Black Drum
Life History
Black drum (Pogonias cromis) can be found in nearshore waters along the Atlantic coast from the Gulf of Maine to Florida and as far south as Argentina. Atlantic coast black drum migrate inshore to the north in the spring, and to the south in the fall. Fish can reach over 46", 120 pounds and 60 years of age. They grow rapidly until the age of 15, at which time growth slows.
Spawning occurs during the winter and early spring, occurring earlier in the southern areas (November - April) and later in the northern areas (April - June). An average-sized female (13.4 pounds) may spawn 32 million eggs each year. Recruitment appears to be sporadic, with infrequent large events.
Black drum are primarily bottom feeders. Young black drum feed on small fish and invertebrates, such as copepods, annelids, and amphipods. The eggs and larvae of this species were shown to be subject to high predation. As juveniles, they are prey to a wide range of estuarine fish species, such as spotted seatrout and crevalle jack.
Commercial & Recreational Fisheries
With sizes reaching over 46 inches in length and 120 pounds in weight, black drum are drawing increasing interest from recreational anglers, particularly as a catch and release fishery. Outside of a large peak in 2008, recreational and commercial landings have remained fairly stable since 2000, with recreational landings far exceeding (typically 20-30 times) those of commercial (by weight). On average, in the past 10 years (2012-2021), recreational landings made up 96% of the total coastwide harvest.
Recreational landings in 2021 were 5.7 million pounds, or 879,468 fish, with landed fish constituting roughly 27% of all black drum caught by the fishery. The other 73% of recreationally caught fish were released alive, largely due to the establishment of the Fishery Management Plan in 2013. In 2021, 2,324,886 fish were released alive. Florida, followed by North Carolina and South Carolina landed and released the majority of recreational harvest in 2021.
The commercial fishery landed 243,290 pounds in 2021. North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida fisheries comprised the majority of total commercial harvest.
Stock Status
The most recent coastwide benchmark stock assessment for black drum, which incorporated data through 2020, was accepted in 2023 by the Sciaenids Management Board for management use. Based on assessment results, the black drum stock is not overfished and not experiencing overfishing. Management action was not taken because there are no major concerns with the stock.
The assessment model uses recreational CPUE as an index of abundance, total fishery removals (commercial landings, recreational harvest, and recreational dead discards), life history information, and selectivity information to estimate black drum spawning biomass and exploitation (i.e., the proportion of stock biomass removed by fishing), as well as their associated thresholds. The assessment model estimated increasing spawning biomass, which has remained above the spawning biomass threshold throughout the time series. Exploitation has remained below the exploitation threshold throughout the time series. Exploitation was estimated to be relatively high in the mid-1980s, followed by lower levels throughout the 1990s. Exploitation increased around 2000 and remained at a higher, stable level throughout the remainder of the time series. Overall, black drum remains a data poor stock and the assessment acknowledges a relatively high level of uncertainty in available data sets and population estimates, although there is greater certainty in qualitative stock status determinations.
Due to data limitations and assessment uncertainty, a suite of indicators from black drum data sets developed as part of this assessment will be used to annually monitor the stock for any concerning trends and identify the need for an expedited stock assessment. Indicators include eight indices of abundance, one index of range expansion, and six indices of fishery characteristics (i.e., regional catch time series). The assessment reviewed the indicators through 2020. The indicators show increased fishery removals in the last twenty years and less frequent large recruitment events in the Mid-Atlantic in the last ten years. There are no clear indications of a declining trend in abundance from abundance indicators, but there is a declining trend in the final two years of the recreational releases time series that may be reflective of abundance in addition to other factors. There is some indication of northern range expansion. Overall, stock indicators do not appear negative at this time.
Atlantic Coastal Management
In 2013, the Commission adopted the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Black Drum, which requires all states to implement a maximum possession limit and a minimum size limit of no less than 14 inches in addition to maintaining their previous regulations. Further, the FMP establishes a management framework to address future concerns or changes in the fishery or population.
The FMP also includes a management framework to adaptively respond to future concerns or changes in the fishery or population. Concern about the increase in harvest by both recreational and commercial fishermen in recent years was alleviated by the findings of the 2015 stock assessment. Given the assessment findings, the Board chose to not make any additional changes to the management program at that time.
In March 2017, a report on Sciaenid Fish Habitat was released including information on habitat for several species, including black drum, during all stages of their lives, their associated Essential Fish Habitats and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, threats and uncertainties to their habitats, and recommendations for habitat management and research. This report is meant to be a resource when amending FMPs in the future for these species.
The Board approved Addendum I to the Black Drum FMP in May 2018. The Addendum allows Maryland to reopen its black drum commercial fishery in the Chesapeake Bay with a daily vessel limit of up to 10 fish and a 28-inch minimum size.
Meeting Summaries & Reports
Press Releases
- Black Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Find Stock to be Not Overfished nor Experiencing Overfishing (May 2023)
- ASMFC Schedules Peer Review of Black Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment for January 18-20, 2023 (December 2022)
- Black Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment Workshop Scheduled for July 18-21 in Arlington, VA (June 2022)
- ASMFC to Convene Black Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment Data Workshop (November 2021)
- ASMFC Begins Preparations for Black Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment (September 2021)
- ASMFC South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board Approves Addendum I to the Black Drum Fishery Management Plan (May 2018)
- Maryland Schedules Public Hearing on Black Drum Draft Addendum I (February 2018)
- ASMFC South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board Approves Draft Addendum I to the Black Drum Fishery Management Plan for Public Comment (February 2018)
- ASMFC Releases Report on Sciaenid Fish Habitat (March 2017)
- Black Drum Benchmark Assessment Finds Resource Not Overfished and Overfishing Not Occurring (February 2015)
- ASMFC Approves Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Black Drum (May 2013)
- States Schedule Hearings on Draft Black Drum FMP (March 2013)
- ASMFC Initiates First Coastwide Stock Assessment of Black Drum (January 2013)
- ASMFC South Atlantic Board Approves Black Drum FMP for Public Comment (October 2012)
- ASMFC Approves First Step in Black Drum Interstate Management. Public Input Sought on New Plan Development (May 2012)
- ASMFC Initiates First Coastwide Stock Assessment of Black Drum: Data Sought for Assessment (January 2012)