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 The black drum is the largest member of the croaker
family, achieving weights of 100 pounds or more. Drum are
found in inshore waters throughout the East Coast of the
United States, but nowhere are they more prolific than in
the Delaware Bay, and there’s no more lucrative time
to pursue them than over the full moon in May, when the
greatest number of big drum are present and the majority
of spawning activity occurs.
That’s why, when NOAA downgraded the overnight wind
forecast on May 12, 2006 from 20 knots to “light and
variable”, the New Jersey Angler crew sprung
into action. Plans were changed, a bushel of clams was ordered,
and a camera crew was mobilized. Within a few hours, Bill
and Darren were screaming across a glass-calm Delaware Bay
in their 23’ Parker toward
a coral-strewn patch of bottom just off the coast of Delaware
known as Slaughter Beach.
The term “Slaughter Beach” refers to a fairly
wide area between Delaware’s Mispillion Inlet and
Broadkill Slough. Depths in this area range from just 8
feet near the piles on the west side, to 25 feet in the
slough itself, although most anglers concentrate efforts
in 12 to 20 feet of water just west of the slough. With
its coral-strewn bottom, this vicinity is a primary spawning
and foraging area for drum, and each season accounts for
more big boomers than any other area in the bay.
Drum enter the Delaware Bay in early April. The first
fish are usually small “pups”, but it doesn’t
take long before the larger specimens put in a showing,
as well. By early May, the Delaware Bay drum fishery is
usually in full swing, and the best fishing generally last
until early or mid June.
Although drum can be found anywhere in the bay, and at
any time, the peak activity seems to occur during peak tidal
flows associated with the lunar cycles. Full and new moon
periods offer the best fishing opportunities, especially
for larger fish. Moons in late May and early June are generally
considered to be optimum times to do battle with giant drum.
Although some specimens do remain in the Delaware Bay
all summer, most drumfish exit the bay and move north and
east sometime in late June. It is at this time that they
are often seen moving on the surface in tightly-packed schools,
as they round Cape May Point. Almost without exception,
a few lucky fluke fishermen will connect with big drum while
drifting the Cape May rips for fluke in early summer.
Historically, the Delaware Bay drum fishery has been a
nighttime affair. In recent years, anglers have discovered
that daytime fishing can be great, as well. In our experience,
Slaughter Beach gives up more and bigger drum on the night
bite, especially during those glass-calm evenings when the
only sounds are the gentle lapping of water on the hull,
the low-frequency drumming noise these big fish make as
they pass a dozen or more feet under the boat, and distant
whoops and hollers from anglers in other boats as yet another
big drum comes aboard. The Delaware Bay doesn’t give
up such nights all that often, which is why Bill and Darren
went to great pains to make sure they didn’t miss
this one!
 Rigging for drum is simple. Black drum are not really
fish eaters, preferring instead to munch on bivalves and
crustaceans. Thus, surf clams are the most commonly used
baits. Typically a bushel of clams is needed to fish an
entire tide. A whole surf clam is threaded onto a 10/0 Gamakatsu
octopus hook, which terminates a simple fish-finder rig.
A properly sized sinker is attached and the rig is lowered
to the bottom.
Tackle for drum fishing doesn’t have to be fancy.
Just be sure your rod and reel selection has enough guts
to turn an 80-plus pound fish in strong current. Contrary
to popular belief, black drum are strong, persistent fighters,
and can put some real pressure on tackle. We opt for 7-foot
Penn Pro Guide rods matched with Penn International 975LD
conventional reels, spooled with 50-pound Power Pro braid.
As we’ve mentioned many times, the braided lines gives
us hook setting power that monofilament simply cannot provide.
Scent is another important factor in drum fishing, and
it’s important to put some additional scent in the
water to up one’s chances of encountering fish. We
achieve this in two ways. First, we’ll load a chum
pot with fresh clam bellies and drop this to the bottom
off the bow of the boat. This chum pot is replenished every
hour or so. Second, we’ll crack a few clams and drop
those down as well. The combination of strong scent and
loose baits seems to be the winning combination, so give
it a try!
The biology and feeding behaviors of drum can make for
some challenging hooksets. These fish have a set of pharyngeal
teeth in the back of their throats that can easily crush
a clam or crab shell. Once the shell is compromised and
the soft tissues swallowed, the drum has the ability to
expel the hard, indigestible pieces. Thus, when a drum takes
the clam bait, it will essentially suck the clam off the
hook and spit the hook right back out. They’re nature’s
perfect bait stealers!
Therefore, it is very important to be able to detect strikes
immediately and to set the hook before the fish has a chance
to expel it. Leaving rods in holders with reels in free
spool and clickers engaged might work fine for striped bass,
but will result in missed drum strikes. Hold the rod, keep
the reel engaged, and be prepared to set the hook right
away.
A Word of Caution Slaughter Beach is a
14-nautical-mile run from the Cape May canal, and requires
crossing of the shipping channel. On certain combinations
of wind and tide, the mouth of the Delaware Bay can get
pretty ugly, making conditions difficult for small boats.
Therefore, anglers departing from the New Jersey side of
the bay with small craft should exercise extreme caution
when making the run, especially at night. At a minimum, a
sharp eye should be kept on the weather and radar capability
is highly advised.
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