Black Drum
Pogonias cromis
Least Concern
The heavyweight cousin of the redfish, capable of exceeding 50 pounds in Florida waters. Black drum are powerful bottom feeders with crushingly strong pharyngeal teeth for demolishing oysters and clams. Young fish display striking black vertical bars that fade with age.
Behavior
Bottom feeder that uses chin barbels to root through mud and sand. Named for the drumming sound produced by vibrating swim bladder muscles during spawning. Large schools aggregate near passes and jetties in winter to spawn.
⚠️ Safety
Very powerful fish — large specimens can injure anglers during landing. Watch for sharp gill plates. Handle with wet gloves for big fish.
Fun Facts
- Named for the 'drumming' sound made by vibrating muscles against the swim bladder
- Young fish have bold black vertical bars that fade completely in adults
- Pharyngeal teeth can crush whole oysters in-shell
- The Florida state record is 96 pounds — caught from Fernandina Beach
Where to See
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Identify This Species
Use our Species Identifier to learn how to distinguish the Black Drum from similar species.
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