Black drum
Pogonias cromis
Regular slot: 14–30 inches. One black drum over 52 inches per person per day may be kept as part of the daily bag and possession limits. Fish over 30 through 52 inches cannot be retained.
Texas recreational state waters · Regulation reference 2026-09-01–2027-08-31. General license, gear and area restrictions still apply.
TPWD rule source ↗
Identify your catch
A deep, high-backed body with barbels beneath the lower jaw. Young fish have dark vertical bars that become less distinct as they age.
Habitat & biology
Occurs in coastal bays and channels as well as Gulf waters; appearance varies with age and habitat. A member of the drum family; its chin barbels help distinguish it from similarly barred sheepshead.
Fishing knowledge
Confirm the chin barbels and full length before keeping a barred fish. The over-size exception does not apply to every fish above the normal slot.
Species-level knowledge, not current fishing activity or a bay-specific catch forecast.
TPWD species reference ↗Not Listed in Advisory for this named bay in the reviewed DSHS index. Nearby water may have different restrictions; this is not a safety guarantee.
Exact areas & meal guidance →Source scope
Matagorda Bay system; record evidence is system-level
Recorded occurrence is historical evidence, not an abundance estimate or a promise of a common local catch.
Official species record evidence ↗Before you go
Sources & coastal evidence
Coastal reference review 2026-10-14. Record evidence: Matagorda Bay system; record evidence is system-level. Historical records establish recorded occurrence, not current abundance. Artwork is illustrative scenery, not a geographical survey or a conditions feed.