Black Drum
Pogonias cromis
Also called Drum.
How to tell it
Chin barbels, high arched back, gray-black bars on juveniles that fade with age.
- Not a red drum? That one no barbels, has the tail spot. (Red Drum)
- Not a sheepshead? That one black bars but sheepshead has human-like teeth. (Sheepshead)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 16 in min | 3 per day | Open year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 14-24 in slot | 5 per person (one may be over 24 in) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 14-24 in slot | 5 per person (one may be over 24 in) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Georgia | 14 in total length | 15 per person per day | Open year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | slot 16–27 in total length | 5 per person; only 1 may exceed 27 in | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | 16 in min | 1 per person; 6 per boat | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | 16 in min | 3 | Open year-roundNJ DEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | 14–25" TL slot | 10 per person per day | Year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | slot 14–27 in total length | 5/day | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | slot 14–30 in total length | 5 | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | 16 in min | 1 per person | Open year-roundVMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 61 lb | 2002 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 15 lb 3 oz | 2001 · New Haven Breakwater | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 · Exotic Marine Species Category (Harvested) |
| Delaware | 115 lb | 1978 | DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 96 lb | 2001 · Fernandina Beach | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 92 lb | 2010 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 79.5 lb | 2007 · Oak Bayou | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 103.5 lb | 1973 · Buoy 16 | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Chesapeake division record |
| Mississippi | 70 lb 5 oz | 2005 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 109 lb | 2008 · Delaware Bay | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | 58 lb 9 oz | 2025 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 100 lb 1 oz | 1998 · Cape Fear River | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 89 lb | 1978 · Port Royal | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 · frozen record (protected/slot species) |
| Texas | 81 lb | 1988 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 111 lb | 1973 · Off Cape Charles | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Good small; large fish are coarse and often carry harmless parasites.
In the app
Point the camera at a black drum and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about black drum
What is the size limit for black drum?
It depends on the state. Delaware: 16 in min; Florida (Atlantic): 14-24 in slot; Florida (Gulf): 14-24 in slot; Georgia: 14 in total length; Louisiana: slot 16–27 in total length; Maryland: 16 in min; New Jersey: 16 in min; North Carolina: 14–25" TL slot; and more in the table above.
How many black drum can you keep?
Delaware: 3 per day; Florida (Atlantic): 5 per person (one may be over 24 in); Florida (Gulf): 5 per person (one may be over 24 in); Georgia: 15 per person per day; Louisiana: 5 per person; only 1 may exceed 27 in; Maryland: 1 per person; 6 per boat; New Jersey: 3; North Carolina: 10 per person per day; and more in the table above.
How do you tell black drum from red drum?
Black Drum has this: Chin barbels, high arched back, gray-black bars on juveniles that fade with age.. Red Drum no barbels, has the tail spot.
What is the record black drum?
115 lb in Delaware (1978). Other states’ records are in the table.