Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
One black drum over 52 in may be retained per person per day and counts toward the daily bag.
TPWD 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 apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Texas state record
TPWD State 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 Texas?
slot 14–30 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 Texas?
5.
When is black drum season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record black drum?
81 lb, Gulf of America (1988).
How current is this Texas black drum rule?
Source: TPWD 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.
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