Black drumin Florida (Gulf)
Pogonias cromis
Also called Drum.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for black drum in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
FWC 2026· checked Open
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Gulf) rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black drumThis page. | 14-24 in slot | 5 per person (one may be over 24 in) | Open year-round |
| Red drumNo barbels, has the tail spot.Tell them apart | 18-27 in slot | 1 per person; vessel limit 2 (Tampa Bay through Southeast) or 4 (Panhandle, Big Bend, Northeast) | Open year-round |
| SheepsheadBlack bars but sheepshead has human-like teeth.Tell them apart | 12 in TL min | 8 per person | Open year-round |
Florida (Gulf) state record
96 lb, Fernandina Beach, 2001. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Chin barbels, high arched back, gray-black bars on juveniles that fade with age. More on the black drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Black drum in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a black drum in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlack drum in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for black drum in Florida (Gulf)?
14-24 in slot. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many black drum can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
5 per person (one may be over 24 in).
When is black drum season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record black drum?
96 lb, Fernandina Beach (2001).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) black drum rule?
Source: FWC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.