color varies a lot: light gray or silvery in Gulf water, dark gray or bronze in muddy bays, sometimes jet black. Bellies of older fish are white.
- Related to red drum and spotted seatrout. Red drum have no chin barbels and usually have a black tail spot.
Source: TPWD: Black drum.
Where to find black drum in Texas
Black drum live in all Texas bay and inshore waters and offshore in the Gulf, and are most abundant from Corpus Christi to Brownsville. They're found everywhere from clear sand flats to muddy flooded sloughs, in water so shallow their backs show and in Gulf water over 100 feet deep, and they're attracted to freshwater runoff. They feed by feel and smell on the bottom, rooting for crabs, worms, mollusks and small fish. In summer, schools of 1–4 pound drum work shallow water; in the colder months drum of all sizes move to deeper water, channels and the Gulf surf. Big 'bull' drum gather in deeper bays, around jetties and in channels before spawning, and catches peak in February and March.
Source: TPWD: Black drum.
Texas bay systems
Black drum are found in every Texas bay system. Our bay pages have the NWS marine forecast, NOAA tides, water temperature, wind and sun & moon times.
Black drum month by month
General Texas patterns. Timing shifts by a few weeks from north to south and from year to year, and fronts, rain, wind and water temperature move fish day to day.
| Month | What fish are typically doing |
|---|---|
| January | Cold-weather pattern: drum of all sizes in deeper water, channels and the surf. Bottom rigs along channel slopes and in the open bay. |
| February | Bull drum run: big drum school up in deeper bays, around jetties and in channels before spawning. |
| March | Bull drum run continues; spawning happens mostly in February, March and April. |
| April | Late spawning season. Drum spread out as the water warms. |
| May | Schools of smaller drum start working shallow flats and shorelines. |
| June | Summer: schools of 1–4 pound drum in shallow water, often marked by patches of muddy water as they feed. |
| July | Like June. Shallow schools and 'drum noodles' (feeding craters in the bottom) show where they've been. |
| August | Shallow schools early; deeper edges in the heat. |
| September | Late-summer patterns; drum around reefs, piers and channel edges. |
| October (now) | Cooling water; drum begin shifting toward deeper bay water and channels. |
| November | Drum of all sizes move to deeper water, channels and the surf. |
| December | Winter: bottom rigs on channel slopes, in the open bay and the surf. TPWD notes fish caught in cold weather before spawning tend to be in the best condition. |
Proven baits and techniques
- Peeled shrimp tails: TPWD says these are the most popular bait. Put a baited hook on the bottom and wait.
- Cut fish, squid and crab: Black drum feed by feel and smell, so they're rarely caught on artificial lures.
- Bottom rigs: A sinker with one or more drops and single hooks for bank, pier, surf or anchored-boat fishing.
- Light-tackle drift: For more sport, a single drop with no sinker (or a few split shot) lets the bait move along the bottom with the current.
- Patience on the hookset: Drum often mouth the bait for a while. Wait until the fish moves off with it, then lift the rod to set the hook.
Source: TPWD: Black drum (how to catch).
Texas black drum limits (statewide)
| Daily bag | 5 |
|---|---|
| Length | 14–30 inches (slot) |
| Over 52 inches | One per person per day may be kept; it counts toward the daily bag and possession limit |
| Possession | Double the daily bag |
Valid Sept. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027 (checked Oct. 20, 2026). TPWD classifies black drum as a regulated nongame species. TPWD encourages releasing big drum, since fish over about 5 pounds usually have coarse flesh. TPWD is the authority, and limits can change. See our License & regulations guide for licenses, tags and how to check a specific bay.
Sources: TPWD: Drum bag and length limits; TPWD: Black drum.
Records
TPWD's black drum profile lists the Texas sport-angler record at 81 pounds and says most bull drum caught weigh 30 to 40 pounds. For current records by category, search TPWD's official fish records.
Sources: TPWD: Black drum; TPWD: Fish records.
Gear for black drum
TPWD says the tackle depends on the size of the fish: light tackle is more sporting for small drum, but 40-pound bull drum need heavy rods with plenty of backbone, a strong single hook and line and leader to match. A medium inshore spinning setup covers slot-size drum from piers, banks and boats.
Source: TPWD: Black drum (how to catch).
Examples from our comparisons (specs and dated manufacturer prices are on the comparison pages):
- Penn Battle IV · Check current price on Amazon for the Penn Battle IV
- Ugly Stik Inshore Select Spinning · Check current price on Amazon for the Ugly Stik Inshore Select Spinning
- Penn Slammer IV · Check current price on Amazon for the Penn Slammer IV
Some links are affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See our affiliate disclosure.
Black drum FAQ
What is the black drum limit in Texas?
The daily bag is 5 black drum from 14 to 30 inches, and the possession limit is double the daily bag. You can keep one black drum over 52 inches per day, and it counts toward the daily bag and possession limit (valid Sept. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027).
What is the best bait for black drum?
TPWD says peeled shrimp tails are the most popular bait, along with cut fish and squid, fished on the bottom. Black drum are rarely caught on artificial lures because they feed by feel and smell.
When is the bull black drum run in Texas?
TPWD says large drum gather in deeper bays, around jetties and in channels before spawning, and catches of these big fish peak in February and March.
More species: Largemouth bass · Crappie · Catfish (blue, channel & flathead) · White bass · Striped bass · Red drum (redfish) · Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) · Southern flounder