Black drum

Black drum (Pogonias cromis) — field identification starting point: an elongate to moderately deep-bodied fish with spiny and soft dorsal-fin sections; many members can produce croaking or drumming sounds.

Most are around 20 in (50 cm).

Up to about 5.6 ft (170 cm) long and 113 lb (51.3 kg). Source: FishBase

It eats mainly crustaceans, mollusks and fish.

It lives over sand and sandy mud in coastal waters, especially near big river outflows and mangrove areas. Young ones often enter estuaries.

Found in Puerto Rico. Start in coastal channels, flats, beaches, sand/grass edges, passes or estuary mouths that match the species habitat, especially where current concentrates bait. Habitat reference:

Habitat: sand bottom, mud bottom, estuary and coastal waters.

Primarily shallow coastal, beach, estuary, flat or channel habitat; deeper channels and drop-offs may hold larger fish.

Start from very shallow water to the first channel/drop-off; follow bait, current seams and depth changes rather than one fixed number.

Water: marine and brackish. Habitat: sand bottom, mud bottom, estuary and coastal waters.

Use current local reports and legal rules; choose days with manageable wind and good water conditions instead of relying on one universal month.

Early morning, late afternoon and lower-light periods are common starts; tide/current changes can outweigh the clock.

Moving water around points, cuts, passes and troughs is a common trigger; watch where bait is concentrated.

Choose sea state, wind and visibility that let you hold position and handle the fish safely. Avoid treating rough weather as a feeding advantage.

Fresh blue crab, clams, shrimp and cut bait on the bottom.

Rarely; a slow jig tipped with shrimp.

Start with a medium spinning rod, 10–15 lb braid/mono, 15–25 lb leader and a #1–2/0 hook or small jig; scale up for large tarpon/snook.

Roughly #1 to 4/0 is a common inshore bait range, scaled to bait and species; use stronger/larger hooks for tarpon-size fish.

8–20 lb line covers much inshore fishing; 20–40 lb is more appropriate around heavy cover or large tarpon/snook-class fish.

10–30 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a common flats/inshore start; move to 40–80 lb around abrasive mouths, structure or large tarpon/snook.

Bottom-fish bridge pilings, channels and passes; big drum school in late winter and spring.

Let it go quickly if you're not keeping it.

Good eating — a common food fish where it's caught. Smaller fish are better eating; big ones get coarse and may carry worms.

Good table fare when bled, iced and cooked fresh.

Ice it right away. Use a clean board and sharp knife; scale or skin only when appropriate, remove the viscera or fillet cleanly, trim damaged tissue/bloodline as desired, minimize warm-water exposure, and keep the edible portion cold. If the fish carries venomous spines, dangerous teeth or a toxin advisory, follow the safety warning before cleaning.

For routine cooked preparation, FDA seafood guidance uses 145°F (63°C) as the safe internal-temperature target for fish; flesh should be opaque and separate easily with a fork. Grilling, baking, broiling, steaming or pan-cooking can all work after the fish is positively identified, legally retained and cleared for applicable toxin/mercury advisories.

Wet hands for release, use pliers/dehooker and watch for sharp gill plates, teeth or dorsal spines depending on species.

No species-specific size, bag or season limits are listed here.

Avoid needless kills and follow protected-species, area and season rules.