Black Drum Fishing in Texas
Pogonias cromis
Also known as: black drum, drum, drum fish
Texas quick take
Texas black drum get biggest and most concentrated around winter passes and channels, then spread wider over bays and flats once water warms.
Max Length
150cm
Typical trophy size
Max Weight
51kg
Record class
Water Temp
61–82°F
Preferred range
Difficulty
2/5
Skill level
How to catch Black Drum in Texas
Texas black drum get biggest and most concentrated around winter passes and channels, then spread wider over bays and flats once water warms.
Where to fish for Black Drum in Texas
Target Aransas Pass, Packery Channel, the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Galveston-area passes, and other bay-to-Gulf connectors.
Fish shell pads, channel slopes, jetty rocks, and surf troughs where current exposes crabs and mollusks.
In warmer months, check muddy flats and shallow bay edges for smaller feeding schools.
How to work the pattern in Texas
Anchor or hold a bottom lane with crab, shrimp, or clam and give the school time to settle on the scent trail.
During warmer shallow-water periods, lighter bottom rigs and short drifts across shell or mud flats can cover more active fish.
Seasonal behavior in Texas
Winter and early spring concentrate big fish in passes and channels, while spring and summer spread smaller fish through bays, flats, and surf.