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Black Drum Fishing Charters

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Recently Booked Black Drum Fishing Charters

Fishing in Galveston

Jetty, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Jetties & Jaws: Reel In The Fun

100% (32)
21 ft 1 - 4 People From $450
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A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Rockport

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Rockport

Ropin' Reds Inshore Adventure

100% (23)
23 ft 1 - 4 People From $425
Fishing in Galveston

Inshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Galveston Inshore Trip

100% (12)
26 ft 1 - 6 People From $525
Fishing in Galveston

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Texas Flounder Gigging Adventure

100% (3)
21 ft 1 - 6 People From $550
Fishing in South Padre Island

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in South Padre Island

Laguna Madre Drift

100% (22)
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $450
Fishing in Aransas Pass

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Aransas Pass

Flats And Backwaters On Artificials

95% (22)
23 ft 1 - 4 People From $350

Top Cities for Black Drum Fishing

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond to provide you an incredible trip, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and about empowering people to find the perfect-match guide for the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

More Black Drum Fishing Charters

Fishing in Galveston
Fishing in Galveston
Fishing in Galveston
trip description for Half Day Bay - 24’ Kenner in Galveston

Head out of Galveston for a phenomenal day out on the water with Captain Reggie! On this trip, you'll drift-fish over shelves, underwater structure, and secret "honey holes" that Captain Reggie has identified over his many years fishing the Galveston area. Depending on your goals for the day, you can target Speckled Trout, Redfish, Flounder and Sheepshead—to name just a few. This trip is also a great chance to go for a "Texas Grand Slam" or a "Texas Triple" by catching a Redfish, a Trout, and a Flounder in one day! No matter which species you choose to pursue, Captain Reggie is a pleasure to share a boat with. He's happy to work with box experts and beginners alike, and loves showing "greenhorns" the wonders of saltwater fishing. His knowledge of the Galveston waterways makes him a great captain and an even better teacher, for beginners to experienced anglers! Captain Reggie provides all the rods, reels, tackle, and bait you could possibly need for a successful day slaying the fish. All you need to do is meet Captain Reggie at the dock. Please remember your sun protection, your cooler with snacks and drinks, and your Texas Fishing License. Captain Reggie will take it from there and ensure you have a fantastic day on the water! Read More

Inshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Half Day Bay - 24’ Kenner

92% (24)
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $500
Fishing in Galveston
Fishing in Galveston
Fishing in Galveston
trip description for Epic Jetty Trip - 26' Angler in Galveston

Climb aboard with Captain Meghan and explore the Jetties of Galveston Bay on her 26’ Angler! These charters on the 26' Angler are specifically designed for groups of 5-6 Anglers. If you have 4 people in your party, Meghan will take you out aboard their 21' Mako. These trips are great for any level of fisherman, and especially for families with children. However, you must be at least five years old to ride this ride! You will travel 5-6 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, fishing the North and South Jetties. The South Jetty is located at the East point of Galveston. The North Jetty is located on Bolivar Peninsula. These 4-hour (half-day) and 6-hour (full-day) trips cater to groups of 5-6 people. You must bring a valid Texas Saltwater Fishing License. You may also bring food and drinks of your choice (no glass, no seeds), as well as an ice chest for the day’s catch. Her business will provide the equipment and bait. You can purchase live bait for an additional fee. Captain Meghan and her crew will also clean and fillet your fish for you. Get ready for an eventful day on the water with Captain Meghan! Read More

Inshore, Jetty Fishing Charter in Galveston

Epic Jetty Trip - 26' Angler

77% (13)
26 ft 1 - 6 People From $570
Fishing in Galveston
Fishing in Galveston
Fishing in Galveston
trip description for Epic Jetty Trip - 21' Mako in Galveston

Climb aboard with Captain Meghan and explore the Jetties of Galveston Bay on her 21’ Mako! These charters are great for any level of fisherman, and especially for families with children. However, you must be at least five years old to ride this ride! You will travel 5-6 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, fishing the North and South Jetties. The South Jetty is located at the East point of Galveston. The North Jetty is located on Bolivar Peninsula. These 6-hour trips can accommodate 1-6 people. You must bring a valid Texas Saltwater Fishing License. You may also bring food and drinks of your choice (no glass, no seeds), as well as an ice chest for the day’s catch. Her business will provide the equipment and bait. You can purchase live bait for an additional fee. Captain Meghan and her crew will also clean and fillet your fish for you. We hope you have a good recipe for fish tacos! Read More

