Island Gazette

Island Gazette’s Animal of the Week for the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

A black drum swims in the Masonboro Inlet Jetty exhibit at the North Carolina Aquarium at Ft. Fisher.

Black drum (Pogonias cromis) live in areas with sandy or soft bottoms and often exist in close proximity to oyster or clam shell beds. Ten to fifteen whisker-like barbels located on the bottom of their mouth help them seek out food.
Black drum get their name from the drumming sounds made using the muscles of their swim bladder. During spawning, male black drum make this sound to announce their presence to females. Each year in January or February, black drum participate in what is known as the Drum Run, where they school and roam in shallow waters and oyster beds prior to the start of spawning activity. Fishermen most actively pursue this species during the Drum Run.