Georgia · Georgia Coast
BLACK DRUM FISHING
IN ST. SIMONS ISLAND
St. Simons Island is a solid destination for black drum fishing, with peak season in April and good catches in March, May. Book a charter and target black drum with local experts.
About Black Drum Fishing in St. Simons Island
A powerful bottom-feeding species found in bays and passes. Juveniles are excellent table fare.
Black Drum are powerful bottom feeders found throughout Gulf and Atlantic estuaries. Juveniles display 4-5 dark vertical bars on a silver body and are often confused with sheepshead, but lack the prominent teeth. Adults lose the bars and turn uniformly dark gray to black, with large specimens developing a pronounced hump and thick, rubbery lips for crushing oysters and clams. They are the largest member of the drum family.
Scientific name: Pogonias cromis
Black Drum Seasonal Calendar — St. Simons Island
Month-by-month availability for black drum in St. Simons Island, GA.
How to Catch Black Drum in St. Simons Island
Techniques & Bait
Fresh-cut blue crab (halved or quartered) on a heavy Carolina rig is the go-to bait for big drum around passes and jetties. Shrimp, clams, and oysters on bottom rigs work well around structure. For juveniles (10-15 lbs), live shrimp under a cork or on a jighead works great around oyster bars. In Texas and Louisiana, sight-casting to tailing drum on shallow flats with shrimp or crab flies is an incredible experience.
Recommended Tackle
Medium to medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 15-20 lb braid, 30 lb fluorocarbon leader for bull drum. Medium-light tackle for juveniles. Circle hooks (4/0-6/0) are recommended for safe release of oversized fish.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in St. Simons Island
Top spots where local captains target black drum and other inshore species.
St. Simons Sound Flats
St. Simons Sound is the major tidal estuary between St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island, and its expansive flats hold redfish, flounder, speckled trout, and sheepshead feeding on the rich oyster beds and spartina marsh edges. The sound's enormous tidal exchange creates strong currents that concentrate baitfish along channel edges and points. Sight-fishing for schools of redfish tailing on the exposed flats during low tide is the premier inshore experience on St. Simons Island.
Hampton River
The Hampton River flows between St. Simons Island and the mainland, creating a deep tidal channel where redfish, sheepshead, flounder, and black drum hold along the dock pilings, seawalls, and oyster shell banks. The river's residential docks provide excellent structure fishing during higher tides when gamefish move up to feed around the barnacle-covered pilings. The Hampton River is one of the most accessible and productive inshore fishing spots on St. Simons Island.
Frederica River
The Frederica River runs along the western side of St. Simons Island past the ruins of Fort Frederica, winding through pristine marsh that holds excellent populations of redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. The river's historic character and natural shoreline create a scenic fishing experience alongside productive inshore waters. Kayak anglers favor the Frederica River for its shallow marsh creeks where tailing redfish can be sight-cast on falling tides throughout the warmer months.
Mackay River
The Mackay River separates St. Simons Island from the mainland to the north, and its tidal channel and associated marsh creeks hold redfish, sheepshead, flounder, and speckled trout year-round. The Sidney Lanier Bridge pilings spanning the river create a significant nearshore structure that concentrates sheepshead and black drum around the barnacle-encrusted concrete. Fishing the Mackay River bridge pilings on incoming tides with live shrimp or fiddler crabs is a proven technique for quality catches.
Other Species in St. Simons Island
More fish you can target while visiting St. Simons Island.
Black Drum Fishing in St. Simons Island — FAQ
The peak months for Black Drum fishing in St. Simons Island are April. During these months, Black Drum are most active and abundant in the St. Simons Island area.
Black Drum fishing charters in St. Simons Island are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Fresh-cut blue crab (halved or quartered) on a heavy Carolina rig is the go-to bait for big drum around passes and jetties. Shrimp, clams, and oysters on bottom rigs work well around structure. For juveniles (10-15 lbs), live shrimp under a cork or on a jighead works great around oyster bars. In Texas and Louisiana, sight-casting to tailing drum on shallow flats with shrimp or crab flies is an incredible experience.
No — when you book a charter in St. Simons Island, your captain provides all required Georgia fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Black Drum regulations in Georgia include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Black Drum in St. Simons Island, you may also catch Redfish, Sheepshead, Cobia, Black Sea Bass, Flounder. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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