Texas · Mid Coast
BLACK DRUM FISHING
IN MATAGORDA
Matagorda is an excellent destination for black drum fishing, with peak season in February, March, April and good catches in January, May, September. Book a charter and target black drum with local experts.
About Black Drum Fishing in Matagorda
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 — Matagorda
Month-by-month availability for black drum in Matagorda, TX.
How to Catch Black Drum in Matagorda
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 Matagorda
Top spots where local captains target black drum and other inshore species.
East Matagorda Bay Grass Flats
The sprawling grass flats of East Matagorda Bay provide some of the best wade-fishing for speckled trout and redfish on the Texas coast, with firm sand-and-shell bottom that makes wading comfortable and productive. The bay's shallow depth and abundant seagrass beds sustain large populations of shrimp, crabs, and small fish that keep gamefish feeding year-round. Fall and winter produce trophy trout over 25 inches with regularity on this storied fishery.
Colorado River Delta
The Colorado River delta where fresh water meets East Matagorda Bay creates a nutrient-rich mixing zone that attracts redfish, flounder, black drum, and alligator gar in large numbers. The delta's deep channels, mud banks, and oyster beds provide diverse habitat structure that holds fish across all tide stages. Anglers work the river mouth with cut bait for big bull reds and topwater plugs for trout during the fall mullet run.
Oyster Lake
Oyster Lake is a small, shallow back bay connected to East Matagorda Bay that serves as a nursery and feeding ground for redfish and speckled trout throughout the warmer months. The lake's rim is lined with oyster shell that creates a natural hard edge where gamefish ambush shrimp and small crabs on moving tides. Its protected waters rarely get blown out by wind, making it a reliable option when conditions are too rough on the open bay.
Crab Lake
Crab Lake is a wadeable back lake on the south side of East Matagorda Bay, known for holding large concentrations of speckled trout and redfish on its grass-covered bottom. The lake's shallow entrance guts restrict access to smaller boats and kayaks, keeping fishing pressure low and fish populations healthy. Wade anglers fan out across the lake at dawn, working topwater plugs over the grass for explosive surface strikes from feeding trout.
Other Species in Matagorda
More fish you can target while visiting Matagorda.
Black Drum Fishing in Matagorda — FAQ
The peak months for Black Drum fishing in Matagorda are February, March, April. During these months, Black Drum are most active and abundant in the Matagorda area.
Black Drum fishing charters in Matagorda 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 Matagorda, your captain provides all required Texas fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Black Drum regulations in Texas 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 Matagorda, you may also catch Redfish, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, Flounder, Pompano. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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