Jetty, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Epic Jetty Trip - 21' Mako

100% (9)
21 ft 1 - 4 People From $435
Fishing in South Padre Island
Fishing in South Padre Island
Fishing in South Padre Island
trip description for SPI Classic in South Padre Island

Climb aboard with Captain Aaron and experience the thrill of some seriously top-notch shallow water fishing! Aside from the ship channels, the water is no more than 6’ deep, making it a great fishery for families and novice anglers who would like to avoid choppy waters. Captain Aaron will guide you to some inshore honey holes and flats that will allow you to try your hand at either bait fishing or sightfishing! The species you can expect to target using this technique are Redfish, Black Drum, Sheepshead, and Flounder. For these trips, Captain Aaron uses his 20' Shallow Sport, which has a crasy shallow draft and sneak into the skinniest of water! Make sure to bring a valid Texas Fishing License as well as food and drinks of your choice. Other than that, Captain Aaron will provide the rest. He will provide all lures, rods, reels, and tackle. Bring your kids or your angling buddies and head out to a fishing adventure to remember with Captain Aaron! Read More

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in South Padre Island

SPI Classic

75% (12)
24 ft 1 - 6 People From $450
Fishing in Ingleside
Fishing in Ingleside
Fishing in Ingleside
trip description for Bay Fishing Trip - 23’ Haynie in Ingleside

Head out with Captain Brian to explore the Coastal Bend waters with a seasoned professional. Captain Brian guides in the Ingleside, Aransas Pass, Rockport, Port Aransas, and Corpus Christi areas. He is especially adept at fishing the Corpus Christi Bay, Nueces Bay, Aransas Bay, and Redfish Bay. On your trip, your main focus will be Spotted Sea Trout, Redfish Drum, Flounder and Black Drum. No matter what kind of bay fish you want to chase, his 23' Haynie Bigfoot will get you there in style. Captain Brian offers full-day fishing trips for up to 5 adults. Kids are always welcome to fish with you and can occasionally be included as a 6th guest if they are small enough (~12 or younger). These full-day trips with Captain Brain start at 6 am and run until you either catch your limit or it gets to be about 12-1pm. Time is not as much of a constraint for Captain Brian, he just wants you to have a great time! Captain Brian will provide all the rods, reels, tackle, bait, and expertise you could possibly need for a fantastic day out on the water. That way all you'll need to bring is your sun protection, your favorite snacks and drinks, and your Texas fishing license. Captain Brian will take care of the rest! Read More

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Ingleside

Bay Fishing Trip - 23’ Haynie

100% (3)
23 ft 1 - 6 People From $450
Fishing in Galveston
Fishing in Galveston
Fishing in Galveston
trip description for Galveston Trout and Redfish Roundup in Galveston

Get out there and enjoy an unforgettable inshore fishing adventure in Galveston, Texas, with Captain Dean as your guide! On this trip, you'll get to experience the thrill of reeling in classic saltwater game fish, including Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, and more. These fish are all super fun to catch, and make for great eating as well. You'll be fishing from the deck of Captain Dean's 24' Triton center console, which is ideal for fishing here in Galveston Bay. Captain Dean's years of experience and expert knowledge of the local fishing spots ensure a successful and enjoyable trip for anglers of all skill levels. Join him for a day of fun, relaxation, and memories that will last a lifetime! Read More

Inshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Galveston Trout And Redfish Roundup

100% (7)
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $450
See All Black Drum Trips

Everything to Know About Booking a black drum fishing charter

What are the best black drum fishing charters?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 595 black drum trips, and the most popular trips are Jetties & Jaws: Reel in the Fun guided by Meghan, Ropin' Reds Inshore Adventure guided by Jim, and Galveston Inshore Trip guided by Ralph.

Our guides are rated a 4.88 out of 5 based on 2699 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly black drum guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly black drum guides.

