Black Drum Fishing Charters

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Recently Booked Black Drum Fishing Charters

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Jetty, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Jetties & Jaws: Reel In The Fun

100% (31)
21 ft 1 - 4 People From $125 / person

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Rockport

Ropin' Reds Inshore Adventure

100% (20)
23 ft 1 - 4 People From $144 / person

Inshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Galveston Inshore Trip

100% (12)
26 ft 1 - 6 People From $138 / person

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Texas Flounder Gigging Adventure

100% (3)
21 ft 1 - 6 People From $158 / person
Damn Good

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in South Padre Island

Laguna Madre Drift

100% (21)
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $163 / person
Damn Good

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Aransas Pass

Flats And Backwaters On Artificials

95% (22)
23 ft 1 - 4 People From $163 / person

Most Popular Types of Black Drum Trips

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond to provide you an incredible trip, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and about empowering people to find the perfect-match guide for the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Choose your trip by skill level

More Black Drum Fishing Charters

Damn Good

Head out of Galveston for a phenomenal day out on the water with Captain Reggie! On this trip, you'll drift-fish over shelves, underwater structure, and secret "honey holes" that Captain Reggie has identified over his many years fishing the Galveston area. Depending on your goals for the day, you can target Speckled Trout, Redfish, Flounder and Sheepshead—to name just a few. This trip is also a great chance to go for a "Texas Grand Slam" or a "Texas Triple" by catching a Redfish, a Trout, and a Flounder in one day! No matter which species you choose to pursue, Captain Reggie is a pleasure to share a boat with. He's happy to work with box experts and beginners alike, and loves showing "greenhorns" the wonders of saltwater fishing. His knowledge of the Galveston waterways makes him a great captain and an even better teacher, for beginners to experienced anglers! Captain Reggie provides all the rods, reels, tackle, and bait you could possibly need for a successful day slaying the fish. All you need to do is meet Captain Reggie at the dock. Please remember your sun protection, your cooler with snacks and drinks, and your Texas Fishing License. Captain Reggie will take it from there and ensure you have a fantastic day on the water! Read More

Inshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Half Day Bay - 24’ Kenner

92% (24)
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $155 / person
Damn Good

Climb aboard with Captain Meghan and explore the Jetties of Galveston Bay on her 26’ Angler! These charters on the 26' Angler are specifically designed for groups of 5-6 Anglers. If you have 4 people in your party, Meghan will take you out aboard their 21' Mako. These trips are great for any level of fisherman, and especially for families with children. However, you must be at least five years old to ride this ride! You will travel 5-6 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, fishing the North and South Jetties. The South Jetty is located at the East point of Galveston. The North Jetty is located on Bolivar Peninsula. These 4-hour (half-day) and 6-hour (full-day) trips cater to groups of 5-6 people. You must bring a valid Texas Saltwater Fishing License. You may also bring food and drinks of your choice (no glass, no seeds), as well as an ice chest for the day’s catch. Her business will provide the equipment and bait. You can purchase live bait for an additional fee. Captain Meghan and her crew will also clean and fillet your fish for you. Get ready for an eventful day on the water with Captain Meghan! Read More

Inshore, Jetty Fishing Charter in Galveston

Epic Jetty Trip - 26' Angler

100% (10)
26 ft 1 - 6 People From $123 / person

Climb aboard with Captain Aaron and experience the thrill of some seriously top-notch shallow water fishing! Aside from the ship channels, the water is no more than 6’ deep, making it a great fishery for families and novice anglers who would like to avoid choppy waters. Captain Aaron will guide you to some inshore honey holes and flats that will allow you to try your hand at either bait fishing or sightfishing! The species you can expect to target using this technique are Redfish, Black Drum, Sheepshead, and Flounder. For these trips, Captain Aaron uses his 20' Shallow Sport, which has a crasy shallow draft and sneak into the skinniest of water! Make sure to bring a valid Texas Fishing License as well as food and drinks of your choice. Other than that, Captain Aaron will provide the rest. He will provide all lures, rods, reels, and tackle. Bring your kids or your angling buddies and head out to a fishing adventure to remember with Captain Aaron! Read More

