UTERBlack drum fishing in Louisiana Coast
In Louisiana Coast, black drum peak November–April and are around year-round, spawning in February–March, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Drum on the bridges and the Pontchartrain structure; crab or shrimp.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Black drum in Louisiana Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakDrum on the bridges and the Pontchartrain structure; crab or shrimp.
- FebruarySpawningBig drum spawning at the Mississippi River passes and the outer bays.
- MarchSpawningBull drum stacked in the passes; cracked crab on the bottom.
- AprilPeak
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberPeakThe best month: trout and reds everywhere. Every drain on a falling north-wind tide; slicks over the reefs.
- DecemberPeakDrum school in the marsh and on the bridge pilings.
Where to fish black drum near Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie
Millions of acres of marsh, ponds and bayous — Calcasieu, Barataria, Terrebonne, Lake Pontchartrain, Breton and Chandeleur sounds — fringed by barrier islands at Grand Isle, Elmer's and the Chandeleurs, the Mississippi River passes at Venice, and thousands of oil and gas platforms from the beach to blue water.
What to use for black drum
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Fiddler crabsA #1 hook through the back corner of the shell, dropped tight to the piling — the sheepshead bait.
- Leader30–50 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook3/0–6/0
- Braid20–30 lb
Feeds in 48–78°F water, best at 54–70°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch black drum in Louisiana Coast?
Peak season is November–April, with fish spawning in February–March (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Black drum are here year-round. January: Drum on the bridges and the Pontchartrain structure; crab or shrimp.
Where do black drum hold in Louisiana Coast?
Look on bridge, dock / pilings, grass flat, channel edge — around Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie, Port Fourchon, Grand Isle, Lafitte.
What is the best bait for black drum in Louisiana Coast?
Live bait: blue crabs, live shrimp, fiddler crabs. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 30–50 lb fluorocarbon, hook 3/0–6/0, braid 20–30 lb.
What are the rules for black drum in Louisiana Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and change — read the current rule at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/recreational-fishing-licenses-and-permits.
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