Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Gulf of Mexico). Black drum. [Pogonias cromis]
Black drum are primarily an estuarine species. The time of black drum spawning depends on location. In Texas waters, heaviest spawning activity occurs during February and March near passes in open bays and estuaries, while in deeper Gulf waters they spawn from November to April. Larvae are transported into the estuarine environment where they grow to the juvenile stage, living in shallow, muddy waters, tolerating a wide range of environmental conditions. Black drum are commercially harvested by a variety of gears, with the majority of US landings taken in Gulf waters off Texas. They are also an important recreational species with more fish caught in the sport catch than harvested commercially. Young black drum feed on invertebrates and small fish, while adults consume mollusks and some decapods. Adults are found in salinities of 9 to 26 ppt and in water temperatures of 12 to 33/sup 0/C. Juveniles are taken over muddy bottoms and adults are usually found over sand or soft bottoms and over oyster reefs or clam shell.
- Research Organization:
- Gulf Coast Research Lab., Ocean Springs, MS (USA); Fish and Wildlife Service, Slidell, LA (USA). National Wetlands Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5451987
- Report Number(s):
- TR-EL-82-4/82-11.51; ON: TI86901601
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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