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in South Padre Island

SPI Classic

75% (12)
24 ft 1 - 6 People From $125 / person
Damn Good

Climb aboard with Captain Meghan and explore the Jetties of Galveston Bay on her 21’ Mako! These charters are great for any level of fisherman, and especially for families with children. However, you must be at least five years old to ride this ride! You will travel 5-6 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, fishing the North and South Jetties. The South Jetty is located at the East point of Galveston. The North Jetty is located on Bolivar Peninsula. These 6-hour trips can accommodate 1-6 people. You must bring a valid Texas Saltwater Fishing License. You may also bring food and drinks of your choice (no glass, no seeds), as well as an ice chest for the day’s catch. Her business will provide the equipment and bait. You can purchase live bait for an additional fee. Captain Meghan and her crew will also clean and fillet your fish for you. We hope you have a good recipe for fish tacos! Read More

Jetty, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Epic Jetty Trip - 21' Mako

100% (8)
21 ft 1 - 4 People From $123 / person

Get out there and enjoy an unforgettable inshore fishing adventure in Galveston, Texas, with Captain Dean as your guide! On this trip, you'll get to experience the thrill of reeling in classic saltwater game fish, including Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, and more. These fish are all super fun to catch, and make for great eating as well. You'll be fishing from the deck of Captain Dean's 24' Triton center console, which is ideal for fishing here in Galveston Bay. Captain Dean's years of experience and expert knowledge of the local fishing spots ensure a successful and enjoyable trip for anglers of all skill levels. Join him for a day of fun, relaxation, and memories that will last a lifetime! Read More

Inshore Fishing Charter in Galveston

Galveston Trout And Redfish Roundup

100% (5)
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $163 / person

Let Captain Alex be your guide to some of the top fishing locations on Texas' long, beautiful Gulf coast. Captain Alex is based out of Port Aransas, but he fishes all the water in the Coastal Bend, from Aransas Pass down to Corpus Chisti Bay. He specializes in rod-and-reel techniques for catching Redfish, Spotted Seatrout, Drum, and Flounder, and will provide all the equipment and bait you'll need for the ideal inshore fishing adventure. All you need is your Fishing License, proper clothing, some sunscreen, and a cooler for your cold drinks. You'll be fishing aboard his 23' Majek center console, a fast boat powered by a 200-HP Evinrude engine. Captain Alex knows this water well, and he'll put you on top of some terrific fishing spots. Depending on the area and the species, you'll use a combination of live bait and lures on light tackle to bring in the fish. Alex is extremely knowledgeable and can certainly help you practice your cast or tell you about fish behavior and ecology. Captain Alex's chartered fishing trips provide a great way to get out on the water and relax on the Bay with your family, friends or co-workers on that special outing! So head out with Captain Alex to make some memories worth making! Read More

Flats, Inshore, Jetty, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Port Aransas

Coastal Bend Inshore Slam

100% (8)
23 ft 1 - 4 People From $200 / person
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Everything to Know About Booking a black drum fishing charter

What are the best black drum fishing charters?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 567 black drum trips, and the most popular trips are Jetties & Jaws: Reel in the Fun guided by Meghan, Ropin' Reds Inshore Adventure guided by Jim, and Galveston Inshore Trip guided by Ralph.

Our guides are rated a 4.88 out of 5 based on 2408 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly black drum guides? Check out our beginner and family friendly black drum guides.

What types of black drum fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular for black drum as well as inshore fishing, flats fishing, and nearshore fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are light tackle fishing, live bait fishing, and artificial lure fishing but bottom fishing and drift fishing are popular as well.

How much do black drum fishing charters cost?

for black drum prices can range anywhere from an affordable $185 to $3,000 and up, but the average price for a half day trip for black drum is $666. The average price for a full day trip for black drum is $963.

What month is best for black drum fishing?

The most popular season for black drum fishing is summer, and most anglers book their trips 14 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for black drum and what are the bag limits for black drum?

See here for more information on black drum fishing licenses, black drum bag limits, and fishing season regulations for black drum. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right black drum rules and regulations.

What is a Black Drum?

