Mid-Coast Bays: November 2012

After that long hot summer we had I welcome the cool crisp north wind that is blowing as I write this article. Wading chest deep is no longer necessary in order to find solid trout. However, wearing my waders will be part of my daily wardrobe any day now until springtime. So many days this past summer I felt like a broken record, Stay deep for trout, go shallow for reds. That has all changed with the cooler water temperatures. We will be placing most of our efforts strictly in shallower water for both species.yippee!

Over the years we typically look forward to less traffic on the water due to football and hunters exchanging tackle for guns. Im not so sure that will be the case this year. With the mild winter we had last year, Saturdays at the boat ramp were almost as busy in winter as they were in summer. Our duck hunting has been fantastic the last couple of years coupled with awesome fall and early winter fishing so unless we get a cold one I expect just as many outdoorsmen visiting our coastline to take advantage of this action.

Its a no-brainer that most anglers are eager to target redfish and speckled trout but one species that is too often overlooked is the black drum. While this striped fish may not be as glamorous as its higher-profile cousins, it is still hands down some of the best rod jerking, line pulling fight you can have using light tackle and did I mention excellent table fare? Drum in the 15 to 22 range are my favorite, any bigger than this and the fillet can become tough and grainy rather than the flakey texture we all love. Younger fish are often indistinguishable in flavor from red drum.

"Spaghetti worms" common in speckled trout are present in larger drum (another reason to release the big ones) and, while unappetizing, they are not harmful to humans. Many people are surprised at how well this fish tastes because somewhere out there someone started the big bad rumor that these fish are no good to eat hogwash. Many coastal restaurants serve black drum but choose to rename them due to these false rumors. Remember, the main difference between excellent and poor fish is not the kind of fish, but the way it was handled and prepared.

While I have caught some black drum on artificial lures, they are primarily scent-based feeders. It is not uncommon to see these fish tailing in shallow water searching out small crustaceans, crabs and even oysters. Drum often dig or root out buried clams and worms while feeding in a head down position leaving small but noticeable craters in the bottom. Larger schools of mature black drum often dredge up the bottom, creating muddy patches which can be seen easily from the deck of a boat. Areas that typically hold black drum are oyster reefs and sandy shorelines that have some scattered oyster shells.

Whether you find black drum tailing or schooled-up a little deeper, you pretty much use the same approach when trying to hook up. These fish tend to be what I refer to as gentle biters, very seldom will you feel them hammer the bait the way a redfish does. Crab is an excellent bait to use when fishing for any drum but since I am usually trying to catch the smaller drum I prefer to use live or dead shrimp. There is no doubt that a treble hook would give any angler better odds of sealing the deal but I prefer a #3/0 Kahle hook attached to about a foot of 30 pound leader. A 30 pound leader might seem like overkill but the majority of the time I am fishing for black drum, I will be doing so over scattered oyster shell and I am not fond of having to tie on a new leader when I am in the middle of catching fish. A 1/4 ounce slip weight or split shot helps keeps the bait on the bottom where the black drum are usually looking for their next meal. Be patient when you start to feel a nibble because black drum tend to mouth their bait before putting it at the back of their throat to swallow.

Give this species a try next time you are out on the water and I assure you, you wont be disappointed in the fight or the flavor.