Bield: fish

Single-species migration calendar

Black Drum in Chesapeake Bay (Lower) june fishing.

  • Pogonias cromis
  • Seasonal Movement
  • Fair

Resident fish on structure.

Verify with the agency before fishing

Fishing regulations change every season. This page is a summary maintained by Bield — bag limits, exact dates, and species-specific rules must be verified with Virginia Marine Resources Commission before each trip.

Year-round calendar

Black Drum · 12-month view.

Each month encodes typical migration status. The current month is outlined in gold. Hover a cell for the month-specific note and typical water temperature.

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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering offshore. Typical water temp: 42–50°FPossibleFeb — Fair Pre-spawn fish arriving. Typical water temp: 44–52°FFairMar — Peak Spring black drum spawn — Delaware Bay, Cape Charles inlets. Typical water temp: 52–58°FPeakApr — Peak Peak spring spawn — big fish in inlets. Typical water temp: 58–64°FPeakMay — Good Spawn winding down; fish dispersing. Typical water temp: 64–70°FGoodJun — Fair Resident fish on structure. Typical water temp: 70–76°FFairJul — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 76–80°FFairAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 76–82°FFairSep — Good Fall feeding before departure. Typical water temp: 70–76°FGoodOct — Good Same. Typical water temp: 62–68°FGoodNov — Fair Fish moving offshore. Typical water temp: 54–60°FFairDec — Possible Most fish offshore. Typical water temp: 48–54°FPossible

Migration pattern

Spring spawn in Delaware Bay and Cape Charles inlets March–May produces the year's bull-class drum fishing. Smaller slot fish year-round on structure.

Best locations

  • Bay Bridge Tunnel structure
  • Mouth of the Potomac
  • Fisherman's Island
  • Buoys 36/42

Top lures

  • Whole blue crab on bottom
  • Live shrimp
  • Cut clam
  • Cut crab
  • Fresh shrimp

Black Drum in other regions

Delaware Bay →Virginia Coast & Eastern Shore →North Carolina Southern Coast →South Carolina Coast →Central Florida East Coast →Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend →All black drum regions →

Get a notification when black drum show up.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data and water-temperature readings to species arrival windows so you're on the water the day they arrive in Chesapeake Bay (Lower).

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