Louisiana state waters, out to 3 miles
LDWF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Red drumNo barbels, has the tail spot. Tell them apart
SheepsheadBlack bars but sheepshead has human-like teeth. Tell them apartNot listed by Louisiana: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Louisiana state record
LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · 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 states12 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for black drum in Louisiana?
slot 16–27 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many black drum can you keep in Louisiana?
5 per person; only 1 may exceed 27 in.
When is black drum season in Louisiana?
Open year-round.
What is the Louisiana record black drum?
79.5 lb, Oak Bayou (2007).
How current is this Louisiana black drum rule?
Source: LDWF 2026, last checked Sep 7, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a black drum in Louisiana and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app