UTERBlack drum fishing in The Treasure Coast
In The Treasure Coast, black drum peak December–March and are around year-round, spawning in February–March, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. February: Spawners in the inlets and on the bridges.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Black drum in The Treasure Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakSheepshead and drum on the bridges; snook in the rivers; sailfish outside. Bridge and dock pilings for sheepshead, deep river bends for snook and reds, pompano in the surf on the calm days.
- FebruarySpawningSpawners in the inlets and on the bridges.
- MarchSpawning
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberArriving
- DecemberPeakSnook closes mid-month; sheepshead, drum and pompano take over. Last snook harvest to the 14th; sheepshead and drum on the bridges, pompano on the beach, trout in the deeper lagoon holes.
Where to fish black drum near Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart
The inlets and the Intracoastal behind them, the southern Indian River Lagoon's grass flats and spoil islands, the St. Lucie and Loxahatchee rivers, the beaches, and a reef line that comes within a mile of the sand from Jupiter south.
Fish Scouter charts 349 dock / pilings, 260 grass flat, 22 bridge spots in the Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast map area — the kinds black drum hold on.
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 The Treasure Coast?
Peak season is December–March, with fish spawning in February–March (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Black drum are here year-round. February: Spawners in the inlets and on the bridges.
Where do black drum hold in The Treasure Coast?
Look on bridge, dock / pilings, grass flat, channel edge — around Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian.
What is the best bait for black drum in The Treasure 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 The Treasure Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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