Black Drum

Scientific Name: Pogonias cromis Common Name: Black Drum Family: Sciaenidae Identification: Black Drum are generally gray or dark brown in color with a high, arched back. They have a rounded tail and a blunt snout with strong jaws. Young fish often have four or five dark vertical bars on their sides, but these disappear with age. They can be identified by their large molar teeth used to crush oysters and other shellfish, and their ability to produce a drumming sound using their swim bladder, which is the origin of their common name. Size: They can grow up to 120 cm (47 inches) in length and weigh up to 100 lbs or more. Habitat: Black Drum are found in the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia, Canada, to northern Mexico, including the Gulf of Mexico. They are common in brackish waters and salt marshes, as well as inshore and nearshore waters. Diet: Their diet primarily consists of shellfish, including oysters, mussels, and crabs, but they will also eat small fish and marine worms. Reproduction: They typically spawn from February to April in nearshore waters. Females release millions of eggs that are fertilized by males. The eggs then float in the water until they hatch. Life Span: They can live up to 35 years or more in the wild.