What types of black drum fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular for black drum as well as inshore fishing, flats fishing, and nearshore fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are light tackle fishing, live bait fishing, and artificial lure fishing but bottom fishing and drift fishing are popular as well.

How much do black drum fishing charters cost?

for black drum prices can range anywhere from about $500 to $1,200, but the average price for a half day trip for black drum is $664. The average price for a full day trip for black drum is $978.

What month is best for black drum fishing?

The most popular season for black drum fishing is summer, and most anglers book their trips 14 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for black drum and what are the bag limits for black drum?

See here for more information on black drum fishing licenses, black drum bag limits, and fishing season regulations for black drum. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right black drum rules and regulations.

What is a Black Drum?

While not quite as recognizable as its more famous cousin the redfish (or red drum), black drum are a saltwater fish from the croaker family that are so named because they can produce loud noises with their air bladder between 100 and 500 Hz when performing mating calls, and you’ll often hear this “drumming” when you pull the fish out of the water.

Young black drum are often mistaken for sheepshead due to their black and silver stripes, but they generally grow out of this as they reach maturity and adopt a more even silver-gray color. Their teeth are rounded and located in the back of their throat, and used to crush oysters, shellfish, and other mollusks and crabs. Because of this, they are often found patrolling oyster beds and shell bottoms. 


Black drum are a nearshore and inshore fish found in many of the same areas as redfish. Juvenile drum will be caught inshore while more mature fish can be found further out. They are generally a robust fish, tolerating a wide variety of water conditions and temperatures, although their range is not huge, extending only through the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

How big do Black Drum get?

Black drum have a strongly arched back almost resembling that of some trevally, and as mentioned above their coloring will fade as they age and reach around 12-24 inches. Black drum can grow to 60+ inches and over 100 pounds, although more commonly are found around 15-20 pounds with inshore juveniles being at most a few pounds.

The black drum is the largest member of its family and while some bull redfish can reach massive sizes, record black drum have been bigger. This is all the more impressive for a fish that spends most of its life close to shore.

Their growth rate is highest while they are young and they reach maturity at around 2 years, but these fish can continue to grow for a long time - potentially reaching upwards of 50 years, so it’s no wonder you can find some large specimens.

What's the biggest Black Drum ever caught?

The world record black drum was a whopping 146 pounds.

Where is the best place to catch Black Drum?

Black drum live throughout the mid-western Atlantic and are common in the Gulf states, and they are an inshore-nearshore schooling fish. They can be found from Nova Scotia to Argentina, but are most common from Virginia to Texas and in particular love the Texas coast.

They are often found near rocky jetties, piers, or pilings, or otherwise can be found near their one true love: oysters. They are also known to frequent brackish estuaries and channels, and larger fish will prefer saltier water.

When should I catch Black Drum?

The best time to target black drum is February and March when they come inshore to brackish waters in large numbers for their annual spawn. They like current and structure, so you’ll find them in channels or by any sort of pilings or jetties.

You can also night fish for black drum with some success, and otherwise stick to structure and you can’t go wrong.

How do you catch Black Drum?

Black drum are not particularly good fighters pound-for-pound, but they make up for this by reaching gargantuan sizes for an inshore fish, and they will use their heft to their advantage. They won’t make crazy runs, but they will fight you like a bulldog and refuse to surface (they sometimes even feel like a shark that is just continually pulling).

Black drum are bottom feeders, so you’ll want to drop your line to the bottom or suspended a few feet above. Jigging is a common method. Shrimp works well as can squid, and crabs are great if you have them, and you can use a circle hook (no need to set the hook!).

Since black drum usually feed based on scent, feel free to up the size of your tackle to make sure you wont break the fish off.

Are Black Drum good to eat? What are the best Black Drum recipes?

Black drum are generally only kept at the low-end of the slot limit, or about 14-15 pounds. Below that weight the have a moderate taste similar to a redfish. Above that, larger drum typically have tougher meat, have tougher scales that can be hard to remove, and can often attract some parasites as they age (especially since they can live for so long).

Smaller drum are tasty and the only challenge is generally removing the large scales, so its generally best to fillet them and remove the skin as well, and many regulars invest in an electric fillet knife.

Recent Reviews of Captain Experiences

  • ★★★★★
    We had a great trip. The fish just were not biting. No one was finding fish the day that we were on the water.