While not quite as recognizable as its more famous cousin the redfish (or red drum), black drum are a saltwater fish from the croaker family that are so named because they can produce loud noises with their air bladder between 100 and 500 Hz when performing mating calls, and you’ll often hear this “drumming” when you pull the fish out of the water.

Young black drum are often mistaken for sheepshead due to their black and silver stripes, but they generally grow out of this as they reach maturity and adopt a more even silver-gray color. Their teeth are rounded and located in the back of their throat, and used to crush oysters, shellfish, and other mollusks and crabs. Because of this, they are often found patrolling oyster beds and shell bottoms. 


Black drum are a nearshore and inshore fish found in many of the same areas as redfish. Juvenile drum will be caught inshore while more mature fish can be found further out. They are generally a robust fish, tolerating a wide variety of water conditions and temperatures, although their range is not huge, extending only through the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

How big do Black Drum get?

Black drum have a strongly arched back almost resembling that of some trevally, and as mentioned above their coloring will fade as they age and reach around 12-24 inches. Black drum can grow to 60+ inches and over 100 pounds, although more commonly are found around 15-20 pounds with inshore juveniles being at most a few pounds.

The black drum is the largest member of its family and while some bull redfish can reach massive sizes, record black drum have been bigger. This is all the more impressive for a fish that spends most of its life close to shore.

Their growth rate is highest while they are young and they reach maturity at around 2 years, but these fish can continue to grow for a long time - potentially reaching upwards of 50 years, so it’s no wonder you can find some large specimens.

What's the biggest Black Drum ever caught?

The world record black drum was a whopping 146 pounds.

Where is the best place to catch Black Drum?

Black drum live throughout the mid-western Atlantic and are common in the Gulf states, and they are an inshore-nearshore schooling fish. They can be found from Nova Scotia to Argentina, but are most common from Virginia to Texas and in particular love the Texas coast.

They are often found near rocky jetties, piers, or pilings, or otherwise can be found near their one true love: oysters. They are also known to frequent brackish estuaries and channels, and larger fish will prefer saltier water.

When should I catch Black Drum?

The best time to target black drum is February and March when they come inshore to brackish waters in large numbers for their annual spawn. They like current and structure, so you’ll find them in channels or by any sort of pilings or jetties.

You can also night fish for black drum with some success, and otherwise stick to structure and you can’t go wrong.

How do you catch Black Drum?

Black drum are not particularly good fighters pound-for-pound, but they make up for this by reaching gargantuan sizes for an inshore fish, and they will use their heft to their advantage. They won’t make crazy runs, but they will fight you like a bulldog and refuse to surface (they sometimes even feel like a shark that is just continually pulling).

Black drum are bottom feeders, so you’ll want to drop your line to the bottom or suspended a few feet above. Jigging is a common method. Shrimp works well as can squid, and crabs are great if you have them, and you can use a circle hook (no need to set the hook!).

Since black drum usually feed based on scent, feel free to up the size of your tackle to make sure you wont break the fish off.

Are Black Drum good to eat? What are the best Black Drum recipes?

Black drum are generally only kept at the low-end of the slot limit, or about 14-15 pounds. Below that weight the have a moderate taste similar to a redfish. Above that, larger drum typically have tougher meat, have tougher scales that can be hard to remove, and can often attract some parasites as they age (especially since they can live for so long).

Smaller drum are tasty and the only challenge is generally removing the large scales, so its generally best to fillet them and remove the skin as well, and many regulars invest in an electric fillet knife.

Recent Reviews of Captain Experiences

  • ★★★★★
    Five stars warranted. Skilled and personable captain with nice boat and gear, plus the requisite “local knowledge.” Did a half day with trip tailored by the captain to match our specific inshore interests and to maximize fishing time. Had continuous action, and it was fun to see my daughter catch a nice mixed bag of fish species she hadn’t seen. Highly recommend Captain Matt.

    Randy S. with Matt B. of New Smyrna Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Really enjoyed our fishing with Edwin. He did a great job! I really had fun and caught fish all day long.

    Kurt M. with Edwin E. of Naples, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    My son and I went out with Rueben and had a great time. It was a windy day and the fish weren’t initially biting but he took us to a bunch of different spots and we hauled in a few redfish. He was a great role model for my son who wants to be a fishing guide someday. Would definitely go out with him again.

