black drum?

[gagedylan]

went to oyster creek today, tried a little bridge fishing. figured on bluefish, so was prepared for that. something kept biting hard on the line, not crabs, seemed like the hook was just too big. switched to a much smaller hook, and caught a fish i have never caught before. didnt have my camera....moth on the bottom, small, kind of silver, grayish. with black stripes vertically. put up a great fight on light tackle. a passerby said it was a small black drum. anyone know if this sounds correct, and what the minimum is for these?

[Pfishingruven]

Sounds exactly like a black drum.  Did it look like this pic??  I have heard of them in the bay areas, especially smaller ones.  NJ Regs on them are 16" and 3 fish.

Nice catch and thanks for the report!

 

[gymrat987654321]

Ive seen pix of younger black drum and they seem to have the black stripes more visible than the older ones. Theres a species profileof black drum and a pic of a young one in the NJ fish and wildlife magazine. I just cant remember if its from 07 or 08. But anyway, nice catch.

[ped579]

 

Nice to see them in the bay and estuaries.

[Pfishingruven]

Yes, from what I have seen and read, younger black drum have black stripes that are very distictive and I guess fade as they age.

They are always fun to catch!!  How are they eating??  I have always released them.

 

[gymrat987654321]

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2007/digmar20-29.pdf


theres a pic of a small one on the bottom of the first page. Hope this helps.

[surfrocket]

here is a pic of a big drum with my lil girl. dont croakers look the same as the lil drum?

[Luna Sea 5]

do I hear the sound of DRUMS banging on our beaches

[Pfishingruven]

Nice fish!! 

Croakers do look like Black Drum when they are young and could be mistaken.  They are in the same family and both have been in the bays.  They have slightly different coloring and body style.  Black Drum also have those "whiskers" on the bottom jaw.  I think what defines a young black drum is those thicker black stripes as opposed to brown or bronze/golden thins stripes or almost a lack of stripes on the croaker??   

[surfrocket]

wow i feel stupid, i thought they were croakers,huh.lol. they are at the mantalokin bridge right now too.

[Pfishingruven]

  Don't feel stupid!  I have been confused on tons of fish...heck tons of things!  You are one of the few to at least admit it!

I still can't keep straight False Albacore and/or Bonito.  I can't ever get a straight answer on the internet when I research it!!

 

[ped579]

Thats OK we understand.  Right now the only thing you know is Shark, and, well, you know...

[surfrocket]

you have that right paul, shark week is on im like a lil kid watchin this

[Pfishingruven]

We understand!!!

[gagedylan]

based on the pictures i've seen here, it was a black drum. it wasreleased, as it was small. caught it on a small piece of mullet, but i  think it would have hit anything. had 3 more same size all released.

[Hotrod]

Cool!!

[Pfishingruven]

Nice!  Can't wait to until they hit the beach again.