By David M. Murray, Jr.
Fishing for black drum in the Chesapeake Bay is a distinct experience. The black drum, one of the larger fish found in the Bay, can weigh from 50 to 100 pounds. The record black drum is 111 pounds, caught in the Chesapeake Bay at Cape Charles, Virginia, in 1973. The black drum is a bottom feeder. It comes up from the south and into the Chesapeake Bay in early April each year and spawns in the Cape Charles area before heading north as far as the Elk River in Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay is the world's largest watershed, a 200-mile long estuary ranging in size from a little more than 2 miles wide to more than 30 miles wide. It lies between the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia and Maryland, and more than 150 rivers flow into its waters. The Chesapeake Bay is famous for its crabs, oysters, rockfish and large sport fish such as the black drum. There are a number of charter fishing services from Virginia
beach to Maryland that can help you land a big black drum.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Things You'll Need:
- Offshore boat
Heavy fishing tackle
Sea clams or soft crabs for bait
Clam chum
- Offshore boat
- Heavy fishing tackle
- Sea clams or soft crabs for bait
- Clam chum
Step 1
Outfit your rig with a heavy sinker. You'll need 8 oz. to 16 oz. of lead for these bottom feeders, which like to stay near wrecks and rocks in the Chesapeake Bay.
Step 2
Drop a barrel swivel on your line.
Step 3
Attach a 4-foot leader, 80-pound monofilament test to your swivel. Use a large-sized circle hook on your leader.
Step 4
Anchor in and bait up with sea clam, chowder clam, soft crab or peeler crab. Black drums feed off of crustaceans on the bottom of the Bay, swimming along and using sensory barbels on their chins to find food.
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