Black Drum in Bulk
Louisiana’s Black Drum has been a staple for fishermen for decades, but here on the Northshore there has been a noticeable increase in the number of drum being caught this summer. While speckled trout, redfish, and flounder are highly prized in the world of saltwater fishing, drum offer anglers another option to reach a fully stocked freezer full of delicious meat. Don Bastings of Slidell has been specifically targeting these fish and said he’ll be the last guy to turn his nose up on what most anglers call a bycatch. “Oh no! These are what I’m after right here,” Bastings said. The salty 76-year-old has been fishing Lakes Pontchartrain, Borgne and Catherine for over 60 years and said this year he’s seeing more black drum reminiscent to a decade ago. “Before they started opening the spillway, I could catch a limit every time I went out,” he said.
Set-up
When targeting drum, Bastings uses market shrimp the majority of the time but if he can get his hands on a few small crabs, that’s his first choice. “I like to take a small crab and crack it in half, then remove the shell,” Bastings said. He threads the crab on to a 3/0 circle hook which is a few inches down from a sliding bullet weight. Bastings uses a small split shot on top to the bullet weight. He calls this a Knocker Rig. “When I’m fishing for drum it’s usually around structure. When the fish takes the bait and runs, the split shot prevents the fish from running into the structure before I feel the bite,” he said.
Hot Spots
When targeting drum, it’s all about fishing structure and hard bottoms. Pilings, shell pads, and rock dams will produce good numbers in July. Among the top spots to catch black drum are the Bayou Lacombe shell pad located a mile south of Goose Point, The Twin Span Bridge, and the camps located along the northern shoreline of Lake Catherine.
Table Fare
When it comes to black drum: the smaller the better for eating. Louisiana’s size limit is 16 inches so between 16 and 24 inches is what you’re looking for. Popular ways to prepare the fish are on the half-shell, blackened, or fried. But another option is to boil the fish in crab boil and to pick the bones out and make stuffed crabs. The meat tastes just like crab meat.
Tournament Results
Lock One, aka the pit of misery, was the location of the Bass Assassins this past Sunday. The canal is known for its tough fishing during the summer months and the 20 anglers that showed up to fish, struggled. The forecast called for off-and-on rain which led to a mild morning at the lock. With the lack of rain, the water in the canal was clearer than it’s been in a long time. As the morning passed, the rain never came, and the wind turned extremely light making it a very hot day. In the end it was Kerry Terrebonne who brought in a 9 lb. 6 oz. limit that earned him first place. Terrebonne also brought in a 6 lb. 1 oz. kicker fish for the win in the big fish division. Rodger Mitchel finished second with a 7 lb. 12 oz. limit. In third place was Timmy Dickens with a 7 lb. 11 oz. limit.
The Double Nickel Bass Club fished the East Pearl River. The conditions were windy and wet with a still tide until 9:00 a.m. After that it started to rise. In the end it was Dale Main who figured out the fish and took first place with a 3-fish limit that weighed 7.72 pounds. In second place was CJ Mayeux who weighed in a limit of 7.49 pounds. Joe Frierson took third place with a total of 7.28 pounds. Frierson also caught the big fish of the day; a 3.92-pound bass.
Upcoming
Tournaments
The Bayou Lacombe Big Bass Tournament is holding their next event on Friday, July 15. Biggest bass wins. $10 per person entry fee. Blast-off is at 5 p.m. at the Main St. Launch in Lacombe.
The next Bass Assassins on Tchefuncte River at 4th Street launch on July 17. If you have any questions, you can email bassassassinsla@gmail.com or call Chris Basey at 985-707-7857.
The Double Nickel Bass Club is holding their next tournament at the East Pearl River on Tuesday, July 19. For more information, please contact Joe Picone at 985-630-4170.
Pearl River Team Trails is holding their next tournament at the East Pearl River on August 13. For more information, please contact Charles Dauzat at 985-960-3260.
Florida Parishes Bass Anglers are holding their next tournament on the East Pearl River on August 14.
Liars and Lunkers is holding their classic tournament on July 31 at Lock One. This is a tournament for all of the anglers that fished at least three of the five Spring/Summer Series tournaments. Anglers can fish either side of the lock and we will fish until noon. Food and drinks will be served at weigh-in. For more information or to confirm if you have qualified, please contact Chad Hartzog at 985-502-3217.
(Keith Lusher Jr. writes a weekly column. For more info, visit NorthshoreFishingReport.com.Contact Keith at keith@northshorefishingreport.com.)