Species profile
Black Drum
Pogonias cromis
Identify Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 8 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 11 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Maryland); the most generous is 15 (Georgia).
Across 8 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 15.5 in (≈ 1 ft 4 in).
Confirmed by 1,970 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Florida, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Black drum can live over 40 years and grow to exceed 100 pounds.
- They produce a deep drumming sound by vibrating muscles against their swim bladder.
- Powerful pharyngeal teeth let them crush and eat whole oysters and clams.
- Juveniles have bold black vertical stripes that completely disappear as they mature.
- Chin barbels help them detect buried shellfish on the seafloor.
Where Black Drum are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Black Drum
Background
The black drum, also known as the drum or drummer, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean off the eastern coast of North and South America. Though most specimens are generally found in the 5-30 lb (2–14 kg) range, the largest black drum was just over 113 lb (51 kg), while in Argentina in 1971, a…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Black Drum article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Black Drum?
Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 11 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Black Drum?
Black Drum is Pogonias cromis.
Is Black Drum regulated for fishing?
Yes — Black Drum has fishing regulations in 8 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Black Drum?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Black Drum along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.