Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

Black Drum are gray to black colored with a high arched back.

They have 10 to14 chin barbels ("whiskers").

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Open Year-Round
Size Limit	16 inch minimum (total length)
Daily Limit / Person	3
Delaware Range	Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Common
General Habitat and Food Preferences	Black Drum are found in estuarine and near shore coastal waters. They feed on clams, oysters, mussels, and crabs.
Did You Know?	Black Drum get their name from the sound they often make when caught by an angler. The drumming sound is made by vibrating their swim bladder using special muscles. The chin barbels ("whiskers") have taste buds that they use to detect bottom-dwelling food items. Juveniles Black Drum are gray with four to five distinctive black vertical bars (stripes) on their sides. The bars disappear with age.
Common Lures and Baits	Black Drum are most often caught fishing at night with fresh clams on bottom rigs.
Typical Sizes Caught	Black Drum are commonly caught in the range of 30 to 40 inches in length by Delaware anglers.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Live Release Award Adult: 45 inches minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 39 inches minimum Sport Fishing Tournament Award Adult: 50 pounds minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 37.5 pounds minimum
Delaware State Record	115 pounds Kenneth Smith 1978

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