In February, angler Andrew Quintana made local news in Texas after landing a massive 50-inch black drum from shore. According to the story on Chron.com<\/a>, Quintana\u2019s fish drew a divided reaction when posted on social media. Some commenters referred to this fish and all other large black drum as \u201cbig uglies.\u201d The catch even sparked a debate over whether targeting black drum was worth an angler\u2019s time. The answer to that question, however, has less to do with the fish and more to do with where you\u2019re catching them.<\/p>\n Black drum are one of several saltwater species that\u2019s depends upon their geography. Cultural differences, availability of these fish, and their perceived level of deliciousness all vary between the northern and southern U.S. But by looking at why one man\u2019s trash is another man\u2019s treasure, we can gain a greater appreciation for all these species even if we don\u2019t live where they\u2019re particularly popular. So, here are three saltwater species that create some of the biggest regional divisions. Well, start with those \u201cbig ugly\u201d black drum.<\/p>\n South:<\/strong> The inshore waters, bays, and estuaries from Virginia, around Florida, and all the way to Texas are rife with black drum. Year-round, you\u2019ll find them in a wide range of sizes, and they\u2019re usually eager to snatch up natural and cut baits like shrimp and mullet. This, however, is part of the reason why these fish don\u2019t get a ton of love in the South. They are generally unwelcomed party crashers for anglers more interested in popular species like red drum, snook, and speckled seatrout that share their habitat. What makes them even less appealing is their plate appeal. While some Southerners target small black drum for the table, they largely take a backseat to more desirable fish like flounder, cobia, sheepshead, and red drum. It also doesn\u2019t help that southern black drum\u2014large ones especially\u2014are notorious for being riddled with worms. Big fish in coastal estuaries also tend to collect mud and algae on their scales, making them look rather unpleasant (hence that nickname, \u201cbig ugly\u201d). Compared to red drum, many anglers would also say their fight lacks pizzazz.\u00a0<\/p>\n North: <\/strong>North of Virginia, black drum are revered in many angling circles, mostly because they don\u2019t live in these waters year-round. Their presence between Southern Long Island in New York and Maryland is fleeting. Massive schools of drum move into the bays and surf line from offshore to spawn, and their arrival is dictated by moon phases in May and June. Ironically, while these fish are far more prevalent in the South, the Northeast boasts some of the biggest black drum catches, including the 113-pound world record<\/a> that has stood since 1975. That fish was caught in Delaware Bay, and even today, this body of water continues to kick out 60-plus-pound drum every spring. Black drum also invade the beaches in this zone, giving striped bass anglers fishing baits like clams and menhaden another target with shoulders to tussle with in the waves. Because Northeast drum come in from offshore, they tend to be cleaner, and less worm riddled. It\u2019s not uncommon for anglers here to keep large specimens, as barbecued drum ribs and drumfish Parmigiana are both popular local dishes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read Next: Best Redfish Lures<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n South: <\/strong>If you want to catch a trophy bonita\u2014north of 20 pounds, that is\u2014there\u2019s no better place to do it than the South. These tuna cousins are abundant year-round from the Atlantic Coast of Florida all the way across the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. With suitable water temperatures even in winter and an abundance of food, it\u2019s not difficult to get a school of bonita fired up just a couple miles offshore with a bit of chum. The problem is that there are so <\/em>many bonita in the South, they\u2019re a nuisance to most anglers. That\u2019s not to suggest they don\u2019t have loyal fans wielding fly rods<\/a> and light-tackle outfits in this zone. But by and large, bonita frustrate anglers because they beat snapper to their jigs, yellowfin tuna to their chunk baits, and kingfish to their trolling lures. Given their speed and strength, fighting them takes time and zaps your energy\u2014which you might need when the desired target strikes. While related to tuna, bonita flesh is dark and saturated with oil, so it has little food value. At best, anglers keep a few to cut up for strip baits when targeting species like yellowfin tuna and swordfish.<\/p>\n North: <\/strong>Talk to an offshore captain operating from the Carolinas up through Massachusetts, and his or her attitude about bonita won\u2019t vary much from a southern offshore captain\u2019s. Spring through summer, these fish feed heavily in the Gulf Stream currents and do little more than disappoint when a trolling rod gets hammered and you\u2019re hoping for a delicious bluefin or yellowfin tuna. If you\u2019re an inshore light-tackle, surf, or fly fisherman, however, bonita are held in high regard. Come fall, these fish\u2014commonly referred to as \u201cfalse albacore\u201d here\u2014migrate from offshore to feed on the anchovies, peanut bunker, and glass minnows flushing out of the bays. They can be found within sight of the beach, as well as right in the waves, making them accessible to boatless anglers. Their food value doesn\u2019t change here, but their ability to out-fight local players like striped bass and bluefish has earned them a cult following. Locations like Point Judith, Rhode Island, Montauk, New York, and Harkers Island, North Carolina, are all meccas for speed junkies addicted to these fish.\u00a0<\/p>\nBlack Drum<\/h2>\n
Bonita<\/h2>\n
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