    Patrick L. with Jim G. of Rockport, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time fishing with Capitan Corey slow bite but still a great experience

    Joe R. with Corey B. of Rockport, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip, he took my Dad and I out and put us on some specs.

    Jacob M. with Blake S. of Galveston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    MY TRIP WAS PERFECT. The weather was terrible and my guide, Nick kept in touch with me to plan the perfect launch time. He patiently waited it out with me and we loaded the ice chest with trout! I would highly recommend booking with Frank again. I'll always ask for Nick!

    Kristi B. with Frank D. of Grand Isle, Louisiana

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Kevin was the best. Great communication before our outing, punctual, and he knew exactly where to go to catch the fish. This was so much fun! Highly recommend .

    Rebecca M. with Kevin G. of Corpus Christi, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Excellent guide. Worked hard to get us into the fish. Caught over 40 fish. Having snapper and trout for dinner!

    Unknown U. with Ron B. of Islamorada, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We had an excellent time with Captain Mike. He not only takes you to where the fish are but educates you on how to fish for a particular species. Very kind and very knowledgeable. II wish I could give him more than 5 STARS. I will definitely use Mike as my future guide.

    Tim S. with Mike C. of Galveston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip with Capt. Billy! My kids loved it.

    J B. with Billy P. of Flagler Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Travis is the expert I have been lookin for around Aransas pass for years. Conditions did not play to our favor, yet he still put us on fish. Fountain of knowledge when it comes to targeting and developing a pattern in the flats. I will fish with Travis as long as hes in business 🤙🏼

    Derek M. with Travis P. of Rockport, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    We had an amazing time with Captain Steve and Chris. They were very knowledgeable about the areas and where good spots to fish were. We visited several different spots inshore and caught tons of fish! They were absolutely incredible when it came to showing us how to use the fishing poles, bait the hooks and helping us once we caught the fish. If we had any questions/issues with the poles, they helped us out. My family and I had an incredible time with them and were surprised at how much we caught! Captain Steve even cleaned the fish for us and bagged up the fillets so we did not need to worry about that. All around great time and my family is already talking about taking another trip out with them later this year.

    Nicholas Y. with Brandon M. of Galveston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Jonathan was awesome! Very honest and upfront about weather conditions and what fish to expect to catch. Captain was very friendly and helpful! When fish weren’t bitting, captain was Johnny on the spot to get us to a new spot in order to catch fish. We had a great time on our 6 hour trip and came back with plenty to eat! We would recommend Captain Johnathan 10 times out of 10!

    Hunter E. with Meghan B. of Galveston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Jeff was excellent Captain very informative and customer oriented. We decided that we are going to use your company annually and we hope we can have Jeff as our captain

    Richard B. with Jeff H. of Aransas Pass, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Great time fishing with Travis! He'll find the fish for you!

    Bradley H. with Travis P. of Rockport, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    We had a great time and took home a nice catch of reds.

    Michael R. with Jim G. of Rockport, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    We had a wonderful time. Frank was an excellent guide. Hope to do it again soon!!

    Charles G. with Frank D. of Grand Isle, Louisiana

  • ★★★★★
    We had a nice experience with Captain Todd.

    Olga L. with Todd V. of New Smyrna Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great experience! Caught my limit!

    Mark B. with Brian P. of Ingleside, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Capt Tommy and Capt Jason took us on an excellent fishing adventure. Inspite of Mother nature tossing in challenging Bay conditions. The team took us in a variety of waters that we could fish. We had lots of hook ups with Redfish and Black Drum. The trip was worth every minute. We created core memories. Thank you gentlemen. We hope to see you again soon.

    Michael K. with Tommy S. of Rockport, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    It was awesome!! We’re already trying to figure out our next trip with him!! He knows his way around the coast line for sure, very pleasant and patient with us. Definitely hooked us in!! We caught red drum and black drum!! Need to book with Travis at Captainexperiences.com

    Felicia P. with Travis P. of Rockport, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Capt. Jimmy is great! Kept us on fish the entire time. Thanks

    John W. with Jimmy E. of Panama City Beach, Florida

Cities

What's biting?

View Black Drum Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.

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