Big Drum

Ready Set Drum Roll

Angler Home , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

September marks the start of the legendary run of big drum on the Outer Banks. The autumn air brings a crisp northeast breeze, cooling water temperatures and the highly anticipation of fall big drum migration.

Anglers wait all year for a chance to catch one of these trophy giants. North Carolina big drum are well known for their huge size and ferocious fight. Anglers travel many miles to experience this phenomenon.

These remarkable creatures originately known as puppy drum, can grow 40 to 50 inches or more in a matter of couple years. Once they reach full size, they are referred to as “bull” or just big drum.

Big drum are originally targeted early on in the surf. But as the conditions change, anglers have their best chance to land one on the ocean piers. The best bites occur with rough churning seas and constant winds up to 20 to 30 miles per hour.

Most pier anglers focus on the deep end but many different sizes of fish, along with the big drum, are caught along the entire length of the pier. So proper location is imperative.

To catch these giants, specialized gear and rigging is required. Heavy conventional or spinning surf rods of eight to ten feet or longer rated and reels designed to hold 17-20 lbs of monofilaments or 30-50 lbs braided line are the standard set up. Caution using braid lines on piers or near other anglers. And don’t forget that 50 lbs mono shock leader.

Rigging and baits are personalized. My favorite rig is the “Fish Finder” with short leaders and circle hooks. This rig helps  prevent deep hooking and is the one most frequently used. The second one is a standard drum or cannon ball rig. This rig uses a heavy sinker slide attached to a weight on the main line swivel then a short leader with your preferred circle hook. Either way, these rigs work well.

Cut pieces of menhaden, mullet or spot are the baits of choice. Large chunks including bait heads with lots of scent attract these big drum. Anglers are known to use chunks of finger mullet or other oily smelly baits too.

The key to catching them is placing your baits where the drum are. While you may have the tendency to long cast, big drum will stay near structures. So while under the pier is perilous and can result in snag or being cut off, this area holds drum.

Every angler has their own strategy. Some anglers position themselves directly at the end of the pier, others will start at the shallow part and move to cover each side, just moving and looking for another opportunity. Another strategy, the big drum moves around to find a food source, so the anglers should too.

Regardless of your strategies. The passionate drum angler watches the weather and knows the migration signs.

Remember all red drum over 27 inches must be safely released in North Carolina, handling them with care is paramount. Keep the fish in the water as much as possible, minimize their time on the dry sand or pier deck, snap a quick photo, and support the fish in the water until it swims away under its own power.

Joining the elite fraternity of anglers who have landed an OBX autumn giant is an unforgettable experience, and protecting the fishery ensures the tradition continues for generations to come.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt Tony 

Carefully Release Them

Angler Home , , , , , , , , ,

Fishing isn’t always about catching. Occasionally we need to release our catch due to them being out of season, over the slot size or bag limit or you don’t want to keep them. Either way, if the angler chooses to release the fish, it must be done carefully to give it the best chance for survival.

The first step in releasing your catch is to quickly retrieve the fish to shore. During the fight, a fish uses up a lot of energy. The remaining energy is needed to feed, spawn or escape a predator. When the fish is exhausted and returned to the water after a long fight, they may not have enough energy to begin breathing again or to escape to safety. So we need to ensure the fight is short.

The next step to releasing is to minimize the handling of the fish. All species have a protectant film on the surface of their skin. This film helps to prevent infection but it also helps them slide thru the water quickly. When bringing a fish to shore, it’s best to use a plastic net. Also, try to keep the fish in the water or at least wet. Some nylon or cotton nets will strip the film off as the fish tries to escape. So I try to avoid using them.

Once the fish is in the net, most anglers will use a gripper or plyers to steady them. Their first instinct is pick up the fish vertically to take a photo or a measurement. This technique is extremely lethal for the fish. By holding the fish vertical and upright, the organs and tiny structures in the fish’s body are pulled by gravity toward the tail. Torn structures will not heal timely and possibly cause the fish to die soon.

Also you want be gentle when removing the hooks. Don’t grab the fish but gently and firmly hold the fish steady to grip the hooks. Pull the hooks to minimize any damage. I like to flatten the barbs on all my hooks to aid in the quick and safe release.

If you need to remove the fish from the water or net, hold the fish horizontally. Always keep your hands wet when holding a fish. Use the gripper to control the head but always support the mid-section and tail (see picture insert). This ensures that no stress is on the vital organs. Plus, by just resting the fish in your hands, no slime or protectant will be wiped off. You will be surprised how calm they can be when held properly.

Holding a fish for a picture can be the most stressful time for the fish and even a short time can mean the difference between recovery and survival.

When the time comes to release the fish, gently lower the fish in the water. Do horizontal swimming movements to help run water over their gills. And the fish will let you when they are ready to swim off. When ready just open your hands and they will swim away – usually with a big splash.

Never drop a fish from a pier or bridge or just toss in back into the water. This action can stun them and make them more susceptible to danger. They need to be re-introduced back into the water carefully.

So remember, when you need to release a fish, keep your hands wet, don’t squeeze them tightly and reduce the time it is handled out of the water.  The time out of the water and your handling techniques will determine it the fish will survive and swim away to be caught again.

Until next time – Tightlines. Capt. Tony

Throw Back – Big Drum

Angler Home , , , , ,

Fishing in the fall season on the Outer Banks produces citation type catches of Speckled trout, Sea Mullet, Pompano, puppy drum and huge Big Drum. Come make a memory.

From the IGFA web site –

It was 36 years ago today –

Did you know that the IGFA’s two largest red drum records were both caught on November 7th? On this day in 1973, Elvin Hooper caught this 40.82-kilogram (90-pound) red drum to set the IGFA Men’s 15-kg (30 lb) Line Class World Record. He was casting cut mullet from Ocean Pier, Rodanthe, North Carolina, and landed the record redfish after a one hour fight. At the time it was the IGFA All-Tackle Record and Line Class Record, until exactly 11 years later when David Deuel broke that record. 47 years later, it still stands as the Men’s 15-kg (30 lb) Line Class World Record. #fishIGFA

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony