(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - drum, black
OTHER COMMON NAMES - drum, sea drum, saltwater drum, gray drum, drumfish, striped drum, tamber and Texas drum
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - ,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Pisces,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Perciformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Sciaenidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Pogonias,
SPECIES AND SSP - cromis,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Pogonias cromis
AUTHORITY - Linnaeus
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 273
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
This fish a member of the croaker family and is related to the golden
croakr, redfish, and speckled trout. Small fish, under a pound in weight,
sometimes are called "butterfly drum", while those of larger size, 30 pounds
and more, are called "bull drum" although the large specimens can be either
male or female *273*.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Migrant
Sport Fish
Game (Consumptive Recreational)
Commercial/consumption
See Comments
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 273
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Black drum is a mainstay in the commercial fishery, but has never been fully
accepted by sport fisherman. Black drum is most abundantly taken in the
fall and winter months. Texas Fish and Game Commission attempted to reduce
excessive black drum stocks in the lower Laguna Madre by authorizing a
contract durm netting program during the winter *273*.
Black drum is valued for size and weight rather than valued for food *273*.
Black drum is one of the three most important sport and commercial fish of
the Texas region. Drum are less actively sought although there is a
substantial tourist fishery for this species *273*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Seatrout
Redfish
Shrimp
Copepod (Caligus repax)
Copepod (Caligus bonito)
Copepod (Caligus latifrons)
Copepod (Brachiella gulosa)
Copepod (Caligus pelamydis)
Copepod (Brachiella macrura)
Isopod (Nerocila acuminata)
Spaghetti worm
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 273
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Black drum's feeding habits are considered detrimental to beds of vegetation
and consequently to seatrout, redfish, and shrimp which use vegetation for
spawning or nursery *273*.
Ectoparasites are fairly common on drum of all sizes. They are normally
absent when the fish is in bypersaline water above 45 ppt. Among these
parasites are the copepods Caligus repax, Caligus bonito, Caligus latifrons,
and Brachiella gulosa from the upper Laguna Madre. Caligus pelamydis and
Brachiella macrura are listed from Port Aransas. The only isopod found was
Nerocila acuminata. The most important parasite found in these fishes is the
Spaghetti worm which appears to be similar to Poecilansistrium robustum.
They occur in the muscle mass of drum *273*.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
OMNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 273
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Worms Not Specified
Juvenile Worms Not Specified
Juvenile Crustaceans Not Specified
Juvenile Malacostraca Not Specified
Juvenile Osteichthyes Not Specified
General Molluscs Not Specified
Adult Molluscs Not Specified
Juvenile Molluscs Not Specified
Adult Malacostraca Not Specified
Adult Worms Not Specified
Adult Algae Not Specified
Adult Osteichthyes Not Specified
Juvenile Annelids Not Specified
Juvenile Crustaceans Not Specified
Adult Crustaceans Not Specified
Adult Malacostraca Not Specified
Adult Plants Not Specified
Adult Detritus - Organic Not Specified
Adult Detritus Not Specified
Adult Atheriniformes Not Specified
Adult Cypriniformes Not Specified
Adult Polychaetes Not Specified
Juvenile Plankton Not Specified
General Molluscs Not Specified
General Bivalve Molluscs Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Malacostraca Not Specified
General Osteichthyes Not Specified
Adult Molluscs Not Specified
Adult Bivalve Molluscs Not Specified
General Osteichthyes Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Molluscs Not Specified
General Malacostraca Not Specified
General Plants Not Specified
General Polychaetes Not Specified
General Detritus Not Specified
General Detritus - Inorganic Not Specified
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 273
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 273
REFERENCES FOR JUVENILE FOOD - 273
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Black drum feed on shellfish, crabs, and an occasional fish. Food is 90%
bivalves. When live shellfish are not available, dead shells are eaten.
Stomach contents of black drum were examined. The following food was found
in them: crustaceans, mollusks, fish, amphipods, blue crabs, peneid shrimp,
grass shrimp, oyster crabs, pistol shrimp, gastropods, razor clam, and
gobies *273*.
Stomach analyses of black drum revealed the following food: Donax
fragments, void, and gravel *273*.
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
Black drum are bottom feeders. They grab mollusks from the mud or sand and
crush them. Likewise with crabs, but minnows are swallowed whole. Large
drum eat small crabs, shrimps, worms, algae, vegetation, dead shell, fish
and mollusks. They eat sheepshead minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus, in very
shallow water. Polychaetes have been found in stomachs. Mollusks eaten
include Brachiodontes exustus, Aguipecten irradiaus amplicastata Dall,
Laevicardium mortoni Conrad, Anomolocardi cuneimeris conrad, and Mylinia
lateralis Say. Some drum eat a lot of Rangia cuneata *273*.
COMMENTS ON JUVENILE FOOD -
Young drum feed on marine worms, small shrimp, crabs, soft crustaceans and
fish. Very young undoubtedly feed upon planktonic or bottom-dwellin
microcrustaceans, and by the time they have reached a size of 100-200 mm
they have switched to a diet of small mollusks, crustaceans, fish and worms
*273*.
Food Habits - 2 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G
J Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
J Turbidity: Specified in Comments
G Turbidity: Clear water
G Turbidity: Specified in Comments
G Coastal Features: Specified in Comments
G Turbidity: Specified in Comments
A Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Estuarine habitat zone: bay
G Estuarine habitat zone: specified in comments
G Water Depth Preference: Less than 1 ft.
G Water Temperature: Greater than 27 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
LIM Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
LIM Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
J
J
J
J
BA
BA
BA Estuarine habitat zone: bay
BA Estuarine habitat zone: specified in comments
E Aquatic Vegetation [specified type]: Specified in comments
J Aquatic Features: Specified in Comments
FA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
FA Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Water Temperature: Greater than 27 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Between 21-27 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Between 15-21 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
G
G
G
G
G
G
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Water Depth Preference: 50-100 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 100-200 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
L Estuarine habitat zone: bay
L Estuarine habitat zone: specified in comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 273
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 273
REFERENCES FOR ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 273
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 273
REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 273
REFERENCES FOR JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 273
REFERENCES FOR LARVAE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 273
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
SALINITY:
Black drum is abundant throughout the year in moderate to high salinity
waters. Black drum is most abundant at low salinities (below 15.0 ppt) but
are also present in numbers at high salinities. They have been taken below
5 ppt salinity *273*.
HABITAT:
Drum are found in the clearest waters of sand flats and in the muddiest
waters of a flooding slough. Black drum are predominantly a bay species
*273*.
TEMPERATURE:
Wide ranges in temperature are tolerated. Schools have been found in
turbid water 4 inches deep where temperature was 35 C. Sudden drops in
temperature cause movement to deeper water. Black drum have been caught in
water ranging from 14.9 to 30.7 oC *273*.
COMMENTS ON ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Adults are numerous in shallow water throughout the year *273*.
Environment Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
Adults occur in waters ranging from 2.6 - 75 ppt, and they prefer 15 - 20
ppt *273*.
COMMENTS ON BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Black drum spawn in waters of 45 ppt or less salinity *273*.
Black drum breed at the time of rising or high temperatures *273*.
COMMENTS ON JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Young drum prefer extremely shallow, muddy bodies of water. Juveniles are
common in shallow, muddy creeks, sloughs and boat basins *273*.
Young normally found in fresh to brackish water with salinities ranging
from 3.3 to 12.1 ppt *273*.
Environment Associations - 3 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
SPAWNING:
Black drum spawn in the Gulf of Mexico. Black drum reach sexual maturity at
the end of their second year when approximately 320 mm long. Males are found
ripe as early as December and as late as June. Black drum make loud
drumming vibrations that are used in the breeding season for attraction
*273*.
Black drum spawn principally from February to May and secondarily from July
to November near the mouths of the passes on the Texas Coast. Black drum
spawn in bays, gulf, or connecting passes *273*.
MOVEMENT:
Mature drum remain in bays until nearly ripe before migrating toward passes.
After spawning, they return to bays. The tendency is to move into stream
inlets. They are in constant movement in search of food. Mass increments may
be brought about by adverse conditions. During periods of heavy runoff there
is a movement into freshwater streams, but fish return to the bays during
normal periods *273*.
Black drum are commonly found in hypersaline waters but can adapt quickly to
wide ranges in salinity. A tendency for drum to move into streams inlets
hab been described. With the possible exception of spawning migrations this
temporary surge to fresh water is the most pronounced and positive of all
drum movements. There is also a constant movement in search of food and the
fish often travel in large schools during these periods. When food is
abundant there is little intra-bay movement. Movement may be accelerated by
adverse conditions *273*.
EGGS:
Eggs are 6.0 mm in diameter. Developing eggs are found in the bay areas
from February through April *273*.
GROWTH:
Age of black drum in hard to estimate. The best estimate indicates that a
length of 140-180 mm is reached in one year, 210-250 mm in 1 1/2 years,
290-330 mm in two years, and 400-430 mm in three years. After that, about
50 mm/year. The largest on record is 78 lbs with an average of 30-40 lbs
*273*.
Considerable confusion exists concerning the growth rates of black drum.
Fish just entering the second year had reached a fork length of 250 mm but
catches of fish 150 mm long in December were difficult to interpret and
might be due to a late spawning or possible a split spawning. Drum only
13-18 mm long were found in late May and June when fish from the winter
spawning were 50-75 mm long. At the same time definite modes were found an
175 and 240 mm. In February and March these same modes were found, though
less pronounced. If 175 mm fish were the result of a split spawning in
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
summer, they would represent one year old fish; if they were the result of a
late spawning they would be slightly over one year old. It seems probable
that late or split spawning does occur, and that a standard legnth of
140-180 mm is reached in one year, 210-250 mm in one and half years, and
290-330 mm in two years. Although peaks are masked by overlapping there is
evidence that drum reach a length of 400-430 mm in three years. Beyond
that, tag returns indicate a growth of about 50 mm per year *273*.
In trying to predict average monthly weight, regression analysis showed
that dissolved oxygen and salinity are the most important variables. In
trying to predict body condition the most important variables were primary
productivity and salinity *273*.
DESCRIPTION:
Coloration is reported as "grayish silvery, with 4 or 5 broad dark vertical
bars, these disappearing with age, usually with no oblique dark streaks
along rows of scales above; fins blackish". Coloration of black drum varies
with the age of the fish as well as with its habitat. The typical adult is
dark gray with a white belly. The characteristic four or five dark vertical
bars of younger fish often disappear with age. Drum residing in the Gulf
took on an almost uniform silvery appearance and lost the vertical bars at
an early age while those residing in bays tend to become darker than their
Gulf counterparts and are often bronze along the back and dirty white on the
sides and belly. In the turbid water of Baffin Bay, black drum were nearly
jet black on the sides and back and had a gray belly *273*.
The black drum is a chunky, high-backed fish with many barbels or whiskers
under the lower jaw. Younger fish have four or five dark vertical bars on
their sides but these disappear with age. The bellies of older fish are
white but coloration of backs and sides can vary greatly. Fish from Gulf
water frequently lack color and are light gray or silvery. Those living
in muddy bay waters have dark gray or bronze-colored backs and sides. Some
are solid silvery gray or jet black *273*.
DESCRIPTION OF YOUNG:
The larval drum begins to take on the general appearance of a drum when it
reaches a length of about eight millimeters. Black chromatophores appear in
great abundance along the back and sides of the fish and tend to arrange
themselves into definite groups. These groups then arrange themselves into
the six vertical bars which will serve to identify the immatrue black drum.
The general adult shape is attained when the fish reaches 15 mm. The black
bars are well defined, the fins generally colorless, and the barbels on the
lower jaw in evidence. At a length of 25 mm, the pectorals and anal fins
take on a dark cast, the entire fish gradually becoming darker *273*.
POPULATION:
Monthly populations were high in the spirng, early summer and mid to late
fall. Drum populations during the months of December and January were low
when salinities were low. In predicting monthly populations of the black
drum within the Laguna Salada, regression analysis showed that salinity and
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
average wind speed were the most important variables *273*.
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Dispersion: Clumped
Breeding/Spawning Season: January
Breeding/Spawning Season: February
Breeding/Spawning Season: March
Breeding Spawning Season: April
Breeding/Spawning Season: May
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Breeding/Spawning Season: August
Breeding/Spawning Season: September
Breeding/Spawning Season: October
Breeding/Spawning Season: November
Breeding/Spawning Season: December
Spawning Site: Aquatic Vegetation
Periodicity: Active at night
Periodicity: Active in day
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 273
Life History - 4 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Existing Regulating harvest of species being described
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 273
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species drum, black
Species Id TSNL010025
Date 27 AUG 96
References
273 * Texas System of Natural Laboratories. 1991. Species
Profile -- Black Drum. (ed.). Texas System of Natural
Laboratories Austin, Texas. Additional references available at the
Austin Office.
References - 1