    Jeremy F. with Ruben S. of Port Aransas, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Jace was awesome. Communicated well, was right on time, and took us right to the fish. Definitely recommend.

    Eli P. with Jace O. of Saint Bernard, Louisiana

  • ★★★★★
    We had a great time on this Trip, the captain and crew were 10/10.

    John A. with Houston F. of Galveston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great trip. Conditions weren't ideal but Jason managed to find fish for us and keep it interesting. Highly recommend.

    James B. with Jason M. of Rockport, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Doug is a phenomenal guide! He quickly made us feel like family. Fishing was supposed to be hard, but everywhere he took us, we caught fish. The only problem we had was he helped the women catch the biggest catch LOL! Thank you for a great time!

    Rodney J. with Doug H. of Port O'Connor, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Richard was fantastic! He was a wealth of knowledge about fishing in Galveston Bay. My family caught enough fish for a fresh supper.

    Ross H. with Richard C. of Galveston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Great captain put us on the fish wonderful boat was so helpful we didn’t have to do anything but reel in the fish will only use you for our charter experience thank you so much for making the day a special day for my son birthday

    Paul M. with Mark H. of Port Aransas, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Jeff was a very knowledgeable guide, very helpful and worked hard to put us on the fish…highly recommend.

    Mike M. with Jeff H. of Aransas Pass, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip Justin got us limited out and it was a beautiful morning on the water

    Jeffrey A. with Justin M. of Port Aransas, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Edwin was a great guide! He got us on some good fish for my son and it was a fun trip! I would recommend him to everyone!

    Kelby W. with Edwin E. of Naples, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    What an outstanding time that we had with Captain Mike. This was our very first time boat fishing and we had done so at the request of my son for his 17th birthday. Captain Mike was incredibly accommodating, very easy to communicate with and more importantly knowledgeable when it comes to fishing. He was incredibly patient, taught each person in our group of four how to properly cast and really made sure that we had a good time (and also made sure we caught our limit, I have no doubt he would have stayed out there all day to make it happen.) I'm new at this but I am sure this is the type of experience you hope for with this sort of activity. Book this gut y'all. I PROMISE you that you will not be disappointed. Thanks again Captain Mike for a memorable experience!!!!!

    Joshua C. with Mike K. of South Padre Island, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    We had an amazing time with Aaron! He had a great personality, which made it a very enjoyable experience! We did the 8am charter and had a beautiful day. Aaron made sure that we all caught fish and was very accommodating rigging up our lines. I would highly recommend booking with Aaron! Thanks Aaron! 😉

    Brenda W. with Aaron H. of Port Orange, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    5 stars for sure. Reggie was a pro. He put us on fish even when the weather messed up the conditions. I’d recommend Captain Reggie to anyone looking for a great fishing experience.

    Joe W. with Reggie R. of Galveston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip with Captain Bob. We will be booking more trips in the future with him. Great fishing and stories while we were out.

    Derek Z. with Robert R. of Galveston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Aaron was amazing! Very family friendly and it was my daughters first time even holding a fishing pole and she enjoyed every minute of it. We chose the inshore fishing and the other kids had a great a time also. My son caught a shark, it was cold when we went out (I didn’t check the weather before hand) but we were very comfortable on the boat and he was very accommodating with the weather. I highly, highly recommend Aaron for your fishing trip.

    Felicia I. with Aaron H. of Port Orange, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Thank you, We had a great time.Guide was very courteous and very attentive to my 82 year old dad needs to make sure was safe and he had an amazing time.

    Shanon B. with Meghan B. of Galveston, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Awesome guide, great time with the kids. Very family friendly !!

    Felicia I. with Aaron H. of Port Orange, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Trey was very accomidating and helpful throughout the trip. There wasn't a whole lot of fish that day (as was the case for the other boats), but we still managed to catch what we needed. Trey also gave us a great recommendation for a nearby restaurant to have our fish cooked. Thanks Trey! Tip well deserved!

    Kevin M. with Trey C. of Corpus Christi, Texas

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