by Capt. Matt Mitchell
Over the past few weeks, I have been on what I would describe as an unusual black drum bite. Although I often catch these fish while targeting sheepshead or redfish while shrimp fishing, I cannot remember a spot that held them so consistently. These black drum range from 3-10# and are so much fun to catch on light tackle. For clients looking for a fish dinner, the smaller ones under 20 inches are delicious and one of the most underrated or overlooked table fare. Any of the larger black drum are loaded with spaghetti worms and should be released to spawn.
FWC regulations on black drum are quite generous: 5 per person per day, with a slot of 14-24 inches (one over 24 inches is allowed). Although there is no closed season on these fish, we generally only come across them during the winter months while fishing with shrimp, sand fleas, or fiddler crabs. All our passes with docks and jetties, along with bridge piling, are good places to get in on this action. Black drum are bottom feeders, so pinning the bait to the bottom is key to catching these fish.
In winters past, I’ve run into huge schools of spawning black drum out around Lighthouse Point and also in the sound. These fish could be spotted during calm conditions, cruising up to the surface. Most of these fish are huge, and well over 10#, with some going as big as 50#. It’s a total catch-and-release fishery. They make great sight fishing targets as they quickly eat a shrimp on a jig head. They are often overlooked as a game fish as they are not as fast as their cousin, the redfish (red drum).
A lot of my winter-time clients have been asking me about sheepshead, which are just now starting to show up. The ones we are catching right now aren’t the bigger spawning fish quite yet. I think the next full moon in early January will kick this bite into high gear. Last year, we had extreme cold in December, so they showed up early. Although I’m catching keeper-size sheepshead, most are in the 13-15inch range and not roe-filled.
With our water temperatures fluctuating so much, it’s been great fun to go out and target a few different species. Changing up methods and baits has produced a crazy variety of fish from snook to sheepshead and everything in between. There is nothing better than having options and being able to show off the diversity of our backyard.
Capt. Matt Mitchell moved to Sanibel in 1980 and has lived in St. James City since 2000, when he started his fishing charter business. He spends over 300 days a year “living the dream” fishing. For questions and info: bookings@captmattmitchell.com
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