We fish with @mmontelongo and Jake at the Port Lavaca Fishing Pier using some BLESSED BAIT and we catch big black drum.
View this spot on our Fishing Map
View this spot on our Fishing Map
Black Drum at Port Lavaca Fishing Pier
- Thread starter Daniel
- Start date
mmontelongo
Creator
Some nights, you go fishing. Other nights, you hunt.
This trip to the Port Lavaca Fishing Pier wasn’t about getting lucky—it was about strategy, patience, and knowing exactly what we were after: black drum.
Live crab is a favorite of both redfish and black drum, but this night was all about the latter. The trick isn’t just having the right bait—it’s presenting it the right way, in the right place, at the right time.
We made long casts directly into that channel, letting our baits settle exactly where black drum naturally patrol for food. No fanfare, no extra movement—just perfectly placed scent bombs sitting in prime territory.
We prepped each blue crab by removing all claws and legs, then splitting it cleanly in half. This exposed the scent and made it easy for the drum to vacuum up the meat in one go, no extra effort required.
Each half was rigged on a 7/0 circle hook, the kind of hook that doesn’t need a dramatic hookset—just pressure. Paired with 4-ounce weights, our rigs stayed locked in place on the bottom, keeping that crab sitting still and drawing scent trails like a cartoon pie on a windowsill.
It wasn’t fast action. We waited. But we knew what we were doing and where we were doing it—and when the rods bent over, we had our reward.
Preparation, presentation, and patience. Knowing your target species, matching the bait, and understanding the structure makes all the difference.
If you’re looking to dial in your black drum game from shore or pier, this is the method that works. Bring the right bait, hit the deep water, and let time do the rest.
This trip to the Port Lavaca Fishing Pier wasn’t about getting lucky—it was about strategy, patience, and knowing exactly what we were after: black drum.
The Target Species: Why Black Drum?
Black drum are bottom-feeding bruisers known for cruising channels and structure-heavy areas in search of crustaceans—especially blue crab. Knowing this, we didn’t show up hoping to “get a bite.” We brought live blue crab, our bait of choice when drum are the mission.Live crab is a favorite of both redfish and black drum, but this night was all about the latter. The trick isn’t just having the right bait—it’s presenting it the right way, in the right place, at the right time.
Location Matters: Fishing the 18-Foot Dredge Channel
Most anglers fishing Port Lavaca Pier focus on the shallows around the structure, which average about 3 feet deep. But roughly 200 yards out, the bottom drops into a dredged shipping lane—18 feet deep, with a hard clay bottom and scattered shell. This is black drum country.We made long casts directly into that channel, letting our baits settle exactly where black drum naturally patrol for food. No fanfare, no extra movement—just perfectly placed scent bombs sitting in prime territory.
The Bait Setup: A Crab Done Right
We prepped each blue crab by removing all claws and legs, then splitting it cleanly in half. This exposed the scent and made it easy for the drum to vacuum up the meat in one go, no extra effort required.
Each half was rigged on a 7/0 circle hook, the kind of hook that doesn’t need a dramatic hookset—just pressure. Paired with 4-ounce weights, our rigs stayed locked in place on the bottom, keeping that crab sitting still and drawing scent trails like a cartoon pie on a windowsill.
The Technique: Patience and a Loose Drag
We set our drags light—not because we were worried about break-offs, but because we wanted to hear the run. When a drum picked up the bait and started moving, the sound of line peeling off the reel gave us the cue: gently stop the run, and let the circle hook do its job.It wasn’t fast action. We waited. But we knew what we were doing and where we were doing it—and when the rods bent over, we had our reward.
Final Thoughts
Preparation, presentation, and patience. Knowing your target species, matching the bait, and understanding the structure makes all the difference.
If you’re looking to dial in your black drum game from shore or pier, this is the method that works. Bring the right bait, hit the deep water, and let time do the rest.